Sea Isle City has now been recognized by FEMA reps which have granted it a new Class 6 status.
Last week, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives went to Sea Isle City, which has now received a plaque from the agency to recognize the changes that they have made, as well as their new “Class 6” designation within the Community Rating System (CRS) from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
The city officially received its Class 6 status in October after several initiatives were put into place.
Those efforts include the approval of ordinances, as well as working directly with property owners in order to better adhere to the stringent building standards that FEMA has put into place. This new status designation will mean that compliant structures within the city will experience a 20 percent annual reduction in the premiums that are paid for their flood insurance coverage.
The CRS is a flood insurance incentive program that is voluntary for community participation.
The CRS program is designed to help provide recognition to communities that take part in floodplain management activities that go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. It provides incentives for taking this additional action against damage from flooding.
The result is that flood insurance premiums are reduced in order to reflect the decrease in risk of flooding that is achieved from the communities that have made these efforts. The three goals that must be met by the communities in order to qualify include:
• The reduction of damage from flooding to insurable property
• The promotion a comprehensive approach to the management of the floodplain
• The strengthening and support of the coverage elements of the NFIP.
FEMA’s presentation ceremony was attended by a number of its representatives, including Timothy Crowly, its Region 2 Director of Mitigation, as well as Crystal Tramunti, the CRS Coordinator, and Patricia Griggs, the Senior Natural Hazards Program Specialist. Also in attendance was James Watt from the New Jersey Bureau of Dam and Flood Control.
These efforts have not only reduced the flood insurance premiums that will be paid by the city’s residence, but it will also decrease their risk of experiencing damage should flooding occur.