Flood Insurance Policyholders In Selected Communities Receive Premium Reductions
Release Date: October 2, 2001
Release Number: HQ-01-142
Washington, DC -- Property owners in 87 communities in 26 states are paying less for flood insurance as of October 1, 2001, thanks to special efforts by local officials to reduce future flood losses.
Premium reductions of at least five percent for new and existing policyholders are the result of actions taken by officials in these communities under the Community Rating System (CRS) of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The rating system rewards communities that voluntarily take steps beyond the minimum requirements of the NFIP to reduce flood risk and increase the effectiveness of flood insurance protection. Such activities can fall under the following categories: Flood Preparedness; Flood Damage Reduction; Mapping and Regulations; and Public Awareness.
Premium discounts resulting from these CRS activities range in five percent increments from Class 9 (five percent) to Class 1 (45 percent). For example, a community rated as a Class 9 will have premiums reduced five percent, a Class 8 community will receive a ten percent reduction, and so on. Among the communities affected by this years new CRS ratings are Fort Collins, Colo., and King Co., Wash., which became the nations first Class 4 communities. Tulsa, Okla., currently is the best-rated community at Class 3, which was received last year. Seven other communities---Milpitas, Calif.; North Miami, Fla.; Prince Georges Co., Md.; Austin, Minn.; Arnold, Mo.; Wrightsville Beach, N.C.; and Grand Forks, N.D.---advanced to Class 5.
Today FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh praised all of the communities being recognized with new ratings, saying, "They have earned the CRS award of lower flood insurance premiums as well as peace of mind. Thanks to efforts of their local officials, property owners should experience less flood damage in the future."
Under the NFIP, federally backed flood insurance is made available to homeowners, renters and business owners in communities that adopt and enforce local ordinances that reduce future flood losses by regulating new construction. Currently, more than 4.2 million flood insurance policies are in force in more than 19,000 participating communities nationwide, representing more than $565 billion worth of coverage.
Nearly 2.3 million policyholders in more than 900 communities now benefit from the Community Rating System. Communities qualifying for the latest reductions are:
|
Community
|
New Class
|
|---|---|
| Homewood, Ala. | 9 |
| Casa Grande, Ariz. | 8 (from 9) |
| Prescott, Ariz. | 8 (from 9) |
| Little Rock, Ark. | 8 (from 9) |
| Milpitas, Calif. | 5 (from 6) |
| Palo Alto, Calif. | 7 (from 8) |
| Placer Co., Calif. | 6 (from 8) |
| Redding, Calif. | 6 (from 7) |
| San Jose, Calif. | 7 (from 8) |
| Santa Barbara, Calif. | 7 (from 8) |
| Santa Clarita, Calif. | 9 |
| Cherry Hills Village, Colo. | 8 (from 9) |
| Fort Collins, Colo. | 4 (from 6) |
| Vail, Colo. | 7 (from 8) |
| Newark, Del. | 7 (from 8) |
| Baker Co., Fla. | 8 |
| Belleair Beach, Fla. | 7 (from 8) |
| Charlotte Co., Fla. | 6 (from 7) |
| Citrus Co., Fla. | 7 |
| Coconut Creek, Fla. | 7 (from 8) |
| Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 8 (from 9) |
| Fort Pierce, Fla. | 8 (from 9) |
| Kissimmee, Fla. | 8 (from 9) |
| Layton, Fla. | 8 |
| Lee Co., Fla. | 6 (from 7) |
| Miami Beach, Fla. | 7 (from 8) |
| Miami-Dade Co., Fla. | 6 (from 7) |
| North Miami, Fla. | 5 (from 6) |
| Ocala, Fla. | 8 (from 9) |
| Oldsmar, Fla. | 7 (from 8) |
| Tamarac, Fla. | 8 (from 9) |
| Canyon Co., Idaho | 8 (from 9) |
| Nez Perce Co., Idaho | 9 |
| Adams Co., Ill. | 8 (from 9) |
| Bartlett, Ill. | 8 (from 9) |
| Lansing, Ill. | 7 (from 8) |
| Lisle, Ill. | 7 (from 8) |
| Shawnee, Kan. | 8 (from 9) |
| Orleans Parish, La. | 8 (from 9) |
| Georgetown, Maine | 9 |
| Portland, Maine | 8 (from 9) |
| York, Maine | 8 (from 9) |
| Prince Georges Co., Md. | 5 (from 7) |
| Austin, Minn. | 5 (from 7) |
| Gulfport, Miss. | 8 (from 9) |
| Madison, Miss. | 8 (from 9) |
| Waveland, Miss. | 7 (from 8) |
| Arnold, Mo. | 5 (from 7) |
| Independence, Mo. | 7 (from 9) |
| St. Charles Co., Mo. | 8 |
| Barnegat Light, N.J. | 8 (from 9) |
| Beach Haven, N.J. | 8 (from 9) |
| Brigantine, N.J. | 7 (from 9) |
| Mantoloking, N.J. | 7 (from 8) |
| Mullica Township, N.J. | 9 |
| Ocean City, N.J. | 7 (from 8) |
| Craven Co., N.C. | 8 (from 9) |
| Dare Co., N.C. | 7 (from 8) |
| Kill Devil Hills, N.C. | 7 (from 8) |
| Kitty Hawk, N.C. | 7 (from 8) |
| Manteo, N.C. | 7 (from 8) |
| Nags Head, N.C. | 6 (from 7) |
| New Hanover Co., N.C. | 7 (from 8) |
| Oak Island, N.C. | 7 (from 9) |
| Raleigh, N.C. | 8 (from 9) |
| Wrightsville Beach, N.C. | 5 (from 6) |
| Grand Forks, N.D. | 5 (from 6) |
| Corvallis, Ore. | 7 (from 8) |
| Eugene, Ore. | 7 (from 8) |
| Polk Co., Ore. | 8 (from 9) |
| Portland, Ore. | 6 |
| Sheridan, Ore. | 8 |
| Folly Beach, S.C. | 8 (from 9) |
| Mount Pleasant, S.C. | 8 (from 9) |
| Baytown, Texas | 7 (from 8) |
| Carrolltown, Texas | 7 (from 9) |
| Denton, Texas | 8 (from 9) |
| Duncanville, Texas | 8 (from 9) |
| Tiki Island, Texas | 9 |
| Prince William Co., Va. | 8 (from 9) |
| King Co., Wash. | 4 (from 6) |
| Whatcom Co., Wash. | 7 (from 8) |
| Eau Claire, Wisc. | 8 (from 9) |
| Green Bay, Wisc. | 7 (from 8) |
| Watertown, Wisc. | 8 (from 9) |
| Waupun, Wisc. | 8 (from 9) |
| Winnebago Co., Wisc. | 8 (from 9) |
Last Modified: Tuesday, 30-Sep-2003 11:03:09