HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR20071207_FEMA_NFIP_CRS_Rating.pdfMayor Jason Buelterman
CITY COUNCIL
Shirley Sessions, Mayor Pro Tem
Eddie Crone
Mallory Pearce
Wanda Doyle
Paul Wolff
Kathryn Williams
CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
City Manager
Diane Schleicher
Clerk of Council
Vivian Woods
City Attorney
Edward M. Hughes
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
PRESS RELEASE: Contacts: Office of the Mayor, Jason Buelterman
For immediate release (912) 786-4573, x108
Tybee Island Awarded Enhanced Community Rating by FEMA
Tybee Island, Ga. – (December 7, 2007) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
recently awarded the City of Tybee Island an upgrade to its classification under the Community
Rating System (CRS) which is part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The
floodplain management policies, which the City is continuing to improve, have resulted in a Class
7 rating, which gives residents up to a 15% discount in flood insurance premiums on renewals
after the effective date of October 1, 2007.
After returning from the Emergency Management Institute in Emmittsburg, MD, Tybee
Emergency Management Agency director Jimmy Brown began to work toward the rating
improvement by creating new communications and records policies, distributing information to
citizens via mail, the Internet, and the local branch of Live Oaks Public Library, and working w ith
the Zoning Department staff to provide flood protection packets for builders and remodelers on
the Island. These policies also include efforts to keep up-to-date elevation certificates on file for
all new and improved buildings, community maps, approved educational outreach programs, risk
disclosure by realtors, flood advice and assistance for the community, maintenance of open space
areas, storm water management, and advance warning systems, among other factors. The
documentation and processes are coordinated by TEMA and require cooperation amongst several
different City departments in record-keeping and emergency planning efforts.
“I am so proud of our city staff for taking the initiative on making Tybee a safer and more
affordable place to live and work,” noted Tybee’s Mayor Jason Buelterman. “A 15% reduction in
flood insurance premiums is a huge benefit for our home owners.”
The City of Tybee Island’s Tybee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) makes year -round
efforts to keep citizens apprised of emergency procedures, and risks associated with hurricanes,
floods, and other potential natural or man-made disasters via outbound communications in
written, electronic, and broadcast media. Visit the City’s web site at www.cityoftybee.org.
Information about FEMA can be found at www.fema.gov, about the Community Rating System at
http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm, and about flood preparations at
www.floodsmart.gov.
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