FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Brookhaven as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookhaven gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #679 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 53 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Brookhaven’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Brookhaven faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Brookhaven’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brookhaven, and Brookhaven’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
B #679 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brookhaven’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brookhaven has more expected damage per building than 65% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Brookhaven: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brookhaven flood? Sometimes: 53 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brookhaven, from FEMA’s records: 13.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd18 claims · $342K
- Hurricane Isaias5 claims · $103K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $44K
Brookhaven is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brookhaven
Disasters that paid out in Brookhaven itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Brookhaven), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida251 households applied for aid$202K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee12 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene112 households applied for aid$137K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $44K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan9 households applied for aid$16K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $4K
Delaware County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Brookhaven after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brookhaven archive →Brookhaven and its neighbors
Brookhaven is 7th of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Aston Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Nether Providence Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Rose Valley | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Chester | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 148 |
| Parkside | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Brookhaven | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Upland | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 218 |
| Chester Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Village Green-Green Ridge | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Brookhaven faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
- Brookhaven residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Brookhaven
Is Brookhaven at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookhaven has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #679 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brookhaven flood?
Flood insurance has paid 53 claims in Brookhaven since 1978, $848K in all, or 13.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (18).
Is Brookhaven in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Delaware County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brookhaven?
Brookhaven is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Brookhaven?
By FEMA money that reached Brookhaven, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 251 households applied for aid, $202K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 18 paid, $342K.
Is Brookhaven at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Brookhaven’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brookhaven.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brookhaven’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.