1. Flooding & Drainage Committee May 16, 2011

2.  Participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)  Participate in the Community Rating System (CRS)

3.  Standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding.  It's important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the City of Houston.  In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to help provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves.  The NFIP offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP.  Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA requirements to reduce the risk of flooding.

4.  Provide the option of government subsidized flood insurance for property owners.  Flood insurance is required for federally backed mortgages for properties in the floodplain.  NFIP participation is required for federal disaster recovery assistance.  NFIP participation is required for federal grants for flood mitigation projects.  Even minimum floodplain regulations are proven to reduce risk of flood losses.

5.  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.  Flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS: ◦ Reduce flood losses; ◦ Facilitate accurate insurance rating; and ◦ Promote the awareness of flood insurance.

6.  COH entered the CRS program in 2001 at Class 8  COH improved its rating in 2008 to Class 6  COH improved its rating in 2009 to Class 5 ◦ Houston is largest City in US with Class 5 rating ◦ Houston is one of 5 communities in Texas with a Class 5 rating

7.  Flood insurance customers in the 100 year floodplain and floodway (SFHA) save 25% on flood insurance premiums.  Flood insurance customers in the 500 year floodplain or outside of the floodplain save 10% on flood insurance premiums.  Preferred Risk Policy holders already have a discounted rate and are not eligible for the CRS discount.  As a result of COH Class 5 rating, COH property owners save a total of $10,588,000 per year on flood insurance premiums.

8.  Annual reporting to FEMA  Compliance with Chapter 19 (Code of Ordinances) Floodplain  Maintain City’s drainage system  Public Outreach on Flood Hazard Awareness  Track repetitive loss properties  Inspect permitted projects within floodplain  Provide Flood Insurance Map access and information to the community

9.  Development Permit required for any activity in a designated Floodplain/Floodway  Floodplain development requires minimum slab elevation 12 inches above BFE  Zero net fill in the floodplain (mitigation required for fill)  Floodway development requires open foundation construction, minimum low chord elevation 18 inches above BFE and no impact to flood levels in the area  Floodway development requires conveyance mitigation

10.  Projects are underway that will reduce flood risk in areas of our community. ◦ Floodway and floodplain changes to White Oak Bayou approved by FEMA. Physical Map Revision is pending. ◦ Conditional Letter of Map Revision under review by FEMA for Sims Bayou Watershed ◦ Brays Bayou Project is under construction