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Nags Head property owners will see a decrease in their flood insurance premiums after officials at the town worked to improve the community’s flood rating from 20% to 25% under a program administered by FEMA’s National Flood Insurance ­­Program, according to a town-issued press release.

A voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA’s Community Rating system has over 1,500 participating communities.

In CRS communities, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community’s efforts that address the three goals of the program:

• Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property
• Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program
• Foster comprehensive floodplain management

“Nags Head’s elected officials have long understood how important flood protection is to the community, beginning participation in the CRS program in 1990 and entering the NFIP in 1978 so that property owners could benefit from federally-backed flood insurance,” said Nags Head planning and development director Kelly Wyatt. “Our involvement in FEMA’s Community Rating System is one of the many ways we ensure our property owners have the tools and knowledge they need to protect their homes and business from flood damage.”

Wyatt said further, “This is exciting news because the change in our class rating from a six to a five means our property owners, who were realizing a 20% discount on their flood insurance premiums, will now see a 25% reduction. Our work with the CRS to make flood insurance affordable for as many as possible, combined with providing helpful advice on defense measures, and requiring more stringent protection for new development, provides much needed assistance when it comes to flood damage mitigation. Our staff, led by Principal Planner Holly White, dedicated significant time to making the rating improvement happen so that our town will be more disaster resistant and resilient.”

Property owners will receive a 25 percent discount on flood insurance premiums for national flood insurance policies issued or renewed on or after April 1, 2022, stated the release.

For more information on flood insurance and methods for protecting your property from flood damage, either visit nagsheadnc.gov/flood or give the Nags Head Planning and Development Department a call at 252-441-7016.

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