NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
23 May 2006

CITY ATTAINS HIGHEST RATING IN STATE FOR FLOOD DAMAGE CONTROL; RESULTS IN 20% DISCOUNT FOR CITY FLOOD INSURANCE USERS

Flood insurance buyers in Harrisburg will receive a 20% discount in the premiums they pay thanks to the ongoing flood preparation and prevention efforts of the City of Harrisburg, Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced today as he reported that Harrisburg has achieved a Class 6 rating under the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System.

Harrisburg now has the highest rating of any community in Pennsylvania, and is one of only 72 communities in the nation to attain a Class 6 or better rating. The city has been rated a Class 7 community for 10 years, which provided for a 15% discount in the costs of flood insurance for residents.

The Mayor said the Community Rating System is a voluntary program run by the National Flood Insurance Program to help reduce flood damage and the incidences of flooding in a given community. 16 different categories of flood preparedness and public education and promotion are evaluated as part of the Community Rating process, including such areas as emergency management, floodplain management, mapping, hazard disclosure, building codes, stormwater management, open space preservation and more.

“This is an important accomplishment for the city and its residents,” said Reed. “It means substantial savings to home and property owners in the costs of the flood insurance premiums they pay. While most citizens only focus on flooding when it is imminent, the City of Harrisburg, as a matter of policy and practice, is continually engaged in the effort to protect lives and property from the ravages of flooding. These efforts are independently evaluated and rated under the national Community Rating System.”

Reed said each step in rating improvement adds a 5% discount to the costs of flood insurance for affected residents. A community not participating in the system would have an automatic rating of 10. Only 35 communities in the nation have a lower, or better rating than Harrisburg, and none in Pennsylvania.

“Our special acknowledgement is extended to the many city staff and other volunteers who helped achieve this milestone,” said the Mayor. “Their good work means we are amongst the best in the nation in terms of flood preparation and public awareness, which ultimately means fewer and lesser losses of property and lives.”