Subject:
Title
National Flood Insurance Program and Community Rating System Program Annual Report.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Accept the receipt and file of the National Flood Insurance Program and Community Rating System (CRS) Program Annual Report.
• Report maintenance helps the County meet Federal Hazard Mitigation Grant eligibilities.
• Report was developed through a multi-agency effort.
• Submittal of Annual Report updates to the Board of County Commissioners is required for County participation in the CRS.
• No signature is required for this report.
• Accepting this report has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure.
1.3 Increase access to green space.
1.4 Improve environmental quality.
1.5 Strengthen resilience and adaptation.
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety.
Summary:
Summary
The County participates in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) NFIP and CRS. Submittal of the Annual Report to the Board is a Program requirement.
Participation in this program provides enhanced public safety, reduced damage to property and public infrastructure, avoidance of economic disruption and loss, and supports a resilient County.
The County and majority of its municipalities participate in the NFIP and CRS. The unincorporated County is currently rated as a CRS Class 2, providing residents and businesses with up to a 40% discount on their flood insurance premiums. The savings are estimated to be more than $10 million dollars per year for unincorporated NFIP policy holders.
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Background Information:
The NFIP and CRS programs require review and updates of program elements annually. Elements reviewed for 2025 include the County’s Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS), which includes the Repetitive Loss Area Analysis (RLAA), Multi-jurisdictional Program for Public Information (PPI), and Flood Insurance Improvement Plan.
The LMS is a countywide hazard mitigation plan that includes County and participating municipalities, as well as several agencies and non-governmental stakeholders. The LMS is developed to reduce and/or eliminate risks associated with natural and man-made hazards. Plans must be in accordance with the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2020. Without an approved LMS, the County would be unable to apply for various Federal hazard mitigation grants. The current LMS also serves as the County’s and the municipalities’ Floodplain Management Plan. Participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System requires the adoption of a Floodplain Management Plan.
The PPI is a step-by-step coordinated approach to flood hazard outreach. The County’s purpose in developing this plan is to improve communication with citizens, and to provide information about flood hazards, flood safety, flood insurance, and ways to protect property and floodplain functions to those who can benefit.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
County LMS Working Group
CRS PPI members of participating municipalities, various governmental agencies, local non-profits, universities, and neighborhood associations as well as real estate, insurance, and mortgage industry stakeholders.
Attachments:
2025 NFIP CRSP Annual Report