Clark County Earns CRS 7 Rating
Release Date: November 5, 2004
Release Number: R10-04-194
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Clark County residents now enjoy reduced flood insurance premiums as a result of their county’s active participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). According to FEMA Regional Director John Pennington, they’ll not only pay less in insurance premiums, but will also enjoy reduced exposure to flood damage.
“The CRS rewards communities for initiatives which protect their citizens from flooding,” said Pennington. “Such activities can encompass one or more of the following categories: mapping and regulations, flood damage reduction, flood preparedness or public awareness. Clark County’s new regulatory standards, storm water management initiatives and open space preservation activities have earned a CRS Class 7 Rating.”
Clark County CRS and Floodplain Coordinator Fereidoon Safdari agrees. “We’ve worked hard to develop prudent building codes, and have reduced repetitive flood losses by preserving 5,150 acres of regulatory floodplain land as open space,” said Safdari. “We can’t stop the rain but we can protect our citizens from the worst effects of flooding. After all that’s what CRS is all about!”
Flood insurance premium reductions resulting from “above and beyond the minimum” initiatives run in five percent increments, from five percent to 45 percent. Class ratings range from Ten to One. The higher the flood protection activity, the lower the Class rating.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 05-Nov-2004 17:35:17