Central Point improves its fed flood-insurance rating | MailTribune.com

August 06, 2012

CENTRAL POINT ? Central Point residents who are paying for flood insurance in high-risk flood zones will get a 20 percent discount the next time they renew their policies.

City officials announced this week that the city has been awarded a reduced rating under the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System.

The discount, which was improved from 15 to 20 percent, is earned through a voluntary program that offers communities a chance to achieve improved risk ratings based on efforts that promote sound floodplain management.

Actions by the city that contributed to the discount range from preserving open space and natural functions of floodplains to ensuring minimum standards for new construction, and managing drainage channels to minimize flood hazards.

With seven creeks running through town, city officials take floodplain management seriously, said Stephanie Holtey, Central Point's floodplain/stormwater coordinator.

Holtey, who serves on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's CRS Task Force, said the new rating will save 261 property owners just more than $26,000 per year.

"It's a huge achievement, and the city has worked very hard to achieve this. It's a lot of hours spent on paperwork and implementing new procedures," Holtey said.

"You can get a discount of up to 45 percent, which I think only one place in the country has accomplished. But 20 percent is really good."

In addition to working to implement new development standards, such as setbacks and house heights, a re-mapping of the city last year by FEMA changed which property owners pay for flood insurance and which ones do not, and it altered the level of risk assessed to various areas.

Central Point Farmer's Insurance agent Harry Gerhard said he was pleased to learn that flood insurance would decrease for some residents.

"Anybody who buys a house is looking at $400 to $500 in insurance," Gerhard said. "But then finding out they're in a flood zone can add a substantial cost to their monthly housing costs. On some policies where floodplain insurance is a substantial amount, a 20 percent discount can really help."

Gerhard said the city has been proactive about working to reduce flood insurance rates ? and risks ? for residents.

"The city has been very involved ... in the floodplain program," he said. "With the economy the way it is, anything the city can do to help is great."

Buffy Pollock is a freelance reporter living in Medford. Email her at buffyp76@yahoo.com.

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