Local Governments + Flooding

Local governments adopt policies regarding the construction of new homes and the protection of greenspace, and they spend resources on infrastructure projects. When governments adopt policies and invest in infrastructure without considering available information regarding their community’s vulnerability to flooding, many residents find themselves at an increased—and unnecessary—risk. As a result, constituents may miss days of work, experience property damage, lose access to flood insurance, or find themselves with a flood-prone property that they cannot sell.

To evaluate this indicator, we studied data that reveal floodplain development in the six coastal counties most vulnerable to flooding. We also analyzed data regarding community participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS), which is a flood risk reduction program.

What We Learned:

Finding: Prior to 1996, local government officials approved more floodplain development than they did between 1996 and 2010.

Finding: Local governments in coastal Georgia can do a better job of reducing flood risk in their communities.

Through the Community Rating System (CRS) program offered by the Federal Flood Insurance Program, participating local governments that take steps to reduce residents’ risk of flooding. Depending on the choices they make, participating communities are assigned a score (1-9) which translates to a reduction (5%-45%) in flood insurance premiums.

Our research revealed that while most of our communities representing nearly 90% of coastal residents are enrolled in the program, the average score is a 7, which means the average premium discount is 15%. Click on the map below to see your community’s score.