Charleston Area Flood Insurance Costs Dip 5-10 Percent; Eight Local Officials Cited By FEMA For 'Special Efforts' 

Release Date: January 10, 2001
Release Number: R4-01-01

Charleston, SC - Top officials of seven Charleston County communities and the unincorporated county itself today will be honored for "special efforts" in guiding their areas to lower costs for their flood insurance policies.

"The net effect is that the special efforts of these communities have made it possible to reduce future flood losses," said Brad Loar of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Atlanta regional office, "and by doing so they have also brought about a substantial reduction in the cost of flood insurance policies upon renewal."

Specifically, flood policy premiums have dropped 10 percent in Awendaw, Kiawah Island, Meggett, Ravenel, Seabrook Island, McClellandville and unincorporated Charleston County. A five percent reduction in costs has occurred for Rockville. The date of the premium reduction was Oct. 1, 2000.

Howard Leikin, deputy administrator of FEMA's Federal Insurance Administration, is to present plaques to representatives of eight Charleston County communities and the chairman of the County Council today at 5 p.m. at the Mills House Hotel.

Being honored are Councilman Bryan McNeal of Awendaw; Mayor Jim Piet of Kiawah Island; Mayor Rutledge Leland of McClellanville; Mayor Grange Coffin and Town Administrator Dee Dee Donaldson, of Meggett; Mayor Opal Baldwin and Town Administrator Sonya Gentry of Ravenel; Mayor Cambridge Trott of Rockville; Town Administrator Randy Pierce of Seabrook Island; and Chairman Barrett Lawrimore of the Charleston County Council.

Among flood plain management achievements by the communities and county are membership in Project Impact, the nationwide initiative to build more disaster resistant communities; participation in the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which earmarks projects for funding priorities; low-density zoning, which requires less impervious surface for development; the Geographical Information System (GIS), a decision-making tool used in assessing risks; and an open space policy, which promotes more natural drainage areas.

The premium reductions are the result of actions taken by the officials under the Community Rating System (CRS) of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is administered by FEMA. The CRS rates steps taken beyond minimum requirements to reduce flood risk, thereby making a reduction in premiums possible.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 07-Oct-2003 11:13:51