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Seabrook approves consultant contract to create substantial-damage response plan for NFIP Community Rating System
Summary
The City of Seabrook approved a professional services agreement with Kahoon Consulting, not to exceed $16,000, to develop a substantial-damage response plan required under FEMA programs and to pursue a lower CRS rating that could increase flood-insurance discounts for policyholders.
The City of Seabrook on Tuesday approved a professional services agreement with Kahoon Consulting, not to exceed $16,000, to develop a substantial-damage response plan and pursue a Class improvement in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS).
City staff told council the plan is required for communities that participate in FEMA’s flood insurance program and provides the procedures the city will use after a major flood to determine which structures are “substantially damaged.”
Staff member Sean explained why the plan matters: “By definition, a substantial damage structure is any structure that was damaged more than 50% and what that number, what the cost of that to bring that back into compliance of its preexisting condition prior to the event.” The administration said the plan will also be used to gain CRS credit to lower the city’s current CRS rating and increase discounts on residents’ flood-insurance premiums.
The packet presented to council described three tasks for the consultant: create the response plan, work with ISO and FEMA to obtain plan approval and pursue CRS points, and provide additional support such as public presentations. Sean told council the timeline in the proposal anticipates delivering the plan in about 45 days and completing the CRS-related tasks within a 180-day period. “Within the proposal, we're thinking we can get the plan done in 45 days and then working with them in the task in 180 day period,” Sean said.
City staff noted Seabrook currently holds a CRS Class 7 rating, which staff said yields about a 15% flood-insurance discount for policyholders; staff said moving to Class 6 would increase that discount to about 20%. The council approved the agreement unanimously and the motion included authorization for the city manager to execute the contract. The council was also told the item was not budgeted and would require a budget amendment to fund the work.
The city staff presentation said the plan functions as an operational standard—how the city will identify and document substantially damaged properties, how damage estimates will be compiled, and how the city will ensure compliance with floodplain regulations after an event. Staff said the work is timely with hurricane season approaching and recommended awarding the contract given current staff workload.
Next steps: staff will execute the consultant agreement if the manager signs it, return to council with any required budget amendment, and work with the consultant on plan development and FEMA/ISO coordination.
