At a time when premiums for health insurance, homeowners insurance or other insurance are increasing for many people, Washington property owners who purchase standard flood-insurance policies are getting a break.

During his remarks to the City Council earlier this week, John Rodman, the city’s director of community and cultural services, pointed out that Washington property owners are receiving a 15-percent discount on their National Flood Insurance Program premiums because the city has one of the best floodplain-management programs in North Carolina.

The city participates in the NFIP’s Community Rating System. Currently, the city has a 7 rating. The neighboring town of Washington Park has an 8 rating, which provides a 10-percent discount for its property owners who buy flood insurance, according to Rodman.

In 1990, the Federal Emergency Management agency began the Community Rating System as a way of evaluating those communities that have adopted floodplain-management practices that exceed the minimum standards. NFIP provides lower flood-insurance premiums as an incentive for communities to implement those stronger practices.

In 2012, Washington was recognized for operating a top-notch floodplain-management program. Washington residents have some of the lowest flood-insurance premiums in North Carolina.

At that time, Maureen O’Shea, the NFIP planner for eastern North Carolina, told the council, “This means that insurance premiums in Washington are among the lowest in North Carolina. The 1,057 standard policy holders in the city will receive over $134,000 in savings over the next year.”
Since it joined the NFIP in 1972, the city has been striving to make its floodplain-management program an effective one. Its effort is paying off in the form of savings for some city property owners.