LTC 217-2020 Miami Beach Retains Class 5 Rating from FEMAMIAMI BEA CH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
217-2020 NO. LTC # LET.TER TO COMMISSION
TO : M ayor D an G elber and M embers of the
FRO M : Jim my l. M ora les, City M anager
DATE: June 23, 2020
SU BJECT: M iam i Beach Retains Class 5 Rating from FEM A
I'm pleased to announce that pro perty ow ners w ill continue to enjoy a 25 percent savings in Rood
insura nce premiums due to FEMA recerti fyi ng the city 's Class 5 Community Roting System (CRS) score. The
city is only one of tw o com munities in M iami-Dade County to achieve the CRS Class 5 rating, w hich
equates to on estimated $8.2 mi llion in savings.
M iom i Beach participates in the Community Roting System of the National Flood Insurance Pro gra m (NFIP).
The C om m unity Rating System is a voluntary pro gram under FEMA allow ing communities to earn Rood
insurance discounts. Under FEM A's National Flood Insura nce Progra m, cities can earn points for
conduct ing activities promoting flood insura nce and reducing flood risk.
The city has been part of the CRS prog ra m fo r many years and has gra dually increased flood insura nce
savings w ith each score im provement fo r th e community . In M oy of 2019, #he city improved its CRS score
from Class 6 to 5. This accomplishment increas ed flood insura nce premiums savings from 20 percent to 25
percen t citywi de for m ost pol icies. Helping ottset any inc reasing federal rates, the new estimated savings
increased from $6.6 m illion to $8.2 m illion annually.
The CRS progra m ra ting is reflect ive of stronger resilience efforts ranging from stormw ater management
planning, review of elevation certificates, higher regulatory standards, land use amendments,
com m unicating flood aw areness messages, creating a Pro gram fo r Public Info rm ation Committee, conduct o
flood insura nce analysis, and open space preservation to name a few . M aintaining this score is a direct
result of staff collaboration and dedication of Building, Emergency M anagement, Environmental and
Sustainability , M arketing and Communications, Planning and Zoning, and Public W orks. This is a team
effort led by the Building Fl oodplain M anager and Chief Resilience O fficer.
I look fo rw ard to sharing this exciting new s with residents and business and continuing our commitment to
reducing flood risk and rising above.
JM /AK