by John Wolforth, Planning Director
comments open from June 9 until June 28

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently awarded Jefferson County a Class six rating in the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) program. This is a voluntary program that recognizes and encourages sound community floodplain management and efforts to reduce flood risk, facilitates accurate insurance ratings, and promotes the awareness of flood insurance. The county was previously rated a Class nine.

This new rating acknowledges Jefferson County’s efforts to help save lives and reduce property damage in the event of a flood. It puts Jefferson County in the top 11 percent of participating communities in the United States, in the top seven percent of participating communities in Colorado and as the highest ranked county in Colorado!

I really believe that a Class six ranking is a result of many divisions working together and demonstrates our commitment to proper floodplain management.

We at Jefferson County are committed to making our Floodplain Management Program a success and we are already looking at ways to improve our floodplain programs.

The class six rating will allow residents who live in the floodplain and purchase flood insurance to receive a 20 percent discount on their flood insurance premium. This reduction in flood insurance premiums will provide a cumulative savings over $62,000 a year for Jefferson County residents.

Communities who participate in the CRS program have flood insurance premiums discounted in increments of five percent; i.e., a Class one community would receive a 45 percent premium discount, while a Class nine community would receive a five percent discount. A Class 10 rating is given to communities that are not participating in the CRS program. Communities who participate in the CRS program also go through a yearly renewal process and a complete review every five years. During any of one of these reviews the county may achieve a higher class ranking through program enhancements.