Year: 2018
Project(s):
Relevance
The National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS) provides a holistic approach to hazard mitigation and community resilience that requires communities to go beyond minimal standards. Communities that participate in CRS can reduce the cost of flood insurance premiums and develop activities to implement to increase resilience. The more activities a CRS community can successfully implement, the greater the likelihood a community can improve its CRS class and obtain additional flood insurance savings.
Response
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) worked with floodplain managers through partnerships with two CRS user groups: Coastal Hazard Outreach Strategy Team (C-HOST) in Mississippi and the South Alabama Flood Engagement Team (SAFE-T). MASGC developed flood outreach programming, which helped refine floodplain management practices in the two states. It also provided direct technical assistance to individual communities on CRS activities. For example, MASGC helped Biloxi implement a Program for Public Information (PPI) for CRS points.
Results
By facilitating C-HOST events, MASGC coordinated targeted outreach projects for multiple CRS communities in Mississippi. One targeted event, like flood outreach at the local mall, can provide $5,347 in flood insurance savings to the Mississippi coast. Also, by creating a PPI in Biloxi, the city became eligible for 130 CRS points. If Biloxi were to gain a class as a result of the PPI, Sea Grant would have contributed to $31,947 in potential premium savings.
Recap
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant raised flood hazard awareness among coastal residents and reduced local flood insurance premiums by fostering greater jurisdictional participation in the Community Rating System program. (2018)