Charlotte residents have a financial breather coming their way when it comes to flood insurance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS) has recently bumped the city of Charlotte up to a Class 2 community, according to an announcement by City of Charlotte officials. This new classification kicks in as of April 1 and will net a significant discount on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies—up to 40%, putting back around $1 million or more into the pockets of insurance holders annually.
The upgraded status is no lucky fluke, it’s the fruit of the gritty dedication of staff from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services. Their efforts in bolstering public safety against the devastations of flooding through better communication, mapping, and alert systems garnered praise and the coveted CRS position. Efforts like the Flood Information Notification System have been key in achieving such a high standard of floodplain management. It’s this type of groundwork that has vaulted Charlotte into the elite top 1% of the more than 1,500 communities participating in the program, and the highest-rated in the Tar Heel State.
The CRS program is FEMA’s way of patting communities on the back, giving them a nudge towards going beyond the minimum flood management strategies required by the NFIP. There are 10 class levels to aspire to, with each climb upwards triggering further premium reductions for citizens. It’s designed with a three-fold purpose in mind: to lessen the sting of flood damage, get the insurance ratings on point, and spread the good word of flood insurance benefits. Charlotte’s recent elevation to a Class 2 ranking is telling of its heavyweight status in taking these goals to heart…