An Overview of the Community Rating System (CRS )

2. An Overview of theCommunityRating System (CRS)

3. Goals of the CRS 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.

4. The goal is to encourage communities and states to exceed the minimum standards of the NFIP by the use of flood insurance premium adjustments The objective is to reward communities that are exceeding the minimum standards Community Rating System

5. Incentive • CRS provides an incentive for communities to initiate new flood protection activities.

6. A community must be in the Regular Phase of the NFIP A community must be in full compliance with the minimum standards of the NFIP Minimum Requirements for Participation in the CRS

7. PRE-REQUISITES TO APPLY • HAVE HAD CAV WITHIN LAST YEAR AND RECEIVED LETTER OF GOOD STANDING • REPETITIVE LOSS PROPERTY ANALYSIS & PLAN • FLOOD INSURANCE MAINTAINED ON ALL COMMUNITY BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY

8. CRS Basics • Voluntary program • Recognizes good floodplain management above and beyond the minimum requirements of the NFIP • Modeled on the fire insurance rating system • Insurance Services Office (ISO) • ISO/CRS Specialist in West Virginia: Tom Brett TBrett@iso.com

9. Costs to Community • Pass a CAV • Designate CRS Coordinator • Implement activities • Elevation certificates • Repetitive Loss Plan • Maintain records

10. Communities must maintain FEMA’s Elevation Certificates for all new and substantially improved construction after the date of application for CRS classification. Minimum Requirements for Participation in the CRS...

11. Repetitive Losses • Communities with 10 or more repetitive loss properties must implement a repetitive loss plan • Repetitive Loss: two or more losses within the last ten years that exceed $1,000

12. Premium Discount Class Points SFHA Non‑SFHA 1 4,500 45% 10% 2 4,000 40% 10% 3 3,500 35% 10% 4 3,000 30% 10% 5 2,500 25% 10% 6 2,000 20% 10% 7 1,500 15% 5% 8 1,000 10% 5% 9 500 5% 5% 10 0 0

13. What If? • City of Buckhannon • 160 Policies: $155,767 premiums • Average premium $692 • CRS Class 9: average savings $37 ($8227 total) • CRS Class 7: average savings $103 ($23,239 total) • CRS Class 5: savings $173 ($38,975 total)

14. What If? • Kanawha County • 2017 Policies: $1,434,394 premiums • Average premium $711 • CRS Class 9: savings $33 ($66,008 total) • CRS Class 7: savings $92 ($184,687 total) • CRS Class 5: savings $154 ($310,035 total)

15. Benefits • Money stays in the community • Insurance savings are a political plus! • Improved flood protection • Better organized programs • Evaluate vs. national benchmark • Technical assistance • Incentive to keep implementing • Public information builds constituency

16. Where are the CRS Communities?

17. West Virginia CRS Communities • Berkeley County • Buckhannon • Charleston • Jefferson County • Philippi

19. Crediting Process • Application • Verification • Verification Visit • Recertification • Modification • Cycle Verification

20. CRS/ISO REP-TOM BRETT • ISO= INSURANCE SERVICES OFFICES, THE CONTRACTOR COMPANY THAT ADMINISTERS THE CRS PROGRAM FOR FEMA. HE AND HIS ASSOCIATES WILL ADVISE AND GUIDE APPLICANTS; SCREEN AND PREAUDIT APPS; WORK WITH YOU TO MAXIMIZE POINTS EARNED; AND AUDIT AFTER ENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE CRS CLASS STANDING.

21. Four Categories of Activities • 300 Series – Public Information • 400 Series – Mapping and Regulations • 500 Series – Flood Damage Reduction • 600 Series – Flood Preparedness

22. 310 Elevation Certificate 320 Map Information 330 Outreach Projects 340 Hazard Disclosure 350 Flood Protection Library 360 Flood Protection Assistance 300 PUBLIC INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

23. 410 Additional Flood Data 420 Open Space Preservation 430 Higher Regulatory Standards 440 Flood Data Maintenance 450 Stormwater Management 400 MAPPING AND REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

24. 510 Floodplain Management Planning 520 Acquisition and Relocation 530 Retrofitting 540 Drainage System Maintenance 500 FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

25. 610 Flood Warning Program 620 Levee Safety 630 Dam Safety 600 FLOOD PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES

26. Self Assessment Tool www.crs2012.org

31. State Profile

33. Uniform Minimum Credits

35. HIGHER REGULATORY STANDARDS • FREEBOARD-80 POINTS PER FOOT • NO FILL IN FLOODPLAIN • 2 ACRE/10 LOTS • STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM-REGULAR INSPECTION, NO DUMPING IN, ETC. • 5 ACRES OPEN SPACE-UP TO 65 POINTS • CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE • NON-CONVERSION AGREEMENT

36. Resources • E278 NFIP/Community Rating System (at EMI): • http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/CRS/ • User Groups • Locally offered workshops

37. CRS/ISO REP-TOM BRETT • ISO= INSURANCE SERVICES OFFICES, THE CONTRACTOR COMPANY THAT ADMINISTERS THE CRS PROGRAM FOR FEMA. HE AND HIS ASSOCIATES WILL ADVISE AND GUIDE APPLICANTS; SCREEN AND PREAUDIT APPS; WORK WITH YOU TO MAXIMIZE POINTS EARNED; AND AUDIT AFTER ENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE CRS CLASS STANDING.

38. Questions?