The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury voted Thursday to advertise a request for proposals (RFP) for program management services related to the Community Rating System (CRS) under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Dana Eudry, a staff member, told jurors the CRS is a voluntary NFIP program that can lower flood-insurance premiums. "It is a voluntary program that we, if depending on your class rating, offers discounts to those that have flood insurance policies. So at the present moment, we are a class 8, and we give a 10% discount to those flood insurance policies that are fully risk rated," Eudry said.

The move to advertise the RFP was made by Juror Gilroy and seconded by Juror Hayes; the item carried. Juror Lanford asked for clarification before the vote, prompting staff to explain the program's purpose and the discount tied to the parish's current CRS class.

The CRS allows participating communities to earn lower flood-insurance premiums for residents by adopting floodplain management and mitigation practices that reduce flood risk. The jury did not discuss specific vendors or a timetable for selecting a contract manager in the public record.

The RFP advertisement begins the procurement step to hire outside management services to assist the parish with CRS administration and compliance. The jury's approval authorizes staff to proceed with publishing the RFP; jurors indicated no objection at the vote.