County expects flood insurance savings

PANAMA CITY — Bay County will be able to maintain a flood protection rating this coming year that will allow unincorporated residents to continue to get a 25 percent discount on insurance.

As it has since 2004, the county this year has once again has received a flood rating of 5 under the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System.

The program rewards communities that go above and beyond the norm in efforts to reduce flooding.

In the latest May numbers, 230 cities and counties were participating in the program throughout the state, and 18, including Bay County, received the top 5 grade. Under the scoring system, a 1 is the best score and a 10 is the worst.

Lynn Haven has maintained its 8 rating in the latest figures, a grade that will allow residents in flood-prone areas to receive a 10 percent discount on their insurance rates. Callaway has maintained a 7, which will allow residents in flood-prone areas to have a 15 percent discount on their insurance rates.

Trey Hutt, the owner of Hutt Insurance Agency, said he is pleased local governments are participating in the program.

“Obviously it’s a huge help for our clients,” he said.

He said effective planning for catastrophic flooding events that is encouraged under the program reduces residents exposure to floods.

“The best way to deal with a flood is not necessarily insurance, but avoid having a flooded home or business in the first place,” he said. “If they are effectively managing our stormwater and doing a good job, fewer people will be flooded out.”

The Community Rating system, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, requires governments who opt to participate in the program to prepare an annual report. In it, officials outline measures the government body is taking to prevent flood damage and losses through the floodplain, as well as stormwater drainage management regulations

Wayne Porter, a planner for Bay County, said the federal government considers many factors when evaluating a county’s flood risk under the program, such as regulations for development in a flood zone.

“So there are high regulatory standards,” he said. “The other is outreach to the community to let them know about flood hazards in their area, or the potential their property could flood or suffer flood damage. Also, maintaining open space where development is restricted or limited.”

Porter said the stormwater requirements for new developments helped to limit some of the potential flood damage that occurred in 2013.

“Our stormwater runoff regulations and our elevation requirements for structures in the flood zone greatly contributed to a higher level of flood protection,” he said.