SEA ISLE CITY – Mayor Leonard Desiderio announced that Sea Isle City has regained its coveted level 3 status in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System. The city’s status dropped to a 4 in April when points awarded following Superstorm Sandy expired.
Community Rating System points are gained when a community engages in floodplain management practices and policies that align with those promoted by FEMA. Each level on a scale from 9 to 1, with 1 as the high, gains the community a 5% discount on premiums for policies in the National Flood Insurance Program. A level 3 designation is one that few communities in the nation achieve and which entitles community property owners to a 35% discount on National Flood Insurance Program premiums.
The only other level 3 community in New Jersey is Avalon.
The loss of the Sandy-era points hit several communities along the Jersey Shore, none more significantly than Stone Harbor, which dropped from a level 5 (25% discount) to a 7 (15% discount). Stone Harbor formed a task force to take actions that will regain its level 5 status, but the borough has not yet heard back from FEMA on its new point score and designation.
Desiderio said winning back the level 3 status represents recognition of the city’s “commitment to flood prevention through mitigation, higher standards and outreach.”
Contact the author, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
