Redlands policyholders to see discount in flood insurance premiums

April 15--REDLANDS -- Policyholders in special flood hazard areas can expect a discount on their flood insurance premiums.

The National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has improved the city's rating, allowing property owners to receive a 10 percent reduction on their premiums.

Policies renewed on or after Oct. 1, 2015, are eligible for the discount.

"We're pleased to see that the flood insurance rates have declined, rather than increased," Mayor Paul Foster said. "That's encouraging news."

The voluntary incentive program reduces flood insurance premium rates in communities that work to mitigate flood risk.

Through the program, communities are rated classes 1 through 10, with Class 1 communities receiving the highest discount of 45 percent. Class 10 communities do not receive discounts.

Redlands' rating has improved from class 9 -- with a 5 percent discount -- to class 8, increasing the discount to 10 percent.

As of Jan. 31, 648 flood insurance policies were written in the city's flood hazard areas, totaling $177 million in property coverage, according to a city news release.

Redlands was recognized for preserving open space; providing flood zone and flood-related information to the public; maintaining elevation certificates for new and substantially improved buildings; enforcing building codes and state-mandated standards for developments in flood hazard areas; and maintaining and using digitalized maps in floodplain management, according to a city news release.

FEMA is required by law to identify and map the nation's flood-prone areas and to establish flood-risk zones, known as special flood hazard areas, according to a statement from the agency.

FEMA's flood-hazard maps are used by the insurance industry to determine premiums. Premiums are higher for properties inside special flood hazard areas.

John Berry of Redlands has been calling on the city to draw its own base elevation maps, after petitioning to get his home removed from a high-risk flood zone drawn by FEMA.

Berry, who has been helping neighbors petition out of the zone, said his house is elevated more than 33 feet above a nearby culvert, which was identified by FEMA as the source of the flood risk.

Owning a home in the zone cost him nearly $1,900 a year for flood insurance. Now that he is out of the zone, he has the option to pay $450 for the same policy, he said.

"If they draw their own flood map, FEMA couldn't come in and impose it from Washington, which is what they're doing now," Berry said. "That's why a lot of Redlanders have been screwed over by FEMA. We're basically being extorted."

Under congressional guidance and direction, FEMA continues to update its flood hazard maps, according to FEMA's statement.

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