The City of Manhattan is a participating member in the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) program. This is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes a participating community's efforts and encourages floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.

The incentive to the community to establish higher floodplain standards, provide better floodplain mapping and flood risk information to the community and protect open space and maintain stormwater infrastructure is a discount in flood insurance premiums.

There are 10 categories, with each category providing an additional 5% discount in flood insurance premiums for properties in high-risk flood zones.  The City of Manhattan originally entered the program in 2013 as a Category, which gave flood insurance policyholders a 10% discount on their premiums.  In 2018, the efforts by the City each Manhattan a Category 6, which equals a 20% discount in flood insurance premiums for all properties who are located in a Zone A, AE, or AH flood zone (otherwise known as the 100-year flood zone). 

Currently, there is over 1,500 participating community across the county, with only 200 or so communities at a Category 6.  In Kansas, there are 41 participating cities and counties, with only three Category 6 communities.

More information about the CRS program can be found at www.CRSResources.com

CRS Recertification

As part of the annual recertification efforts for the CRS program, the City must provide a review of the various floodplain management and hazard migitation plans adopted by the City.  This year’s plan reviews can be found here.