New insurance rates don’t affect all

Aug. 06--The Coastal Barrier Resources Act, or CBRA, was established in 1982 to encourage the conservation of hurricane-prone and biologically rich coastal barriers by not allowing those in CRBA areas to receive flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program, according to North Topsail Beach's website.

It's a way to discourage development in those areas, and about two-thirds of N. Topsail Beach is CBRA territory, Planning Director Deb Hill said.

What this means is structures built or substantially improved in CRBA-designated areas on or after the effective dates of Oct. 1, 1983 or Nov. 16 1990 aren't eligible to be part of the town's Community Rating System (CRS) or get a break on flood insurance rates.

"The town has really put their shoulder behind trying to get (CRBA designations) repealed or modified," Hill added.

The good news, in addition to having N. Topsail Beach fight for a change, is there are other local places involved with CRS.

Emerald Isle has also taken initiative and brought their town to a Class 7, which gives those with flood insurance a 15 percent discount, according to a NTB slide show.

Town Planner Josh Edmondson said for Emerald Isle, the town enforces storm water management, gives out flood insurance brochures annually in connection with Carteret County, and tries to preserve open space in the flood plane, among other requirements.

Mostly, Edmondson said they make sure their information is kept up to date so the town can keep their Class 7 certification.

Onslow County also participates in CRS, according to Ben Warren, the Onslow County Planning and Development director who responded to an email from The Daily News.

Warren wrote, "Onslow County is currently rated as a 7, which results in a 15 percent discount on insurance premiums for properties located in special food hazard areas."

Reporter Amanda Thames can be reached at 910-219-8467 or Amanda.Thames@JDNews.com

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