Kemah Rewarded For Resisting Disaster
Release Date: July 18, 2001
Release Number: 1379-67
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Houston, TX -- Kemah, a tourist mecca on Galveston Bay, thrives on fair weather but is preparing to deal with nature's worst. The city is taking steps to save lives and property if it is hit by hurricanes, floods and storm surges.
Kemah has adopted and enforced such stringent flood-management measures that in October 2000 it became the first Texas city to obtain a Class 5 rating from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) under the Community Rating System (CRS) Program. The designation means Kemah residents in the high-risk floodplain - about half its population of 2,333 -- get a 25 percent discount on their flood insurance, the lowest rates in the state. Those outside the floodplain get a 5 percent discount.
"Kemah is an example of a community that took responsibility for its own future," said Duke Mazurek, state coordinating officer from the Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of Public Safety. "Its leaders want their city to foster safety as well as prosperity."
"The Kemah floodplain ordinance meets NFIP requirements that are designed to reduce flood hazards for individuals and the community at large," said Federal Coordinating Officer Scott Wells of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "When the next big storm strikes - and it is only a matter of time before it does - communities that elevated homes or moved residents out of harm's way will appreciate the value of sound floodplain management."
Kemah, which derived its name from a Native American word meaning "wind in the face," joined the NFIP program in 1970 and, ever since, has looked for ways to resist storms and flooding. In 1983, the city adopted a renewal program that razed 34 structures, including 14 that repeatedly flooded.
The city joined the Community Rating System a decade ago, approved a floodplain ordinance in 1992 and updated it in May 1999. Why did the city ask its residents to accept measures exceeding FEMA's requirements?
"Initially, I think the council members were interested in lowering the flood insurance rates," said Barbara Roberts, Kemah's public works secretary.
Meanwhile, storms periodically reminded the community of the need to floodproof property. In 1998, a hurricane hit the coast, causing $36,000 in damage to Kemah's street ends and other public infrastructure. This year, Tropical Storm Allison caused minor damage to nine homes and four businesses. "We feel we were very fortunate," said Roberts. "Overall we weathered the storm well."
Kemah officials aren't relying on luck. They have begun enforcing the floodplain ordinance, said Roberts. "In the past several years we have become very strict," she said. "Anything in the floodplain has to be 18 inches above the FEMA required elevation requirements. Homeowners planning new construction, substantial remodeling or homes that have a history of damage are all required to adhere to the requirements."
These floodplain requirements did not discourage commercial development. About 60 percent of Kemah's tourist complex has been built in the past two years, Roberts noted.
Some additional measures that Kemah city officials have implemented, which earned them the lowest rate include:
- Acquiring and/or relocating flood-prone structures
- Implementing a method to ensure the drainage system is maintained
- Providing map information for citizens and other interested parties
- Making flood insurance information available at the library for public use
Under the Community Rating System, cities earn discounts in flood insurance in five percent increments from Class 9 (5 percent) to class 1 (45 percent).
Last Modified: Friday, 17-Oct-2003 15:42:05