Supervisor Bill Reilich is pleased to announce that the Town of Greece, through participation in the National Flood Insurance Community Rating System (CRS) Program, has achieved a class rating of 6, which will result in additional savings for taxpayers. Our participation as a Class 6 CRS Community will provide Greece residents within the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area with a twenty percent discount on their flood insurance policies. Benefits also include improved public safety, property loss reduction, open space and natural resource protection, and better post-disaster recovery. This reduction is significant as flood insurance rates have risen dramatically due to federal laws aimed at making the program self-funding and the elimination of subsidies.
The National Flood Insurance Community Rating System Program 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.
Effective May 1, 2018, the Town of Greece will become the highest rated CRS community in New York State. Greece is among only 34 communities that have taken on the effort and responsibility of becoming a CRS community within New York. In a letter sent from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, it was written that the Town of Greece has always been a leader for the CRS program, serving as a valuable example and resource for other communities interested in improving their CRS rating.
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 the 2017 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. Supervisor Reilich continued to invest in efforts aligning with flood insurance policies, resulting in the Town of Greece receiving a class 6 rating, which will be effective May 1st, 2018. This makes the Town of Greece the only Class 6 municipality in New York State, meaning the Town holds 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.
“Since first taking office, saving taxpayer dollars has been my top priority” said Supervisor Reilich. “I am continuously searching for opportunities and programs to save residents money. I am pleased to announce that effective May 1st, 2018, Town of Greece citizens who currently have flood insurance will receive a 20% reduction on their National Flood Insurance rates. As a result of the efforts the Greece Town Board and I have put into participating in the CRS, our community is in an improved position to address the increasing frequency of flood events. We take pride in being leaders in floodplain management and an excellent example to other communities”.