Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Brookville than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #886 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 34 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 Brookville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Brookville 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
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 Brookville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brookville, and Brookville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
C #886 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brookville’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, Brookville has more expected damage per building than 85% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Brookville: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brookville flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brookville, from FEMA’s records: 16.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $1K
Brookville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Brookville
Disasters that paid out in Brookville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Brookville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan5 households applied for aid$7K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $1K
Jefferson County has had 11 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Brookville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brookville archive →Brookville and its neighbors
Brookville is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Pine Creek Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brookville | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
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 Brookville 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Brookville
Is Brookville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookville has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #886 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brookville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Brookville since 1978, $1.4M in all, or 16.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Brookville 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 Jefferson County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brookville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brookville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Brookville?
By FEMA money that reached Brookville, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 5 households applied for aid, $7K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Brookville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Brookville’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brookville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brookville’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.