FEMA honors Baltimore City’s Floodplain Management

High honor and Class Five designation means thousands of Baltimore residents will save hundreds of thousands collectively on flood insurance bills

Top officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will visit the City of Baltimore on Wednesday to reward the city for its outstanding achievements in reducing flood risks and increasing community resilience. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will accept a special plaque recognizing the city’s proactive floodplain management program and community preparedness work. Because of the city’s efforts, Baltimore City flood insurance policy holders will receive dramatic discounts on their flood insurance rates.

Rawlings-Blake will receive the official certification on behalf of the citizens of Baltimore in the Mayor’s Ceremonial Room at city hall on June 22nd at 4pm.

Baltimore City has received a Class Five honor under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS). The designation recognizes the work of Baltimore communities in partnership with city government in mitigating risk and increasing preparedness for flood hazards well beyond the minimum standards of the National Flood Insurance Program. The city’s entirely voluntary participation in this program means that people and property are not only better protected against flood risk, but that thousands of Baltimore City residents and business owners will receive flood insurance discounts of up to 25 percent per year — a savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars city-wide.

Baltimore city faces many challenges from flooding events, which have grown more frequent and severe as the impact of climate change grows. In 2003, Hurricane Isabel caused Baltimore $4.8 million in damages and left 70,000 residents without power. Since flood losses are not covered by standard homeowner and commercial policies, FEMA offers coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program in communities that take certain minimum steps to better manage their floodplain risk. The Community Ratings System provides an opportunity for communities to go above those minimum standards and rewards their initiative with reduced insurance premiums. Baltimore is now one of the few cities with a Class Five designation and one of the only cities on the east coast, reflecting recognized excellence in its approach to public information, mapping and regulations, flood damage reduction, and flood preparedness.

Baltimore residents and business within the City’s 100-year floodplain (Special Flood Hazard Area) will receive a 25 percent reduction in annual flood insurance premiums going forward, while all other policyholders will receive a 10 percent discount on their premiums. A fully searchable interactive map of affected areas is available at:
http://www.baltimoresustainability.org/floodplain-management-program/#FEMARiskMap.

Baltimore city planning officials estimate that the savings will affect over 3,000 policyholders immediately, including their families and many small businesses, with an average savings of
$153 a year. The citizens of Baltimore pay almost $2.5 million collectively in flood insurance annually, meaning the new designation will save them almost half a million dollars every year.

The most significant number of points awarded in the designation process came from the city’s strong community outreach and education. The efforts to cultivate and coordinate community initiatives that reduce floodplain risk form part of the Baltimore Office of Sustainability’s new Every Story Counts campaign (http://www.baltimoresustainability.org/every-story-counts/), a citywide initiative to engage residents in shaping a stronger, healthier, and fairer Baltimore. The campaign aims to show how sustainability and resilience come in many forms and that every action we take to strengthen our communities and help each other brings us closer to creating the just and thriving city all the people of Baltimore deserve.

Baltimore’s success in securing the CRS Class Five designation proves that a collaborative municipal and community-driven efforts to create stronger neighborhoods and a better informed citizenry can produce real results and solutions as the effects of climate change continue to impact the City.

About the Office of Sustainability

The Baltimore Office of Sustainability develops and advocates for programs, policies, and actions by government, citizens, businesses, and institutions that improve the long-term environmental, social, and economic viability of Baltimore City. The Office works with the Baltimore Sustainability Commission to oversee and track the implementation of the Baltimore Sustainability Plan, and the Office integrates sustainability into city government operations and collaborates with other individuals and organizations working to advance community health and vibrancy.

Find out more at baltimoresustainability.org