Virginia Beach applies for program to lower flood insurance premiums

Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)

Nov. 01--VIRGINIA BEACH -- Trailing behind its neighbors, Virginia Beach is the last city in South Hampton Roads to apply for a program that would decrease flood insurance premiums for residents.

Virginia Beach began the application process for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Community Rating System in June. The program awards discounts on flood insurance based on mitigation practices in an area.

Flood insurance customers in the city would see a 5 to 10 percent decrease in their annual bill once the application process is finished, Virginia Beach planner Whitney McNamara said.

But it will be a few years before the reduction is actually reflected in premiums, McNamara said.

There are 22,552 flood insurance policies in Virginia Beach, a regional FEMA spokesperson said. The average annual price in the city ranges from $385 for people in low-risk zones to $789 for residents in areas that are likely to flood.

But policies for the most vulnerable parts of the city can range from $2,000 up to $10,000 if the property has flooded before, said emergency manager Erin Sutton. Properties that would have the highest premiums are mostly along Shore Drive and in the southern end of the city.

City staff explored several options for lowering premiums, McNamara said. A bigger discount would cost the city more, she said.

During presentations for the program, city manager Dave Hansen expressed concerns about how expensive the Community Rating System could be. But it may help residents afford flood insurance, which everyone in Virginia Beach should have, he said.

{span}"While I am still concerned about some of the restrictions in the program, ultimately the priorities for the City and the City Council are flood mitigation and helping people who live in our coastal community afford flood insurance," Hansen said.{/span}

The price to join the project for a 5 to 10 percent decrease is minimal. The work consists of primarily documenting practices that already exist, McNamara said.

Virginia Beach, like many localities in Hampton Roads, will probably get most of its points from open-space preservation, McNamara said. First Landing and False Cape state parks, Back Bay and farmland in southern Virginia Beach can all be counted.

To get a higher discount, the city would have to take on projects that could cost money. FEMA awards points, which determine how much of a discount a locality gets, for actions like inspecting stormwater infrastructure every year or buying flood-prone properties.

The Community Rating System awards discounts up to 45 percent. The highest ones in Virginia are 20 percent in Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax and Gloucester counties.

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