General CRS Information
General CRS Info
CRS PROGRAM WEBSITE: https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-rating-system
List of US CRS Communities (Updated May 2022)
CRS Coordinator's Manual 2017 (Updated 5/17)
Summary of Changes in 2017 Manual
CRS Manual Crosswalk 2007 to 2017
Master List of CRS Activity Elements
CRS Coordinator’s Manual 2017 Addendum (Effective Jan. 1, 2021)
Addendum FAQs
Graphic on how Class 8 prerequisite, 1 foot freeboard, works with attached garages
Important CRS Websites:
CRSresources.org
Floodsmart.gov CRS Info
FEMA CRS Website
VA DCR CRS Page
CRS Manual Supplements
Coastal Hazards
Special Inland Hazards
Tsunami Hazards
FEMA Call for Information re: CRS Next
Wetlands Watch’s Submitted Comments
Barriers to Tribal Participation in the CRS (2024)
(PDF)
CRS in Virginia
Virginia CRS Map & Data - Shows CRS communities, ratings, and policy data for participating & non-participating communities. (Updated 10/21)
VA State Based Credit - See what localities could get credit for what they're already doing. This replaces Uniform Minimum Credit (UMC). (Updated 4/17)
VA CRS Score Break Downs - Wetlands Watch collected the CRS credit score sheets from CRS Coordinators in VA, compiling the results into one document. CRS scores are broken down by activity and include descriptions of actions that earned credit. Download the scores HERE.
Wetlands Watch analyzed the costs & benefits of participating in the CRS in VA. Benefit cost ratios for VA CRS Communities are included in the analysis. Read the report.
Virginia’s Department of Conservation & Recreation tracks floodplain contacts across the state of Virginia. You can access the state directory HERE.
ISO Virginia Representative - Emily Schmidt
Phone: 404-615-6762
Email: Emily.Schmidt@verisk.com
FEMA CRS Region III Contact -
Richard Sobota, 215-931-5514
Richard.Sobota@fema.dhs.gov
Forms, Technical Bulletins, & Sample Building Code Form Templates
Floodplain Development Permits: Mathews County, VA; Charlotte NC
Example Documents for Meeting Review, Assess, and Document Process: Henrico County, Virginia; City of Hampton, Virginia (zip file); City of Portsmouth, Virginia (zip file); James City County, Virginia
Checklist for Reviewing Development in the Floodplain - Provided by the City of Franklin, Virginia
NEW FEMA Elevation Certificate - released on July 7th, 2023. There is no grace period for transitioning to the new form - any form signed and dated as of July 7, 2023 must be on the latest FEMA EC Form. If you get a “Please Wait” error when trying to download the new EC form, here’s a work around: Right click on the Download File link and select “save link as,” Save it to your PC, and once it’s on your PC, you should be able to open it. (Highlights on the new form linked here)
Non-Conversion Certificate Sample
Enrolling & ISO Visits:
Application,
Requirements,
& More
Important Time Saving CRS Documents List (Coastal VA CRS Workgroup Doc)
Joining the CRS: Prerequisites Checklist (Coastal VA Workgroup Doc)
(Word version)
Community Letter of Interest to Join the CRS
Preparing for the First ISO Verification Visit Checklist (Coastal VA Workgroup Doc) (Word version)
Locality Program Data Table (PDF) (Word)
Virginia Advanced Quick Check (Thank you to Shannon Jarbeau, CRS Coordinator for Barnestable County, MA and Darrin Punchard with Punchard Consulting for allowing VA localities to use this excellent resource.)
Locality Departmental Chart for CRS Program (Coastal VA Workgroup Doc)
Requesting Flood Insurance Information from FEMA Letter (Copy of Virginia Beach request letter)
Financing Flooding Mitigation & Other Grant Resources
New FEMA Grant Fact Sheets, developed by the Coastal States Organization
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Mitigating Flood & Drought Conditions Under Hazard Mitigation Assistance
Aquifer Storage & Recovery
Flood Diversion & Storage
Floodplain & Stream Restoration
Green Infrastructure Methods
US Army Corps of Engineers Assistance Opportunities
Info: Floodplain Management Services Brochure
Info: Planning Assistance to States Brochure (VA)
Info: Silver Jackets Brochure
Funding Opportunities List, from the FL Climate Institute
Wetlands Watch: Policy Update Summary for 2015 Updates
CRS Training, Reports, & Other Resources
Future CRS Webinars - Webinar contact: Becca.Croft@atkinsglobal.com
FEMA CRS Training - Classes are held at EMI & occasionally elsewhere. Download the Schedule and search for "E278"
James City County Septic/Well Standards for NFIP Compliance - DCR & FEMA Region III Approved (Thank you James City County for sharing this resource with the Workgroup!)
Wetlands Watch Report: A Local Government Guide to the CRS (VA specific report)
Wetlands Watch CRS Reform Document: Crediting Nature Based Solutions
CRS Assistance: Consultants & Businesses
Local governments can hire third party consultants to complete CRS work:
Salter’s Creek Consulting, Inc.: Leigh Chapman, leigh.morgan2@verizon.net
Dewberry: CRS Support Services
Syndeste: CRS Consulting Service
SmartVent: NFIP/CRS Presentations/Support
Floodproofing.com: Outreach Opportunities
World View Solutions: GIS Support
Wetlands Watch: Open Space Preservation, Mary-Carson Stiff, mc.stiff@wetlandswatch.org
It is important to note that the following policies are not eligible for CRS discounts:
Emergency Program Policies
Group Flood Insurance Policies
Provisionally Rated Policies
Buildings not in compliance with community floodplain management regulations or that have known floodplain management violations are ineligible for the CRS premium discount. In particular, this ineligibility applies to policies for Post-FIRM buildings located in an SFHA where the elevation difference used for rating is at least 1 foot or more below the BFE, with the following exceptions:
Post-FIRM V-Zone buildings with unfinished breakaway wall enclosures and machinery or equipment at or above the BFE.
A building with a subgrade crawlspace with certification from a community official. The letter signed by the community official that certifies a subgrade crawlspace exception must contain the following statement: “I certify that the building located at has a crawlspace that was built in compliance with the NFIP requirements for crawlspace construction as outlined in FEMA Technical Bulletin 11-01, Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas.”
For further details, please reference the latest Flood Insurance Manual (Effective October 1, 2022).
CRS Discount Eligibility Information
National Flood Insurance Program Reforms & Reauthorization
National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization
Wetlands Watch Legislative Tracking Doc (Updated every 2 weeks)
National Flood Insurance Program HFIAA 2014 Reform Summaries
Wetlands Watch April 2015 HFIAA Reforms Summary
Wetlands Watch April 2016 HFIAA Reforms Summary