FEMA visit could improve Wilkes-Barre’s rating, benefit flood insurance holders

June 03--WILKES-BARRE -- Flood insurance policies for some property owners could be reduced further pending a review Tuesday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At stake is the city's Community Rating System classification for the National Flood Insurance Program. Its class 6 rating, achieved in 2013, resulted in a 20-percent discount for policy holders in the Special Flood Hazard Area in South Wilkes-Barre along Solomon Creek. If the rating falls to 5, the discount correspondingly goes to 25 percent.

The city has consistently improved its rating since 2000 when it earned a class 8 rating. The review takes place on a 5-year cycle, with the last one occurring in 2012. Wilkes-Barre and Harrisburg each have a class 6 rating, the best in the state.

Municipalities voluntarily participate in the CRS program aimed at reducing flood damage to insured properties through activities such as outreach projects, technical assistance to property owners and stormwater management. The premium discounts serve as an incentive to do more than the minimum required for floodplain management.

The city's CRS coordinator and William Harris, who also is the director of planning, said he was in the process of preparing for the review and could not comment Thursday.

A FEMA spokesperson responded by email to questions about the review.

"There are approximately 1,425 policies in force in Wilkes-Barre. Of those policies, 277 are in the Special Flood Hazard Area," FEMA said.

The class 6 rating resulted in a total discount of $111,400, FEMA said. The discount would total $132,700 with a class 5 rating, FEMA said.

The city can appeal the results of the review and provide additional documentation to support its case for a better rating, FEMA said.

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