FEMA Welcomes Haltom City, Texas to the Community Rating System

DENTON, Texas, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security'sFederal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:

Residents and business owners in Haltom City, Texas can now enjoy a reduction in flood insurance premiums because of the city's active participation in the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). In addition to lower premiums, the CRS program helps to reduce the threat of damage due to flooding.

"The flood insurance program rewards communities for implementing programs and policies that protect their residents from flooding," said Tony Robinson, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) R6 regional administrator. "By joining this program, Haltom City's higher regulatory standards, public education outreach, and other initiatives, have earned the city lower premiums as a CRS Class 7 Community."

Haltom City flood insurance policyholders who reside in Special Flood Hazard Areas will receive a 15 percent reduction on flood insurance premiums and policyholders located outside Special Flood Hazard Areas will enjoy a 5 percent discount. The reduction in flood insurance premiums represents an annual savings in premium costs for Haltom City's policy holders and will take effect at the time a new policy is written or an effective policy is renewed.

The city's flood plain management staff has worked hard to insure that Haltom City's participation in the program pays off. In addition to the reduction in insurance premiums, local officials are more knowledgeable about floodplain management and its residents are more knowledgeable about mitigation and flood insurance.

The program helps to make Haltom City a safer place to live, reduces the economic impact of flood hazards and saves citizens money on flood policy premiums.

The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary program for NFIP- participating communities. The intended goals of the program are to reduce flood losses; facilitate accurate insurance ratings; and to promote the awareness of flood insurance. For more information on the NFIP's CRS program, go to http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm.

TNS MJ88-130220-4210495 StaffFurigay