Good news for City of Fernandina Beach flood insurance policy holders

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

City Commission and City Staff receive CRS certificate of Class 6 Achievement from regional program manager Sue Hopfensperger

Thanks to the diligence of Fernandina Beach staff, assisted by input from Nassau County staff, city property owners should look to see rate reductions in their federally mandated flood insurance rates beginning October 1, 2013.

Sue Hopfensperger, Certified Regional Flood Plain Manager

Ms. Sue Hopfensperger appeared before the Fernandina Beach City Commission at their November 19, 2013 Regular Meeting to explain the Community Rating System (CRS) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program and what it means to city policy holders.  Hopfensperger is a certified floodplain manager responsible for a region that includes counties and municipalities in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia.

The Community Rating System was created in 1990 as an incentive for communities to do more than just regulate construction of new buildings to the minimum standards of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  It is a voluntary program that provides a way to quantify a community’s floodplain management efforts that go beyond minimum standards.  It is based on a 10-class system, with a 5% rate discount per class up to a maximum of 45% for those communities in Class 1. Only Roseville, CA, has met the top standard nationwide, and no Florida community has achieved a rating above Class 5.

There are 216 CRS communities in Florida, of which 162 are a Class 7 or better.  The city of Fernandina Beach has achieved CRS Class 6 rating.  This translates into annual combined savings of $197,682 for all city policy holders and annual premium savings of $183 for those with federally mandated flood insurance policies (20% reduction) and $42 (10% reduction) for those who have opted for flood insurance but who do not have a home in the floodplain or hold a federally backed loan on their property.  Other communities holding CRS Class 6 ratings include Alachua County and Yankeetown.

City Building Official Robert Sasser

In presenting the city with its certificate of achievement, Hopfensperger singled out city Building Official Robert Sasser and Administrative Coordinator Angie Lester for special recognition.  In addition to his other duties, Sasser is a trained (her emphasis) Certified Flood Plain Manager, an essential requirement for a community’s higher rating.  She also emphasized that while Nassau County is not a CRS community, county staff cooperated in providing data necessary for the city to claim this rating.

Administrative Coordinator Angie Lester

Hopfensperger asked commissioners and staff to assemble for the presentation.  Mr. Sasser could not attend because of illness.  City Manager Joe Gerrity immediately mounted the framed certificate on the wall in the City Commission Chamber behind the commissioners’ bench.

Gerrity stressed that the Class 6 rate reduction only applies to properties within the corporate limits of the city of Fernandina Beach, not the entire island.

For more information on the CRS program, consult the FEMA website, http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-rating-system.

Commissioner Boner receives thanks for his support from Sallie McDonald and Marsha Dean Phelts.

November 21, 2013 1:55 p.m.