Milford staff: draft CRS improvement could cut flood insurance premiums; hazard-mitigation updates planned

Milford Inland Wetlands Agency staff reported May 25 that a recent submission to the Community Rating System (CRS) appears to have improved the city's draft score from a 9 to a 7, and that if the score is finalized at level 7, qualifying property owners could see a 15% reduction in flood-insurance premiums.

Mary Rose, the agency staff member presenting the report, said the CRS response is in draft form and that some elevation certificates need reworking; she said the city engineer and FEMA reviewers will meet to resolve outstanding items. She advised commissioners that a confirmed improvement to a level 7 would raise the CRS discount from the current 5% for some policyholders to about 15% for qualifying residents.

Rose also outlined ongoing planning work: an MS4 submission was filed on time, biannual hazard-mitigation working-group meetings will begin to update the city's hazard mitigation action plan, and staff are scheduling follow-up meetings with FEMA. She said the city continues outreach on training opportunities from the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) for commissioners and staff, and that staff will share slide decks and training links when available.

Commissioners asked whether the draft CRS improvement would increase residents' discounts; Rose said the 7 would raise eligible residents to about a 15% discount, pending FEMA finalization. She urged residents to review floodrisk.org for a more realistic look at local flood risk and noted that FEMA mapping and program changes are under review at a national level.

The staff report included no formal action items; commissioners acknowledged receipt and encouraged colleagues to take advantage of training. Mary Rose said staff will continue work on outstanding documentation and will bring progress updates to future meetings.