Letter to Richard Einhorn, FEMA

Letter

As cities across New York recover from recent flooding disasters, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced today that he is calling on FEMA to grant the city of Utica's request to install a designated Community Rating System (CRS) Coordinator to help oversee and improve the city's flood mitigation strategy. Today, Schumer sent a letter to FEMA Region II CRS Coordinator Richard Einhorn, announcing his support of the City of Utica's plan. The objective of the Community Rating System is to reward communities that are going above and beyond the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). While NFIP requirements help cities prevent or reduce flood losses, the CRS adds an incentive for communities as a whole to initiate additional flood protection activities. These incentives include opportunities to secure flood insurance discounts in areas where insurance is both mandated and optional.

"The bottom line is that by working hand-in-hand with FEMA and going the extra yard to implement additional flood protection plans, Utica can save its homeowners on flood insurance. I'm eager to do everything I can to assist the City of Utica with its flood protection plan and urge FEMA to forge this partnership with them," Schumer said. "As residents dry out from these recent floods, communities have to come together and find ways to control and prevent as much flooding as possible. While we can't control Mother Nature, we can control the efforts cities like Utica make to prevent flooding and protect those who fall victim to it."

In Schumer's personal letter, he notes Utica's recent flooding events, along with the city's prior efforts to control and mitigate flood prone areas. Schumer said he is supporting Utica's efforts to partner with FEMA because they have shown a clear and precise commitment to working with state and national partners on environmental matters that include protecting residents from flooding. Schumer added that aside from sending FEMA a letter in support of Utica's Community Rating System effort, he'll remain a partner the city can rely on when working and planning with FEMA in the future.

The CRS program creates a point rating system, on which potential discounts on flood insurance are based. It is designed to reduce flood losses, improve accuracy in insurance ratings, and promote the awareness of flood insurance. The discounts range from 5%-45% off the price of flood insurance, depending on the mitigation strategies in place. Communities can earn points based on activities related to public information on flooding, mapping and regulations, flood damage reduction, and flood preparedness. As communities make improvements in these areas, they become eligible for larger discounts on flood insurance. A CRS coordinator in Utica would help oversee the communities efforts, sharpening their ability to prevent flood damage while reducing the cost of flood insurance.

Schumer's letter to FEMA Region II CRS Coordinator, Richard Einhorn, is below.

Mr. Richard Einhorn
CRS Coordinator, DHS / FEMA Region II
26 Federal Plaza -- Room 1337
New York, NY 10278

Dear Mr. Einhorn:

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to offer my full support towards the City of Utica's recently announced plans to name a Community Rating System Coordinator within their city. As you know, cities across New York were hit hard by recent floods, and Utica was just one of them. However, while the city works diligently to clean up the mess left behind, it is also planning for the future. Recently, the Mayor announced a plan to protect Uticans from flooding. This plan included efforts to partner with FEMA in making sure the highest standards as possible, in accordance with the National Insurance Program, were being met.

With my assistance, Utica has already showcased a valiant effort towards meeting higher standards to prevent flooding, combined sewer overflows, and other negative impacts on the environment. I am confident that your eventual visit to the City of Utica will allow you to see many of these efforts in person.

FEMA's goals to work with cities in developing successful, thoughtful, and environmentally friendly mitigation efforts will no doubt be useful to Utica as it begins the process of formulating a plan to meet higher NFIP standards. We know many of these standards cannot be met alone, and so, I am hoping your visit to Utica will inspire communities neighboring the city to examine ways they too can lessen the effects of heavy rain storms that deliver a powerful punch to the Mohawk Valley.

Again, I am in full support of the City of Utica's efforts to install a CRS Coordinator and will remain accessible to both the city's engineering officials and FEMA as this effort progresses. Thank you for your time and your prompt attention as it relates to the State of New York and the Mohawk Valley.

Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator

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