Town Earns CRS Class 4, Saving Residents 30% on Flood Insurance
June 26, 2019
CUTLER BAY, FL—The Town of Cutler Bay is proud to report that it will soon be saving flood insurance policy holders located in Special Flood Hazard Areas 30% on their premiums—which is a direct result of the efforts of Town Council, Town Staff, the Floodplain Mitigation Plan Advisory Committee and Town Consultants in earning the Community Rating System (CRS) Class 4. The CRS is a voluntary program for communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Effective October 1, 2019, the Town will become the first municipality in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties to reach Class 4 and only the third municipality in Florida to do so. The Town is currently at a CRS Class 5 and is saving residents 25% on their flood insurance premiums. Improving to CRS Class 4, the Town will save policy holders a yearly average of $248 per flood insurance policy.
The goals of the CRS are to reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property, strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management. The CRS provides incentives in the form of premium discounts to communities that go beyond the minimum federal floodplain management requirements and develop extra measures to protect private property from potential flooding.
“Reaching the CRS Class 4 has truly been a team effort involving the Town Council, the Floodplain Mitigation Plan Advisory Committee, Town staff and the Town’s professional consultants,” expressed Mayor Tim Meerbott. “As a result of our efforts, not only is our community more resilient in terms of floodplain mitigation and management, but our residents and local businesses also benefit in saving 30% on their flood insurance premiums—which I am proud to announce equates to a total of $1,823,789 savings for the Town, per year.”
Some of the many activities and projects Town Staff conducted to become a CRS Class 4 include the adoption of the Watershed Master Plan, regular inspections and cleanings of the Town’s drainage system, preserving Special Flood Hazard Areas as open space, and conducting general outreach and educational projects.
To learn more about the Community Rating System program, click here to visit FEMA’s website.
