Salem Floodplain Ordinance Revision May Reduce Flood Insurance Rates

Flooded areas around Salem

(Salem) - A public hearing is scheduled before the Salem Planning Commission on Tuesday, January 24, at 5:30 PM, to consider revisions to Salem's floodplain ordinance. The proposed code revisions are the first step toward Salem's application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for inclusion in the Community Rating System (CRS).

The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum federal requirements. Upon Salem's acceptance by FEMA as a CRS community, all flood insurance premium rates within Salem would be discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk within the community.

Nationwide, there are over 1,000 CRS communities, including nearly 30 in Oregon, that receive flood insurance premium discounts. The existing discounts range from 5 to 40 percent, based on their implementation of local mitigation, outreach, and educational activities that exceed minimum federal requirements. While premium discounts are one of the benefits of participation in CRS, Salem's citizens would also benefit from the implementation of activities that save lives and reduce property damage.