Delta communities have improved their Community Rating Scores by 4% from 2013-2023 which lowers National Flood Insurance Program costs.
The Measure
Community credit points in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) increase.
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Expectations
Communities in the Delta take actions to reduce flood risks and reduce flood insurance premiums for their residents.
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Performance Metrics
- Community Rating System credit points in the NFIP evaluated at least every five years.
Next Data Update: FEMA provides national CRS data updates on its Community Rating Score information page. The next update for this dataset will be made available in 2025.
In California, the state is liable for flood-related damages caused by levee failures. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in 2005 prepared a Flood Management White Paper outlining integrated approaches to reduce flood risks and included a recommendation to require houses and businesses to have flood insurance.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides affordable insurance to property owners, renters, and businesses to reduce impacts of flooding on private and public structures. The NFIP uses a community rating system as a voluntary incentive program to encourage activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.
The Community Rating System (CRS) allows communities to decrease the cost of flood insurance for their citizens by taking actions to reduce flood risk. Lowering premiums encourages greater flood insurance coverage throughout the community which decreases both state and local liability. Every year each eligible community certifies that it is continuing its flood proofing activities to receive the NFIP flood insurance community discounts. Descriptions for each of flood proofing activities and their maximum points values are available in the FEMA NFIP CRS Coordinator’ Manual.
Each chapter of the Delta plan includes strategies to achieve the goals of the plan. These strategies are general guidance on achieving the objective laid out in the plan and in the Delta Reform Act of 2009. Associated with these strategies are recommendations. The recommendations describe more specific and implementable actions to support the achievement of Delta Plan strategies. Strategies and recommendations may also have associated performance measures. Delta Plan performance measures track progress in achieving desired outcomes for the Delta Plan. Below are the strategies and recommendations associated with this performance measure.
Delta Plan Strategy
- Limit State Liability
Delta Plan Recommendations
- Improve Delta Communities’ National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System (CRS) Program Rankings
- Require Flood Insurance
- Limit State Liability
Metric
Community Rating System credit points of Delta communities participating in the NFIP. This will be evaluated at least every five years.
Baseline
Community Rating System credit points at the time of Delta Plan adoption, May 2013 or nearest available date.
Target
One percent increase in Community Rating System credit points by 2025.
Data Source
2014 Community scores for California
2023 Community Scores for California
Methods
Delta communities were gathered from the reported data along with the statewide data.