The National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. In CRS, a community’s flood insurance premium rates are discounted in exchange for taking steps to protect people and properties from floods and storms (the reductions reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community’s actions).
Discounts are based on points accrued by performing CRS approved activities. Thanks to help from the folks at CRS, we’ve been able to indicate which pages on our site recommend activities that qualify for CRS credit.
Here’s a summary table of how those points can translate into steep reductions in your community’s flood insurance premiums:
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CRS Credit/Discount Summary (from FEMA)
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|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Reduction | |||
| Credit Points | Class | SFHA* | Non-SFHA* |
| 4,500+ | 1 | 45% | 10% |
| 4,000 – 4,499 | 2 | 40% | 10% |
| 3,500 – 3,999 | 3 | 35% | 10% |
| 3,000 – 3,499 | 4 | 30% | 10% |
| 2,500 – 2,999 | 5 | 25% | 10% |
| 2,000 – 2,499 | 6 | 20% | 10% |
| 1,500 – 1,999 | 7 | 15% | 5% |
| 1,000 – 1,499 | 8 | 10% | 5% |
| 500 – 999 | 9 | 5% | 5% |
| 0 – 499 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| *Special Flood Hazard Area Premium reductions are subject to change. |
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Note that every NFIP policy holder in a CRS-participating community (including the community itself) sees a discount, with those in the mapped floodplain receiving the greatest benefit.
For information on applying for the CRS program, see the Application Letter of Interest & CRS Quick Check section of the CRS Resources.
For more information on the CRS, visit the CRS Resources website.