Floodplain Development For several years now, the City of Cleburne has engaged in a federal program that enabled the community to receive discount credit for residents who have homes or other visible structures located in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This program is called the Community Rating System (CRS). It was created by FEMA to provide incentives for activities that reduce flood losses and support the purchase of flood insurance. Any community participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) may apply for a CRS classification in order to obtain flood insurance premium credits for its residents. The community must demonstrate that it is implementing floodplain management and public information activities that exceed the minimum requirements of the NFIP. There are many activities available in which a city may participate for credit. The following is a short list: (1) Elevation Certificates (2) Outreach Project (3) Map Determinations (4) Flood Protection Assistance (5) Storm Water Management Through Map Determinations, the City provides local lending, insurance, and real estate agencies information concerning building in or around a SFHA. The Engineering Department of the City of Cleburne does in fact provide this information to all inquirers, either written or verbally, if their structure is in or outside the floodplain. A copy of the correct FIRM panel on which the property is located is also available upon request. It is important to understand that if a property is too close to the SFHA boundary to determine the correct FIRM zone the structure is in, the City of Cleburne may provide the inquirer with a copy of the FIRM and advise that a determination cannot be made based on the information available. It is possible that a surveyor may be engaged to make these seldom encountered determinations. In some cases an Elevation Certificate may be generated, and information on completed Elevation Certificates is on file in the Engineering Department at City Hall. There are ten CRS classifications: Class 1 requires the most credit points and gives the greatest premium reduction; Class 10 receives no premium reduction. A community which does not apply for the CRS, or which does not obtain a minimum number of credit points is a Class 10 community. The City of Cleburne has received a Class 9 rating. The results for the community’s efforts in the program have earned a five (5) percent reduction in new or renewed flood insurance policies on or after October 1, 1992. There are numerous publications available at the Cleburne Public Library for all interested citizens. The Engineering Department of the City of Cleburne serves as the local coordinating body that administers the application and initiates the activities involved in the CRS program. If anyone requires more information concerning this program they are encouraged to call the Engineering Department at 817-645-0948 for more details.