The City of Central is proud to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). We also work within the Community Rating System (CRS) to help flood insurance policity holders receive discounts on their flood insurance rates. 

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What is the National Flood Insurance Program? 

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The NFIP is a Federal program created by Congress to mitigate future flood losses nationwide through sound, community-enforced building and zoning ordinances and to provide access to affordable, federally backed flood insurance protection for property owners. The NFIP is designed to provide an insurance alternative to disaster assistance to meet the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods. Participation in the NFIP is based on an agreement between local communities and the Federal Government that states that if a community will adopt and enforce a floodplain management ordinance to reduce future flood risks to new construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the Federal Government will make flood insurance available within the community as a financial protection against flood losses.

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How does the NFIP benefit property owners? Taxpayers? Communities? 

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Through the NFIP, property owners in participating communities are able to insure against flood losses. By employing wise floodplain management, a participating community can reduce risk and protect its citizens and the community against much of the devastating financial losses resulting from flood disasters. Careful local management of development in the floodplains results in construction practices that can reduce flood losses and the high costs associated with flood disasters to all levels of government.

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Is there any way to obtain a community-wide discount on the cost of flood insurance premiums? 

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All communities in the NFIP adopt and enforce minimum standards for managing construction and development in their Special Flood Hazard Areas. Some communities want to achieve a higher level of safety and protection for their citizens than achieved through implementing minimum standards. When these communities join the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS), their policyholders may receive a discount on flood insurance premiums. The CRS recognizes communities for their additional efforts to (1) reduce flood damage to insurable property; (2) strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP; and (3) encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management. Communities that join the CRS receive a rating according to a point system devised to reflect the level of safety provided through the floodplain management activities they implement. CRS communities are assigned a CRS Class, from Class 9 to Class 1, that establishes the level of premium discount policyholders receive. The discount on their annual flood insurance premiums can range from 5% to as much as 45%, based on the community’s CRS Class. Policyholders in a CRS Class 9 community receive the lowest discount of 5%. The highest discount of 45% is provided in CRS Class 1 communities and requires the most points. The discount applies to policies for properties located in the Special Flood Hazard Area that qualify. Properties located outside the Special Flood Hazard Area receive smaller discounts.

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Why would a community want to join the CRS?

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Many communities, especially those with severe flood hazards, high rates of growth, or a history of repeated flooding, are aware of the wide range of actions they can take to reduce flood risk in addition to participating in the NFIP. These actions keep their citizens safer, minimize property damage, build resiliency, and foster a better quality of life within the community. Joining the CRS enables communities to earn insurance premium reductions for their residents for activities already being implemented by a community. Community participation in the CRS provides a national benchmark by which a community can measure its performance in floodplain management. It also provides recognition for a job well done and fosters a sense of community pride.

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For more detailed information on the NFIP and CRS points, click here. 

Click here for Flood Awareness Week 8/29/22

 8/30/22  8/31/22  9/1/22  9/2/22

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