MILTON — The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration have determined Santa Rosa County will remain a Community Rating System Class 5 community in the National Flood Insurance Program.
The CRS rating was determined because of field verification findings based on the county's three-year cycle application. CRS is a voluntary program, which based on activities performed, determines a discount from 5 to 40 percent on flood insurance rates.
"We are pleased that we have retained our rating as a Class 5 community," said Karen Thornhill, Santa Rosa County floodplain manager. "The 25 percent discount our residents in the special flood hazard areas receive on their flood insurance premiums makes our work in maintaining the class rating worth the effort. We would love to increase that discount and are actively working toward that goal."
Santa Rosa County's floodplain management office assists residents in meeting the requirements of the Land Development Code and the NFIP. The office keeps archives on flood information for the county and local jurisdictions, including flood insurance rate maps, elevation certificates, letters of map amendment and flood insurance studies.
The office also assists with mitigation of flood prone structures.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa maintains flood insurance rating