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CRS GainsThe NFIP's Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted in participating CRS communities to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from community actions that meet the three goals of the CRS: (1) reduce flood losses; (2) facilitate accurate insurance rating; and (3) promote awareness of flood insurance.Saving Lives and Reducing Property Damage There are now 1,038 communities receiving flood insurance premium discounts because they engage in local mitigation, outreach, and educational activities that go beyond minimum NFIP requirements. More importantly, these communities are carrying out activities that save lives and reduce property damage. CRS communities represent a significant portion of the nation's flood risk, accounting for more than 67 percent of the NFIP's policy base. Communities receiving premium discounts through the CRS range from small to large, with a broad mixture of flood risks including coastal and riverine. Lower Risk Equals Higher Premium Discounts Between October 1, 2005, and May 1, 2006, 10 communities joined or were reinstated in the CRS and 25 communities improved their rating. We welcome the following communities to the CRS.
Most of the 25 communities that improved their class rating and the premium discounts offered residents, engaged in enough creditable CRS activities to move to the next better class. Seven communities--Baldwin County, Alabama; Denver City and County, Colorado; Kenneth City, Florida; Morgan City, Louisiana; and Tiki Island and Bridgewater, Texas--moved from Class 9 to Class 8, earning their residents a premium discount of 10 percent on policies purchased or renewed on or after May 1. Two Florida communities (Holmes Beach and Tamarac) and Houston, Texas, moved from Class 8 to Class 7, earning a premium discount of 15 percent. Seven communities--Santa Barbara, California; Arvada, Colorado; Oldsmar, Florida; Jekyll Island Authority, Georgia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Baytown, Texas; and North Bend, Washington--moved from Class 7 to Class 6, earning their residents a premium discount of 20 percent. And two Washington communities--Bellevue and Monroe--moved from Class 6 to Class 5, earning their residents a 25 percent premium discount. Sometimes communities engage in so many new creditable CRS activities that they jump more than one class. The following communities jumped two classes.
Another North Carolina community jumped three classes.
And yet another North Carolina community managed to jump four CRS classes!
The graph and sidebar below show the number of CRS communities by class as of May 1, 2006.  CRS Communities by Class as of May 1, 2006 Class 9 = 310 (30%) Class 8 = 418 (40%) Class 7 = 203 (20%) Class 6 = 72 (7%) Class 5 = 32 (3%) Class 4 = 1-Fort Collins, Colorado Class 3 = 1-King County, Washington Class 2 = 1-Tulsa, Oklahoma Premium Discounts Awarded for Activities to Reduce Risks For CRS participating communities, flood insurance premium rates are discounted in increments of 5 percent. For example, a Class 1 community would receive a 45 percent premium discount, while a Class 9 community would receive a 5 percent discount (a Class 10 community is not actively participating in the CRS and receives no discount). The CRS classes for local communities are based on 18 creditable activities, organized under four categories: (i) Public Information, (ii) Mapping and Regulations, (iii) Flood Damage Reduction, and (iv) Flood Preparedness. Your Community Could Benefit, Too! Many communities that are not yet participating in the CRS are already engaged in public information, mapping and regulations, flood damage reduction, and flood preparedness activities that could earn CRS credit once documented. For more information about how to join this successful program, visit the CRS Resource Center. |
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Last updated on December 1, 2006
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