City Participation in FEMA Program Provides Residents with Discounted Flood Insurance Rates

The City of Cedar Rapids participates in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System. This program is offered through FEMA and enables Cedar Rapids property owners to receive lower flood insurance premiums for their homes or businesses, based on efforts the City is making at reducing flood risk and increasing community awareness of flooding.

For communities who participate in the Community Rating System, flood insurance premium rates are discounted based on a city’s efforts to reduce flood damage, foster comprehensive floodplain management, and help build a more flood-resilient community.

Flood insurance premium rates in Community Rating System communities are discounted in increments of 5 percent, ranging from a Class 1 to a Class 10.

A Class 10 community is not participating in the CRS and receives no discount; a Class 1 community receives a 45 percent premium discount.

Cities can earn discounts by focusing actions on creditable activities, organized in four categories:

• Public Information
• Mapping and Regulations
• Flood Damage Reduction
• Warning and Response

Based on ongoing local efforts in the above categories, the City of Cedar Rapids is designated a Class 6 community, with Cedar Rapids residents receiving a 20 percent discount on flood insurance premium rates as compared to other communities not participating in the program.

On January 12, 2021, City Council approved a resolution accepting Cedar Rapids’ annual reports on its Community Rating System participation, which is required for recertification of the program and enables property owners to continue receiving discounted flood insurance rates. Recertification is underway and is anticipated to be approved this summer. Residents can find the annual reports on the City’s website.

Cedar Rapids has been participating in the Community Rating System since 2010. Opportunity to improve the community’s ranking will continue to increase as more segments of the permanent Flood Control System come online. The system of levees, removable walls, gates, and other permanent infrastructure will result in property becoming less vulnerable to flood risk and being removed from the floodplain.