This indicator is part of Reliable storm water system.

Indicator description:

Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Property in flood prone areas can be insured against loss through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). The NFIP Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. Flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood damage risk resulting from the community actions that meet the three goals of the CRS: reduce flood losses; facilitate accurate insurance rating; and promote the awareness of flood insurance. For CRS participating communities, flood insurance premium rates are discounted in increments relative to the progress a community makes, based on 18 activities, in four categories: Public Information, Mapping and Regulations, Flood Damage Reduction, and Flood Preparedness.

Why is this indicator relevant?

The Community Rating System creates an index that measures the extent to which a community has planned for, is mitigating flood damage, and is educating the public about the dangers of flooding. The greater the improvement the less property owners pay for flood insurance. New Mexico and Albuquerque in particular do not receive much precipitation and upstream dams now control river (Rio Grande) flooding; yet, flooding is still a problem that requires significant infrastructure investments by the State, City, and the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA). The City manages 74 ponds totaling 229 acres, maintains almost 3 million feet of collector storm drain pipes, and shares responsibility with AMAFCA for over 632,881linear feet of concrete lined channels that help protect the City from flooding.

Data Sources:
US Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Flood Insurance Program, 2008; City of Albuquerque Planning Department, 2008.

What can we tell from the data?

• Albuquerque invests significant resources in storm water management; yet, it ranks below the national average, as do Tucson and Austin, in activities that reduce the cost of flood insurance for residents.
• Albuquerque ranks below the national average in activities relating to public information, flood damage reduction, and preparedness and above the national average in mapping and regulations, which include open space preservation, higher regulatory standards, data maintenance, and storm water management.
• The average Tucson resident receives three times the discount that the Albuquerque resident receives.

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