Monday evening, Greece Town Supervisor Bill Reilich was joined by Town Board Members Mike Barry, Brett Granville, Andrew Conlon, and Diana Christodaro to receive a plaque recognizing the Town of Greece’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System.
The Town of Greece is the only local municipality in Monroe County that participates in the National Flood Insurance Community Rating System Program (CRS), which is a voluntary incentive program managed by the insurance industry and recognized by FEMA. CRS recognizes communities for enforcing floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum National Flood Insurance Program requirements. There are many benefits to participating in CRS, such as improved public safety, property loss reduction, open space and natural resource protection, and better post-disaster recovery. CRS credit points are earned for a wide range of floodplain management activities, which are organized under four categories: (1) Public Information Activities, (2) Mapping and Regulations, (3) Flood Damage Reduction Activities, and (4) Warning and Response.
In 2014, Supervisor Bill Reilich’s participation in the CRS program provided Greece residents within the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area with a 10% discount on their flood insurance policies due to the Class 8 rating held by the Town of Greece. As a result of Supervisor Reilich’s direction, policies and continued efforts, the Town of Greece was officially acknowledged at this year’s annual meeting of the New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association for advancing the Town’s status in the Community Rating System to Class 7, which is currently the highest rating in New York State. This makes the Town of Greece one of only a small handful of municipalities in New York State to hold the highest rating for its efforts to protect its citizens from losses caused by flooding and notes that the Town has significantly exceeded the requirements for NFIP participation and effective floodplain management.
At the CRS’s Annual User Group Meeting, the Regional Insurance Systems Organization Auditor recognized Greece’s program as the best in New York State, the Northeast, and among the best in the entire Country. He went on to tell the group that Greece will definitely receive the Class 6 rating at next year’s meeting. This will put the Town of Greece at what will then be the new highest rating in the State of New York, making the Town the only municipality in the entire State with a Class 6 rating, and providing residents with a 20% discount on their flood insurance.
“I was honored to receive a plaque from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security acknowledging Greece’s impressive status in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System”. Said Supervisor Reilich. “I am always looking for ways to save Greece residents money, and look forward to continuing to participate in CRS’s program to ensure lower flood insurance rates”.