Unincorporated Residents Eligible For Flood Insurance Discounts

Press release from Lake County:

Oct. 26, 2022

Property owners residing in unincorporated Lake County may be eligible to save an average of $265 a year on their flood insurance policies. Currently, there are more than 735 flood insurance policies in unincorporated Lake County.

Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS) program, residents within unincorporated Lake County – who meet certain requirements – are eligible for up to 20 percent savings on flood insurance premiums. This results in a potential annual total savings of $195,140 overall for residents across the county. Property owners should contact their flood insurance agent to obtain individual savings information.

Since 2008, Lake County has participated in the CRS program and received favorable ratings saving property owners thousands of dollars on their policies. Lake County is required to create an Annual Evaluation Report to maintain the favorable rating.

Highlights from the report include:

• Lake County approved four permitted projects for elevating the finished floor of an existing structure to be above the regulatory floodplain elevation to bring the structures into compliance with the Lake County Unified Development Ordinance in 2021. This will help protect these structures from future flooding.
• The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission's Watershed Management Board (WMB) cost-share grant program helps fund local stormwater projects. The highest funding priority is flood damage/prevention/mitigation, but other project benefits are also included in funding decisions.
• Lake County works closely with residents and coordinates with other agencies such as the Township Highway Commissioners and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission to respond to drainage complaints affecting private properties.
• View details of the Annual Evaluation Report

Additional Resources

• Contact your insurance agent for coverage information, pricing, and CRS flood insurance discount information.
• FEMA Flood Smart website: floodsmart.gov
• Lake County Planning, Building and Development: Flood Information
• This notice applies to residents in the unincorporated areas of Lake County. If you live within a village or city, contact your municipality to see if they participate in the CRS program.

This press release was produced by Lake County. The views expressed here are the author's own.