1. CRS in Georgia How Does it Work? Why Participate?
Community Rating System
Thomas Tkacs, P.E.
August 28, 2014

2. Community Rating System
Introduction
How to join CRS
Letter of interest
Designate CRS coordinator
Statement community will comply with verification efforts.
FEMA must authorize ISO/CRS specialist
Schedule verification meeting
Quick Check >= 500 points
I will present an overview, identify some valuable guidance documents and information sources. I will then quickly run through the activities. My objective is to give you a feel for the program size and the level of detail and documentation required.
I will then quickly go through run through the calculation for points from one activity.
The speakers that follow speakers will discuss strategies to address specific
CRS activities.
How many activities are there? (18)
I will describe the program in general terms and
I will then pick one activity and do the documentation required in order to harvest the points.
Most importantly I identify data sources that will assist you to manage this process.
Speakers later today will discuss the administrative challenge.
Other speakers will address open space and higher standards.
These are interesting becouse they have the potential for one activity to generate points in multiple activities.

3. CRS Setting FEMA in financial hole Terminate subsides
Increased insurance cost
To mitigate higher policy costs, communities can join the Community Rating System (CRS)
FEMA is tens of billions of $$$$ in the red.
In response Congress passed legislation that terminated subsidies to 20% of the current policy holders.
This action, to remove subsidies would increase insurance cost.

4. CRS
CRS encourages communities to implement actions that reduce flood risk.
Reduced risk reduces the cost of the insurance coverage.
Reduced insurance premiums for policy holders.
CRS encourages communities to implement actions that reduce flood risk.
Reduced risk reduces the cost of insurance.
Reduced insurance cost results in reduced insurance premiums.
Actions such as elevate, flood proof & education.
Cost reductions can be as much as 30-40%

5. CRS Larger effort than you realize.
Easy to underestimate scope, schedule and cost.
Develop plan to compile and execute plan.
Identify activities that have already been completed.
It is important to Id activities that are already under way.
Sue will discuss Best Practices and the administrative challenge in the next presentation.

6. CRS Scope 18 Activity Series 109 Activities
Impact criteria. Can be several impact criteria for a given activity.
Point adjustments, for partial CRS credit.
All steps, processes, calculations and products must be documented.
If not skillfully managed the CRS application effort will morph into a management nightmare.

7. CRS Support & Guidance www.CRSResources.org CRS Quick Check
Activity checklists and documentation check lists
Activity Check
Documentation Lists
Activity elements
This is the most important slide. If you get nothing else be sure to take this with you. Distribute handouts
Everything you need is on CRSresources.org. If you need anything, look here first.
Quick Chec is a spreadsheet that facilitates a rapid screen of alternatives.
Handout

8. Home page

9. CRS Webinars Title Date Intro to CRS 07/15/14, 10/21/14, & 12/16/14
07/15/14, 10/21/14, & 12/16/14
Preparing for Verification Visit
11/18/14
Preparing Annual ReCert.
08/19/14 & 09/16/14
Natural Floodplain Functions
08/20/14
Drainage System Maintenance
07/16/14 & 09/17/14
Developing Outreach Projects
Flood Warning and Response
11/19/14
Developing Plans for Public Info.
Coverage Improvement Plan
Using FloodSmart tools
Details for the webinars are on

10. CRS Points and Cost Reduction
Class
Points
Reduction
% (SFHA)
% Reduction Out of SFHA 1
>4,500 45 10 2
4,000 to 4,499 40 3
3,500 To 3,999 35 4
3,000 to 3,499 30 5
2,500 to 2,999 25 6
2,000 to 2,499 20 7
1,500 to 1,999 15 8
1,000 to 1,499 9
500 to 999
0 to 499
A 45% reduction in the cost of flood insurance is possible.
The planner compiling this data must be aware of the cost:benefit.
Properties outside of a SFHA have a maximum 10% cost reduction.

11. CRS Notes Preferred Risk Properties – No discounts.
Minus-rated policies may not be eligible for CRS premium discounts.
Premium discounts are subject to change.
Define preferred risk – outside of the SFHA
Define minus-rated policies. – The FFE is below the BFE. The coverage is subsidized. FEMA is moving to risk based assessments.
Next I will briefly describe the 18 activity series.
As I do this I will point out the activities for each activity series.

12. 310 Elevation
Elevation Certificate certified after CRS application date (311.d)
Post-FIRM building
Pre-FIRM building
Computer format
EC’s on commercial website

13. 320 Map Information Service
Basic FIRM
LIMWA floodway
Other flood problems
Flood depth data
Special flood hazards
Historic flood info
Natural floodplain functions
Seven activities
Source FIS
Define Limway

14. 330 Outreach Projects Outreach projects (OP)
Outreach project to FP properties
Outreach projects
Additional outreach projects
Flood response preparations (FRP)
Program for Public Information(PPI)
Stakeholder delivery (STK)
Seven activities.
PIP – very important. PIP must include all outreach efforts.
Many other activities and elements refer to a PIP. If the action is not included on PIP the community is losing points.
PIP must include all outreach efforts. If outreach task is not included in PIP, then the activity does not quanlfy for points.

15. 340 Hazard Disclosure Real estate agents disclosure
Other disclosure required
Real estate brochure
Disclose other hazards
RE brochure targeted at real estate agents.
Four active (non-mandatory) disclosures qualify for CRS point

16. 350 Floodplain Direction Flood protection library
Locally pertinent documents
Website
Cover outreach project topics
Elevation certificate
Warning/safety information
Real Time streamgage info
EC’s on website available for download
Library: 10 items. Not all available from FEMA

17. 360 Flood Protection Assistance
Site specific hazards
Contractor names
Contractor management
Advice after a site visit
Financial assistance advice
Training
Does your community make site visits?
Do you offer advice to the property owner ?

18. 370 Flood Insurance Promotion
Flood insurance assessment
Coverage plan
Plan implementation
Technical assistance

19. 410 Floodplain Mapping New Study State review bonus
Leverage for non-FEMA cost share (multiplier)
Higher study standards
Floodway standard
Special hazard points to be added in later
Sign the CTP
CTP bonus for NS credit
802 points
Higher study standards
H&H upstream past 1 sq. to 100 ac

20. 420 Open Space Preservation
Preserved open space
Deed restriction on OSP parcel
Natural functions open space
Special hazards open space
Land development criteria/open space incentives
Low density zoning
Natural shoreline protection
2,020 points
This is potentially a large source of points. There is a potential to earn points in multiple activity areas

21. 430 Higher Regulatory Standards
Freeboard
Foundation protection
Cumulative substantial improvements
Lower substantial improvements
Protect critical facilities
Prohibit fill/compensatory storage
Natural/beneficial functions regulations
Enclosure Limitations
2,042 points
The greater the freeboard the greater the risk reduction and the lower the policy cost. Freeboard is an efficient way to reduce risk.

22. 430 con’t Other higher standards
Other higher standards/prohibit buildings
Other higher standards/prohibit storage
Special hazards regulations
State mandated standards
Building code
No hazardous chemicals in SFHA.
List of 16 chemicals

23. 430 con’t Staff training Building Dept- IAS accredited
Conduct 3 detailed inspections
Re-inspections
Offsite record storage
Manufactured home park regulations
Coastal A-Zone regulations
Freeboard in X Zones/Local drainage protection
Define IAS
More higher standards

24. 440 Flood Data Maintenance
Additional map data (GIS)
Benchmark maintenance
Erosion data maintenance
FIRM Maintenance
222 points

25. 450 Stormwater Management
SWM regulations
Size of development regulated
Design storm/manage sw volume
Public maintenance regulation
Storage basin maintenance
LID
Watershed master plan
Erosion and sediment control
WQ regulations
Again management plans are encouraged and rewarded

26. 520 Acquisition and Relocation
Five elements
Can only earn credit under one element
Credit criteria specific to each element
Impact adjustment - none
Potentially many points.
Can earn points under several activities.

27. 530 Flood Protection Elements (3) Floodplain Project Technique used
Floodplain Improvement
Protected buildings
Credit Calculation
Option 1 simpler but max 160 points
Option 2 Max 1,900 points
Must count structures

28. 540 Drainage System Maintenance
Channel debris removal
Problem site maintenance
Capital improvements program
Stream dumping regulations
Storage basin maintenance
Erosion protection maintenance

29. 610 Flood Warning and Response
Flood threat recognition system
Emergency warning dissemination
Flood response operations plan
Critical facilities planning
StormReady community
TsunamiReady community

30. 620 Levees Maintenance Failure recognition system Failure warning
Failure operations plan
Failure critical facilities

31. 630 Dams State dam safety program Failure recognition system
Failure warning
Failure operations plan
Failure critical facilities
GA has dam safety program. Every applicant gets points.

32. 710 Community Growth Adjustment
US Census growth rate
Community/county growth adjustment

33. 330 Outreach Elements (4) Outreach projects
Flood response preparations
Program for public information
Stakeholfder delivery

34. Sample Credit Calculations
330 Outreach (Max 350 points)
Two types of projects
Distributed every year
Distributed if event, prepared in advance

35. Outreach credits Message quantity and content Nature of project
Quantity of Delivery

36. OP and FRP points increase by 40% if included in PPI
OP points increase by 30% if stakeholder delivery

37. Messages