Brown Deer School · Photo: Freekee · CC0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Brown Deer than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brown Deer gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #257 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 39 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 Brown Deer’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Brown Deer 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
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 Brown Deer’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brown Deer, and Brown Deer’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 5% (higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts).
B #257 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brown Deer’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brown Deer has more expected damage per building than 71% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.9M a year in losses across Brown Deer: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brown Deer flood? Sometimes: 39 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brown Deer, from FEMA’s records: 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood5 claims · $1.0M
- The Storm1 claim · $10K
Brown Deer isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Milwaukee County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brown Deer
Disasters that paid out in Brown Deer itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Brown Deer), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding75 households applied for aid$302K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides246 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Village of Brown Deer for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding67 households applied for aid$108K aid approved$28K to the Village of Brown Deer for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding86 households applied for aid$163K aid approved$26K to the Village of Brown Deer for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$13K to the Village of Brown Deer for repairs
Show all 8
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2000Snow$10K to the Village of Brown Deer for repairs
Milwaukee County has had 19 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 Brown Deer after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brown Deer archive →Brown Deer and its neighbors
Brown Deer is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1,369 |
| Brown Deer | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| River Hills | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Brown Deer 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.
- 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 Brown Deer
Is Brown Deer at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brown Deer has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #257 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%) and tornadoes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brown Deer flood?
Flood insurance has paid 39 claims in Brown Deer since 1978, $2.0M in all, or 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood (5).
Is Brown Deer 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 Milwaukee County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brown Deer?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brown Deer’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 Brown Deer?
By FEMA money that reached Brown Deer, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides (2025): 246 households applied for aid, $1.7M approved. By flood claims, 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood: 5 paid, $1.0M.
Is Brown Deer at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Brown Deer’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brown Deer.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brown Deer’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.