In 2016 the City of Newport made a formal request for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary program that was implemented in 1990 that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP standards. Under the CRS, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reward community actions that meet the three goals of the CRS, which are: (1) reduce flood damage to insurable property; (2) strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP; and (3) encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management. There are 22,000 communities nationwide that participate in the NFIP. Of those 22,000 communities only 1,391 have done the work and been awarded the necessary credits to receive discounted insurance rates within the CRS.
Newport was visited last December by FEMA and passed the CRS certification. Effective October 1, 2017 Newport residents will see a 15% discount on their FEMA flood insurance premiums. This discount is made possible due to the high rating achieved by the City’s Department of Zoning and Inspections.
CRS certification is valid for 5 years; however, each year the community must verify that it is continuing to perform the required activities that are being credited by FEMA permitting the annual recertification.
To learn more about the CRS certification, FEMA and flood protection go to the City of Newport’s Flood
Protection website at www.engagenewport.com/floodprotection or contact Christine O’Grady at
cogrady@CityofNewport.com or 401-845- 5472.
