Meeting Summary
The city council held a study session on the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) and flood insurance. Norman is currently a CRS Class 6 community, providing a 20% flood insurance discount for properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area. The city faces a potential drop to Class 7 due to its Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (B-SEGS) rating, which would reduce resident savings. Discussions focused on strategies to maintain or improve the CRS class, including updating building codes, enhancing flood warning systems, and increasing public outreach.
Financial Matters
Flood Insurance Premium Discounts
Norman's current Class 6 CRS rating provides a 20% discount on flood insurance premiums for properties within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and 10% for those outside. A potential drop to Class 7 would reduce annual savings per policy from approximately $106 to $78, resulting in an estimated $14,000 less in savings city-wide.
Property Buy-out Programs
Discussion on past city-initiated buy-out programs for flood-prone properties, funded by Greenbelt accounts, and the potential for future voluntary buy-out programs, particularly in areas like Imhoff Creek, which could be supported by FEMA grants. These programs aim to remove structures from floodways and floodplains.
Coming Up
Watch For
- Adoption of new floodplain maps for 10 Mile Flat and Brookhaven Creek watersheds in the coming months.
- Potential council support for additional inspection training and code adoption to improve the B-SEGS rating and maintain CRS Class 6.
- Discussions regarding a future water rate increase.
- Exploration of a flood warning system and enhanced drainage maintenance.
Agenda Summary
FEMA Community Rating System and Flood Insurance Presentation
Carrie Evenson, Stormwater Program Manager, presented on Norman's participation in the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The presentation covered the definition of floodplains, the purpose of NFIP and CRS, Norman's current Class 6 CRS rating (providing a 20% flood insurance discount), flood insurance coverage statistics (18% of buildings in SFHA have flood insurance), and the potential impact of a lower B-SEGS rating on the CRS classification. Staff also discussed potential future actions to improve the city's CRS score, such as enhancing public information activities, improving drainage maintenance, and implementing a flood warning system.