Flood protection may lower insurance

FEMA OKs county management’s work

Thanks to efforts of county floodplain managers and their team, Sandoval County property owners might get a break on flood insurance rates.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which oversees the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), provides community flood insurance in return for local government’s adoption and enforcement of a floodplain management ordinance.

The ordinance creates safe standards for structures built in flood hazard areas.

Flood-prone areas are rife throughout the county — rivers, streams, arroyos, watercourses and steep topography create dangers for homeowners during and after heavy rains.

A recent FEMA inspection found county floodplain management has gone above and beyond federal standards, creating safety conditions that earned the county a special commendation from FEMA Branch Chief Lisa Jennings.

“Sandoval County is commended for adopting this higher regulatory standard for new or substantially improved structures, which protects property from flood loss and reduces potential for human loss in all areas of the community,” Jennings wrote in a letter to County Manager Phil Rios.

County floodplain managers Maria Martinez-Encinias and Brad Stebleton worked to ensure NFIP building requirements in floodplain areas surpassed federal standards. They took FEMA officials on a tour of the county’s floodplain last fall.

“What they told us when they audited us is that we were doing a bunch of things that the program already does,” said Stebleton, “so we should apply to become part of that so our people can get lower insurance rates.”

The county has since been invited to participate in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS), which results in a reduction in premiums for the community’s flood insurance policyholders.

“They basically told us, ‘You guys are doing these things, anyway. You might as well get credit for it. And it saves your residents’ money,’” said Stebleton.

The CRS is similar to ISO ratings for fire protection.

“They (FEMA) are showing us how we can better educate the community through the CRS program,” said Martinez-Encinias.

Martinez-Encinias, whose inlaws suffered property damage from an unexpected flood, said the county seeks greater public engagement in flood safety education.

“We have ideas,” she said, describing plans to put signage on common and hazardous floodways. She also wants to arrange visits with schools to educate youth about flood safety.

“What better way is there to reach out to the community than to reach out to children and do projects with them?” said Martinez-Encinias, suggesting the creation of tiny floodway models as a teaching option.

Flooding affects both rural and urban communities across the county.

“Rio Rancho is surprisingly very flood prone,” Stebleton said.

He said most common deaths in flood events are caused by people attempting to drive their cars through floodwater in the road.

“Water is more powerful than people think it is,” he said.

Both managers attended CRS training courses. They hope to partner with members of the community to increase flood education and enhance their CRS rating to lower insurance rates.

“CRS is voluntary. It’s not something we have to do,” said Martinez-Encinias. “It’s something we’re doing for the community.”

Local business owners or community groups who would like to collaborate with county floodplain management on outreach projects should contact Martinez-Encinias at mencinias@sandovalcountynm.gov.