FEMA GIVES STONINGTON FLOOD PROTECTION AWARD

Stonington — The Federal Emergency Management has given the town a Class 7 award for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System.

Participation in the program lowers flood insurance rates for property owners, and the Class 7 award is the highest rating a town can receive. Only two other communities in Connecticut share that honor.

More than 1,000 homeowners here lost the discount on their pricey flood insurance in the summer of 2015 because the town had not addressed deficiencies found in its flood planning by a FEMA audit. The audit found nine properties were not in compliance with requirements of the Community Rating Program.

A change in Town Hall personnel under former First Selectman Ed Haberek resulted in the oversight, as the flood plain manager position that oversaw the program was not filled.

Rob Simmons pledged to solve the problem when he ran for first selectman in 2015 and, after being elected, appointed Town Engineer Scot Deledda, who had taken on the job of flood plain manager, to discuss the issue with FEMA, negotiate with homeowners to bring their properties into compliance and reapply for admission into the program. FEMA restored the discount in 2017.

“Getting back in the CRS program and getting the highest rating of Class 7 is a huge honor,” Simmons said, “and it is saving our shoreline residents and businesses thousands of dollars in insurance premiums every month as well as preparing us for sea-level rise.”

The town was given a plaque and letter of congratulation from FEMA Floodplain Branch Chief Kerry Bogdan.