Last Saturday’s forum, “The One Lake & Its Impact on Our Communities,” went well despite the gloomy weather. Canton Club, Colonial Heights/Parkway, McLeod, and other metro area residents had the opportunity to listen to and talk with Mr. Ricardo Lopez-Torrijos, a stormwater and floodplain management specialist.
Ricardo explained different flood mitigation measures, such as home elevations and floodproofing, and how some of these measures may not apply to the homes in the 3 Communities. He also showed us how to look up addresses using FEMA’s map services.
Here are three takeaways I want to explore more thoroughly:
- Get certified; (maybe) save money
- Good floodplain practices save money
- Stop talking about the dam lake
Get certified; (maybe) save money.
If you live in or near a FEMA flood hazard zone, you can better understand the risks to your property by obtaining an elevation certificate (EC), which you can submit to your insurance agent to determine if you are eligible for a reduction in flood insurance costs.
How can you obtain your property’s EC? You can pay a surveyor to create one, but there might be better options. The City of Jackson’s floodplain manager might already have one on record. The 3C1CA collective is seeking availability for Canton Club, Parkway, and McLeod neighborhoods. Message me at jacksonfloods@gmail.com if you want to help.
Good floodplain practices save money.
Cities and counties, such as Jackson and Hinds, that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are encouraged to enact best practices in floodplain management through FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS). Cities and counties that go above and beyond the NFIP’s minimum requirements earn higher CRS points, which then grant discounts on their residents’ flood insurance premiums.
Jackson’s floodplain residents already receive a 10% discount on their insurance premiums due to the CRS but could receive upwards of 45% if the city enacted stricter floodplain management practices.
Stop talking about the dam lake.
The “One Lake” is one of the plans considered for the Federal Pearl River Basin Flood Risk Management Project (PRB FRM). Focusing on the lake in our discussions gives the plan more weight than it should have. Other plans, rooted in best practices and community needs, should be identified, christened, and promoted. That’s what 3C1CA is about.
Ricardo recommended reading “The Green Heart of the Pearl River ” for a summary of alternative plans for the Jackson Metropolitan area that can reduce flood levels and create new public spaces for Mississippians to enjoy.
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