National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System

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Purpose and Goals of CRS

The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.

As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS:

  1. Reduce flood damage to insurable property;
  2. Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and
  3. Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.

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CRS Brochure

This brochure, NFIP CRS: The Local Official's Guide to Saving Lives, Preventing Property Damage, and Reducing the Cost of Flood Insurance introduces the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) as a way of promoting the awareness of flood insurance.

CRS Fact Sheets

Community Rating System Fact Sheet

Changes to the Community Rating System in 2013

CRS Award for Excellence

The CRS Award for Excellence recognizes an individual who has provided leadership in the area of alerting residents to the dangers of flooding and promoting the purchase of flood insurance through the NFIP. Click here to learn about the CRS Award for Excellence.

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How are Flood Insurance Premium Discounts Calculated?

For CRS participating communities, flood insurance premium rates are discounted in increments of 5% (i.e., a Class 1 community would receive a 45% premium discount, while a Class 9 community would receive a 5% discount (a Class 10 is not participating in the CRS and receives no discount)). The CRS classes for local communities are based on 18 creditable activities, organized under four categories:

  1. Public Information,
  2. Mapping and Regulations,
  3. Flood Damage Reduction, and
  4. Flood Preparedness.

The table below shows the credit points earned, classification awarded, and premium reductions given for communities in the NFIP CRS.

Credit PointsClass Premium Reduction
SFHA*		Premium Reduction
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
**Preferred Risk Policies are available only in B, C, and X Zones for properties that are shown to have a minimal risk of flood damage. The Preferred Risk Policy does not receive premium rate credits under the CRS because it already has a lower premium than other policies. The CRS credit for AR and A99 Zones are based on non-Special Flood Hazard Areas (non-SFHAs) (B, C, and X Zones). Credits are: classes 1-6, 10% and classes 7-9, 5%. Premium reductions are subject to change.

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Additional Resources

CRS Coordinator's Manual

The Coordinator’s Manual for the CRS includes the CRS Schedule, which sets the criteria for CRS classification, and CRS Commentary on the Schedule. Section 100 gives general background information on the CRS. Section 200 explains the application and verification procedures. Sections 300 through 700 explain the credit points and calculations that will be used to verify CRS credit. The procedures in these sections are used by a community to submit a modification for a better CRS classification.

CRS Communities and their Classes
These pages are from the most recent Flood Insurance Agent's Manual containing current and historical listings of all CRS communities, their class, and insurance discount.

Numbers of CRS Communities by State 
This link shows how many communities participate in the CRS in each state and the distribution of communities by CRS Class in each CRS Class.

Community Rating System Participation National Map
The CRS Participation map of the nation shows the wide range of communities that participate in CRS. CRS participation attracts all kinds of communities including small, large, inland, coastal, arid, etc. The map also includes the approximate territories served by the ISO Field Specialists who work with individual communities.

Community Rating System Participation by FEMA Region Maps
The CRS FEMA Regional map indicates communities that participate in CRS and from which states.   

Community Rating System Participation State Maps
The CRS  State maps depict communities that participate in the CRS and communities with the greatest risk to flooding, as measured by the number of flood insurance policies in effect.  

Community Rating System Series and Activity Posters 
These posters provide simplified descriptions of the CRS.  2013 CRS Coordinator’s Manual changes are highlighted. The posters could be useful to explain and promote the CRS. The files are formatted to print large posters suitable for wall display.    

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NFIP/CRS Update Newsletter

The CRS Update Newsletter is a publication to provide local officials and others interested in the Community Rating System with news they can use. To sign up for CRS e-mail updates click on the link below,

GovDelivery icon Sign up for CRS email updates

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Last Updated: 
03/21/2013 - 14:49
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