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St. Mary's County earns FEMA CRS class 7 designation, residents get 15% flood-insurance discount
Summary
Maryland Department of the Environment presented a plaque recognizing St. Mary's County joining the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System as a class 7 community, which county officials said yields a 15% discount on flood insurance for property owners in the county.
Maryland Department of the Environment officials on Sept. 16 presented St. Mary's County with a plaque recognizing the county's enrollment in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System (CRS) as a class 7 community.
Matt Smith of the Maryland Department of the Environment's flood management division said the CRS program is point-based and that a class 7 designation entitles policyholders in the county to a 15% discount on their NFIP flood insurance premiums. Smith said only 19 Maryland communities participate in CRS and that joining required a "heavy lift" by county floodplain management staff.
Jessica Andritz, director of Land Use and Growth Management, acknowledged the cross-agency effort and said the designation supports county efforts to keep homeownership more affordable in areas that face flooding. Andritz introduced staff who worked on the application and implementation.
Commissioners praised the department staff for the work required to meet CRS standards and said they welcomed the consumer savings for residents. County officials did not record a vote for the plaque presentation; it was accepted as a departmental recognition.
County officials said the CRS designation will be implemented through the county's floodplain management program and will require continued maintenance of records and activities that qualify for CRS points.
