Alexander Smith House · Photo: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Brentwood faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brentwood gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #69 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 301 claims here since 1979.
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 Brentwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Brentwood 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
Tornadoes
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 Brentwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brentwood, and Brentwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #69 of 177 in Tennessee; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brentwood’s residents live in 17 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Tennessee town has higher expected damage than 53% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brentwood has less expected damage per building than 61% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $21.8M a year in losses across Brentwood: $16.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brentwood flood? Yes: 301 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brentwood, from FEMA’s records: 19.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late spring storms129 claims · $6.6M
- The Heavy rains16 claims · $178K
Brentwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Williamson County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brentwood
Disasters that paid out in Brentwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Brentwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm169 households applied for aid$76K aid approved$4.7M to the City of Brentwood for repairs
- 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding81 households applied for aid$91K aid approved$72K to the City of Brentwood for repairs76 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes744 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$816K to the City of Brentwood for repairs129 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding7 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$279K to the City of Brentwood for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$43K to the City of Brentwood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Williamson County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Brentwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brentwood archive →Brentwood and its neighbors
Brentwood has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brentwood | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 301 |
| Franklin | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 243 |
| Nolensville | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Nashville | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Brentwood 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Brentwood
Is Brentwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brentwood has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #69 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brentwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 301 claims in Brentwood since 1979, $12.0M in all, or 19.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 31 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring storms (129).
Is Brentwood 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 Williamson County, 86% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brentwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brentwood’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 Brentwood?
By FEMA money that reached Brentwood, Severe Winter Storm (2026): 169 households applied for aid, $76K approved, and $4.7M to the City of Brentwood for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring storms: 129 paid, $6.6M.
Is Brentwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Brentwood’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brentwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brentwood’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.