City administrator Ryan Schlabaugh discussed preparations for a FEMA community rating at the Kalona City Council meeting May 1.

It’s flooding season, and the City of Kalona is working on getting discounted flood insurance for it’s citizens. Kalona has been working with FEMA through their National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to get a community rating on May 22. The NFIP aims to reduce the impact of flooding by providing affordable insurance to property owners and encouraging communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations. City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh explains the NFIP, “Any city that participates in NFIP which is the National Flood Insurance Program is eligible to participate in the community rating system, and by participation you can hit certain levels. By hitting those levels it would allow those that purchase insurance to purchase it at a certain rate. Just by enrolling you can get a 5% discount. If you educate the public in certain areas, if you do outreach and provide access to web-based materials and so forth you can get certain percentages taken off.”

Schlabaugh says Kalona hopes to be in the 10 to 15% range community rating. The Kalona city council has been working to meet FEMA’s criteria, as was discussed at the recent city council meeting. The council adopted the plan for best management practices from the English River Watershed Management Authority. The city also emphasized education and outreach to homeowners who live in floodplain areas, and the council agreed not to use property they purchased near a creek for commercial or residential use.

Schlabaugh says about FEMA’s rating system, “The importance right off the bat is that it’s gonna keep money local, you know those individuals that are having to pay premiums, if they can save $100 or $200 a year that’s a benefit, that’s more money that can be spent locally and can be kept in our community.” Schlabaugh also stated education for homeowners as a key component. Schlabaugh says after this year’s rating, FEMA will annually review Kalona’s flood management practices and education.