City Of Chehalis Earns Crs 6 Rating
Residents Pay Less For Flood Insurance
Release Date: July 20, 2004
Release Number: R10-04-124
SEATTLE, Wash. -- City of Chehalis residents can now enjoy reduced flood insurance premiums as a result of their city'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 also enjoy reduced exposure to flood damage. "The CRS rewards communities for implementing programs and policies which help to protect their citizens from flooding," said Pennington. "Such activities can range from mapping, regulations and flood damage reduction to flood preparedness and public awareness programs. Chehalis' open space preservation and property acquisition, higher regulatory standards and flood warning system initiatives have earned a CRS Class 6 rating."
Chehalis Community Development Manager Bob Nacht agrees. "We've worked hard to reduce repetitive flood losses by preserving over 390 acres of regulatory floodplain property and acquiring 27 flood prone structures," said Nacht. "We can't stop the rain, but we can help protect our citizens from the worst effects of flooding. And after all, that's what the 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. The new Chehalis Class 6 rating has earned policyholders a twenty percent reduction on flood insurance premiums.
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: Tuesday, 20-Jul-2004 15:24:01