The Borough Of Danville Joins National Flood Insurance Program 

Earns reduced premiums for policyholders

Release Date: October 31, 2006
Release Number: R3-06-022

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Borough of Danville, Pennsylvania, joins more than 1,000 communities nationwide engaged in community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements, earning them credits that, effective October 1, lowers the cost of flood insurance. These communities participate in NFIP's Community Rating System (CRS). The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) oversees the program through the NFIP.

Flood insurance policyholders in the Borough of Danville will receive a 10 percent discount in their premiums. More than 1000 communities are receiving flood insurance premium discounts based on the implementation of local mitigation, outreach, and educational activities that protect against flood losses. Nearly 3.4 million policyholders now benefit from the CRS.

Premium discounts resulting from CRS activities are in five percent increments, from Class 9 (five percent) to Class 1 (45 percent).  Danville is rated Class 8. As it adopts additional CRS activities its ratings will be adjusted. For example, a Class 8 community will receive a ten percent reduction, and so on. 

"Steps taken to reduce or eliminate disaster damage, called mitigation, have been shown to save $4 in disaster-related losses for every $1 spent," said Patricia Arcuri, Acting Regional Director of FEMA Region III. "It's encouraging that communities in Region III take such an active role in preparing for the future."

The Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program. It asks local governments to meet three CRS goals: (1) reduce flood losses; (2) facilitate accurate insurance rating; and (3) promote the awareness of flood insurance. Many localities are already doing a number of things that will help them meet these goals and earn CRS credit.

Activities can include some or all of the following:

Communities can earn a CRS rating by submitting an application that explains the projects they have in place or are working on. Once the information is verified and approved, FEMA provides flood insurance discounts through the NFIP. Activities that are eligible to receive credit must be continued and are recertified annually.

Local officials can find out more about the CRS by visiting www.fema.gov/nfip/. Property owners can also get information by visiting the site, by contacting their insurance agent, by visiting www.floodsmart.gov or by calling the NFIP's toll-free information line at 1-800-427-4661.

Communities with new CRS Classes:

State Community Name CRS Classification (former – new)
AR Hot Springs 9-8
CA Roseville 5-1
CA San Leandro 10-8
CO Boulder Co. 8-7
CO Thornton 8-7
FL Alachua Co. 8-7
FL Brevard Co. 8-7
FL Gainesville 8-7
FL Miami Lakes 10-6
FL Palm Beach Co. 7-6
FL Palm Beach Gardens 9-8
FL Pensacola 8-7
FL Sebastian 9-8
FL Tallahassee 7-6
FL West Palm Beach 7-6
ID Nez Perce Co. 9-7
IL Carpentersville 10-8
IL Rock Island Co. 10-7
IL Sugar Grove 10-7
IN Hancock Co. 9-8
IN Noblesville 7-5
KY Bowling Green 8-7
KY Warren County 8-7
MI Saugatuck 10-8
MI Saginaw Twp. 10-9
MI Vassar 10-6
MS Waveland 6-5
NJ Rochelle Park 10-8
NJ Seaside Park 10-8
NC Raleigh 8-7
NC Tarboro 10-8
OK Sand Springs 8-6
OK Stillwater 9-8
OR Albany 8-7
OR Tillamook 10-8
PA Danville 10-8
TN Knoxville 9-8
TN Nashville/Davison Co. 9-8
TX Austin
8-7
TX Benbrook
7-6
UT Moab
9-8
VA Roanoke County
9-8
WA Skagit County
6-5
WA Whatcom County
7-6
WI Elm Grove
8-6
WV Jefferson County
10-9

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 31-Oct-2006 13:00:02