City to host meeting about low-cost flood insurance program

Cedar Rapids residents that own property in a high risk flood area are invited to an informational meeting about a flood insurance discount program on Wednesday, August 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the African American Museum of Iowa, 55 12th Avenue SE.

 City staff will show residents how to apply for FEMA's Preferred Risk Policy Eligibility Extension, a low-cost flood insurance program. Residents have saved as much as $700 on flood insurance premiums by participating in this program.

Monique Pilch, Insurance Program Specialist for FEMA Region VII's Flood Insurance and Mitigation Branch, will also be available at the meeting to answer questions about the National Flood Insurance Program and the Preferred Risk Policy Eligibility Extension program.

Last year, FEMA adopted new floodplain maps for the City of Cedar Rapids, which revised the boundaries of flood hazard areas through the city and placed many properties in a higher flood risk area. Those high risk properties are eligible for the Preferred Risk Policy Eligibility Extension program. For more information about FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, visit

www.floodsmart.gov.