Owego Mayor Kevin Millar was guest speaker at the recent meeting of the Owego Rotary Club on Aug. 11. Millar was invited to share news about the Community Rating System as it relates to flood insurance. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
Standing is Wendy Deis, president of the Owego Rotary Club, during a question and answer session following a meeting held on Aug. 11. Guest speaker, Owego Mayor Kevin Millar, was invited to share news about the Community Rating System as it relates to flood insurance.
Approximately 30 members and guests of the Owego Rotary Club filled the Williamsburg Room at the Owego Treadway Inn on Tuesday, Aug. 11 for a regular meeting of the organization, which featured special guest speaker, Owego Mayor Kevin Millar.
The Owego Rotary Club is one of 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries that make up Rotary International. Comprised of business and professional leaders, as well as others from the local community, the Owego Rotary is engaged in service to the community and supports Rotary International by serving the world’s needy.
Perhaps one of the best-known functions of the Owego Rotary is their involvement in the youth exchange program. In addition, Owego Rotarians have helped to build raised beds and planted gardens for Rural Ministries, helped with planting at the Court Street project and have also participated with various road cleanup, among other activities. An example of an upcoming event, Owego Rotarians will gather at Riverview Manor on Aug. 20 to visit with residents and participate at an ice cream social.
Owego Rotary President Wendy Deis opened the meeting, followed by guest speaker, Owego Mayor Kevin Millar, who was invited to share news about the Community Rating System as it relates to flood insurance.
Millar briefly described the role of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), originally created by Congress in 1968. The NFIP allows property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance protection from the government against flood losses. Additional legislation has been enacted to strengthen the program, including the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2012 (BW-12), and most recently, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, which repeals and modifies BW-12.
Millar’s main focus of his presentation was to share local efforts made with the Community Rating System (CRS) program. The NFIP CRS is a voluntary incentive program that encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. Based on the results achieved, flood insurance premium rates are discounted.
Millar commented, “The CRS rewards communities that do more than meet minimum standards.”
Millar explained that with Owego’s population of about 3,400 and most within the floodplain, and with village property owners paying upwards of $700,000 in flood insurance premiums, he said, “I think it’s imperative that we do this to help costs.”
A CRS application was submitted in April 2014. Millar is awaiting a community assistance visit from a FEMA Representative in September of this year, which will be a fact-checking process encompassing as much as 10-30 years of information, including how Owego has adhered to the floodplain law.
For example, Millar made mention of Owego’s Flood Damage Protection law passed in 2012, and the adoption of a new floodplain map completed after the 2006 flood. Once the initial FEMA visit is complete, it could also require changes be made before the village is considered CRS approved.
Millar explained that there is a sliding scale, which reduces flood insurance premiums from 5 percent to 45 percent. Millar said Owego is now considered a CRS rating of 10 since it is not yet part of the program, and believes Owego can easily achieve an 8 or 9 rating, however the goal should be higher.
Millar said, “With a 7 rating, it would save each policy holder around $204, or $61,000 for the whole village. With a 5, it would save each policy holder around $340 or about $150,000 for the whole village.”
Additional points can be achieved under the CRS, particularly showing evidence of public education activities and community awareness, flood damage reduction activities, among other efforts, and providing information about elevation certificates in special flood hazard areas mandated by BW-12.
Community awareness efforts also include helping the public understand the floodplain map, participation in a hazard communication plan, and clarify past misinformation, such as the fact that homeowners outside of the floodplain can get flood insurance. Millar commented that this is advisable especially since the area has seen multiple flash flooding situations and other flooding outside of the floodplain.
Additional information about the CRS application will be forthcoming. For more information about the Owego Rotary Club, visit their website, owegorotary.org or find them on Facebook.
