In an effort to counteract mounting flood losses, FEMA introduced the Community Rating System (CRS) in 1990 as a way to encourage local jurisdictions to exceed the National Flood Insurance Program’s minimum standard for floodplain management. While the program has grown since its inception, there is little understanding of the degree to which mitigation activities have reduced flood-related losses to buildings and their contents over time. The effectiveness gap is addressed through the longitudinal statistical analysis of 450 CRS-participating communities. For each selected community, CRS point totals are tracked on a yearly basis over an 11-year study period from 1999 to 2009 and their impacts on insured loss claim payments based on claim type and floodplain location are tested. Results indicate that three CRS activities, freeboard requirements, open space protection, and flood protection, significantly reduce flood damage.
Open Space Protection: As an overall approach, open space protection offers a policy vehicle for keeping structures out of the most vulnerable areas where they are most likely to incur damage while also conserving other beneficial services provided by the natural environment. this is from the FEMA program which intends to incentivize the protection of open space FEMA's CRS program awards credit points to communities for flood protection measures, including open space preservation, thus it incentivizes the preservation of open space
Climate change impacts | Effect of Nbs on CCI | Effect measures |
---|---|---|
Freshwater flooding | Positive | Average amount ($) saved from avoided damages based on insured loss claim payments |
communities across the US - 450 CRS-participating communities were selected as a nationally representative sample