In light of recent Executive orders focused on equity, climate change and environmental justice, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a Request for Information on the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) Community Rating System program. The Community Rating System is a voluntary program that incentivizes floodplain management activities that exceed minimum requirements by offering discounts on flood insurance premiums for NFIP policy holders; these discounts can range from 5% to up to 45%. FEMA is seeking input to inform efforts to better align various floodplain management initiatives with improved understanding of flood risk and risk mitigation, incentivize communities and policyholders to be more resilient by lowering their vulnerability to flood risk, as well as support the financial integrity of the NFIP. More specifically, FEMA is soliciting ideas to reduce the risks of climate change, sea-level rise, and future development through greater participation in the program, including potentially expanding or streamlining the program for multi-jurisdictional collaboration.
For more information, please see here. Written comments are due on September 22, 2021. Counties are encouraged to share feedback with RCRC, including nature-based solutions or projects to improve resiliency or to mitigate flood risk; please contact RCRC Regulatory Affairs Advocate, Leigh Kammerich.