Cedar Rapidians with standard or high-risk flood insurance now qualify for a 10-percent discount

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapidians who carry standard or high-risk flood insurance or buy it in the future will receive a 10-percent discount on the cost at the policy's annual renewal date because of flood-preparedness actions taken by city officials.

In making the announcement of the discount on Wednesday, Clark Patterson, a flood plain manager in the West Des Moines office of the National Flood Insurance Program, estimated that 2,200 people in Cedar Rapids now have standard or high-risk flood insurance and so will benefit from the discount.

Patterson is part of a group of state and federal officials and experts who are in Cedar Rapids to present a public forum on flood-prevention and flood-recovery issues. The forum is at Cherry Auditorium, Coe College, from 6 to 8 p.m. this evening.

Patterson and Jason Conn, of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, told The Gazette editorial board Wednesday afternoon that Cedar Rapids is one of three Iowa cities that have joined the National Flood Insurance Program's community -rating system, which provides insurance discounts for communities who go above and beyond minimum flood-preparedness standards.

Every community begins with a rating of 10 in the system while those that take certain actions related to flood-plain management and public education on flood-related matters can improve their rating. Lower ratings are better. Cedar Rapids and Davenport rate an 8, which provides a 10-percent insurance discount. Des Moines is rated a 7, which provides a 15-percent discount, Patterson and Conn explained.

The Wednesday evening flood forum - titled “Don't Test the Waters” - is sponsored by the Iowa Insurance Division. It is one of 10 in the state this year and next year.

Representatives from the Iowa Flood Center and the National Weather Service also will participate.