City Council Workshop March 27, 2014 Debbie Vascik, CFM Cahoon Consulting

CRS Introduction Voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding the minimum standards of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Three goals:  Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property  Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP  Foster comprehensive floodplain management Activity points and class ratings in exchange for discounts on flood insurance premiums

CRS Points A community receives a CRS rating based on points earned through various activities Increments of 500 points per CRS rating Each rating translates to a percentage discount (5% to 45%) on flood insurance premiums for properties inside the floodplain and outside (5% to 10%) Galveston’s class 7 discount (15%/5%) will appear on policy statements beginning on May 1, 2014 Non-compliant structures (e.g., built below base flood elevation) will not get the discount

CRS Points

CRS in the U.S. 1,269 CRS communities in the country 16% 6% 24% 37% 16% 1% = Classes 4, 3, 2, 1 As of 10/1/13

CRS in Texas 57 CRS communities in Texas As of 10/1/13

As of 3/20/14

CRS Participation Prerequisites to join program and to achieve classes 9, 6, 4, and 1 Four categories of activities:  Public Information Activities (300 series)  Mapping and Regulations (400 series)  Flood Damage Reduction Activities (500 series)  Warning and Response (600 series) Documentation subject to CRS specialist’s review Annual recertification required Reverification every 3 or 5 years, depending on class

Galveston CRS Application started under the old CRS Coordinator’s Manual Application submittal and verification of points earned the City a class 7 (15% in, 5% out), equal to $3.5 million in savings to the community Galveston’s current class rating is good until 2018 (unless otherwise changed by the City)

Galveston CRS Class 7 achieved through the following:  Meeting program prerequisites  Uniform Minimum Credit  Coordination among several City departments  Documentation of existing efforts by the City  Minor changes to processes (e.g., handing out advice on contractors, maintaining a log for map information)  Impact adjustment factors (e.g., determining acres of open space compared to whole floodplain area)  Community Growth Adjustment (CGA) multiplier

Galveston CRS

Galveston CRS – Moving Forward Current class 7 must be in effect for one year before a change can be made Transition to new CRS Coordinator’s Manual  Prerequisites for classes 6, 4, and 1  Reduction in CGA for Galveston – 1.15 to 1.08  New and/or revised activities including Program for Public Information  Big changes in points across the board (both increases and decreases – see handout)

Class Prerequisites Class 6  Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule of 5/5 Class 4  Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule of 4/4  Credit for the following activities: At least 100 points for a freeboard requirement At least 700 points for open space preservation and other elements of activity 430 (besides freeboard) At least 90 points for a watershed management plan At least 30 points for managing the runoff from all storms up to and including the 100-year event

Class Prerequisites Class 4 continued…  Additional activities: Documentation that at least 50% of the watershed area where future growth is expected is covered by one or more credited watershed management plans A floodplain management plan or hazard mitigation plan that receives at least 50% of the maximum points. The 50% must include at least 50% of the points in the following planning steps: Involving the public Assessing the problem Drafting an action plan

Class Prerequisites Class 4 continued…  Additional activities: At least 100 points from one or more of the 10 activities that credit protecting natural floodplain functions (activities 420, 430, 440, 450, 510) Credit for Flood Warning and Response (activity 610) including a map of all levees and areas protected by levees, inventory of building and critical facilities if levees were overtopped, description and map of dam failure threat A community may propose alternative approaches to these prerequisites to fit local conditions

Class Prerequisites Class 1  Must meet all class 4 prerequisites  Community Assistance Visit conducted by FEMA within the previous 12 months  Promote flood insurance At least 50% of the buildings in the floodplain covered by a flood insurance policy; or At least 50% of the maximum points for Flood Insurance Promotion (activity 370)

Class Prerequisites Class 1 continued…  “No adverse impact” approach to floodplain management – the action of one property owner does not adversely affect the flood risks for other properties as demonstrated by the following: At least 150 points under open space incentives and development limitations to demonstrate regulations discouraging development in the floodplain All new critical facilities must be protected to the 500-year flood level Credit for all special flood-related hazards identified in the FMP or HMP (activity 510) – hazards must be mapped and have enforced regulations

Class Prerequisites Class 1 continued…  Regulations enforcing V zone standards in coastal A zones  Regulating that flood elevations in the V zones and coastal A zones reflect future conditions, including sea level rise  Credit for regulating new development in areas subject to erosion  At least 25% of the repetitive loss properties have been mitigated (i.e., acquisition, retrofitting, or structural flood control projects) (362 RLs – 25% is 95)

Class Prerequisites Class 1 continued…  Multi-hazard mitigation plan approved by FEMA  At least 150 points from one or more of the 10 activities that credit protecting natural floodplain functions (activities 420, 430, 440, 450, 510)  Some credit for mapping and identified levees and inventory of facilities affected by overtop  Some credit under all of the elements in activity 630 (dams) – mapped, identified, inventoried A community may propose alternative approaches to these prerequisites to fit local conditions

Questions?