Coastal Services Center

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Community Rating System

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Interact with Floodplain Management Data

The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary program that provides incentives to encourage and reward communities for undertaking public awareness and floodplain management activities beyond the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) implemented the NFIP's CRS program in 1990. In Florida, the Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) that resides in the Governor's Office is designated to coordinate the NFIP and CRS.

FDEM encourages local governments to develop comprehensive flood mitigation plans that address all aspects of floodplain management by participating in the CRS. A community must participate in the NFIP to reap the benefits provided under the CRS. To interact with Brevard and Volusia Counties' CRS data, visit the Floodplain Management interactive maps.

The NFIP encourages communities to:

• Reduce flood damages to existing buildings
• Manage development in areas not mapped by the NFIP
• Protect new buildings beyond the minimum NFIP protection level
• Help insurance agents obtain flood data
• Help people obtain flood insurance

The CRS objectives are to:

• Reduce flood losses
• Facilitate an accurate insurance rating
• Promote the awareness of flood insurance

Communities that undertake activities to reduce flood losses under the CRS may benefit from the following rewards:

• Increased public safety
• Reduction of damages to property and public infrastructure
• Avoidance of economic disruption and losses
• Reduction of human suffering
• Protection of the natural environment
• Reduction of NFIP policy premiums from 5 to 45 percent!

Rewards are determined by the number of points that the community qualifies for by partaking in CRS activities. CRS activities are divided into four categories: public information, mapping and regulatory activities, flood damage reduction and flood preparedness. Examples of CRS activities include the following:

• Providing FEMA's elevation certificate data on a Web site or making copies available upon request
• Advising residents about the flood hazard, flood insurance, and flood protection measures
• Preserving floodplain areas for conveyance and storage of flood waters for natural and beneficial functions
• Regulating new development outside the floodplain to minimize adverse impacts in flood-prone areas
• Discouraging construction in flood-prone areas
• Relocating buildings outside of the floodplain and converting flood-prone properties to open space (e.g., parks, picnic areas, playgrounds) to prevent future damage to buildings
• Maintain the capacities of drainage channels and retention facilities in developed areas (e.g., keeping drainage channels free of debris and posting no dumping signs to prevent channel blockage to allow floodwater to drain away from people and property)
• Providing flood warnings to the public and developing a response plan

CRS Credit Based Classification System

Credit Points	Class	SFHA*	Non-SFHA
4,500+	1	45%	5%
4,000 - 4,499	2	40%	5%
3,500 - 3,999	3	35%	5%
3,000 - 3,499	4	30%	5%
2,500 - 2,999	5	25%	5%
2,000 - 2,499	6	20%	5%
1,500 - 1,999	7	15%	5%
1,000 - 1,499	8	10%	5%
500 - 999	9	5%	5%
0 - 499	10	0%	0%

*SFHA: Special Flood Hazard Area

What Can the Public Do?

What can the private citizen do to help keep their community in good standing with the CRS program to ensure that their families and property are better protected from flooding?

• Support local legislation in designating publicly owned land for open space in high-risk areas. This information can be determined in the RVAT Hazards Analysis. In addition to minimizing development in high-risk flood areas or redirecting flood waters to other areas, open space can be used for parks, golf courses, or other areas to be enjoyed by citizens and tourists.
  (Activity 420(a) — receive up to 725 points)
• If you make home improvements that would raise the lowest floor above the base flood elevation, notify the local NFIP or CRS coordinator so that this information can be tracked for the community.
  (Activity 430(c) — receive up to 110 points)
• When your community engages in floodplain management planning, citizens can assist by attending meetings when invited. Citizens can help provide knowledge and feedback, and become educated about hazards, loss reduction measures, and the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains.
  (Activity 510(a) — receive up to 72 points)
• Don't dump trash or otherwise fill in drainage channels. Maintaining free flow in these channels provides drainage for floodwaters, which route the water away from people and property.
  (Activity 540 — receive up to 110 points)

Additional Information

Follow this link for more information about the Community Rating System (CRS)

A Local Official's Guide to Implementing the National Flood Insurance Program in Florida

Carrying Out Floodplain Management in Your Community: A Home Study Course for Florida Officials

The Natural Hazards Mitigation Planning: A Community Guide

For local governments and citizen-groups to prepare a streamlined, cost-efficient multiple-natural-hazards mitigation plan according to per new federal regulations under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.

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