Latest Floodplain Management Progress Plan Completed In Westport

Information from the Town of Westport:

WESTPORT, CT — Planning & Zoning Deputy Director Michelle Perillie announced today that the Westport Progress Report on Floodplain Management is complete and may be accessed on-line on the Town of Westport’s website, www.westportct.gov.

This report is prepared annually to enable Westport residents to receive a 10% reduction in their flood insurance. Flood Insurance is offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to those communities that participate in the Community Rating System (CRS). Municipalities that participate in the CRS are ranked from Classes 1-10. The classifications warrant what flood insurance rate reductions are offered. A ranking of 1 offers the highest reduction in flood insurance rates. Efforts to date implemented by the Planning and Zoning Commission have elevated Westport’s ranking from 10 to 8. More efforts are planned.

Annual reports are required identifying how Westport is implementing the Western Connecticut Council of Governments Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) Update 2021-2026 & Annex for Westport prepared by the Western Council of Governments (WestCOG) and adopted by FEMA on November 9, 2021. Westport is a member of WestCOG, a regional planning agency. A copy of the Westport Annual Progress Report on Floodplain Management is attached.

The HMP can be accessed from WestCOG’s website at https://westcog.org/emergency-management/hazard-mitigation/. The HMP identifies natural hazards and associated risks as well as implementation methods to reduce the loss of life and property. The HMP additionally provides the ability of the Town and its residents to apply for mitigation grants.

The HMP was prepared in accordance with 44 CFR 201.6 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA) established a national program for pre-disaster mitigation and helps expedite the administration of disaster relief to impacted areas. A key requirement of the DMA is the need for a FEMA-approved HMP, which keeps the region and its municipalities eligible for Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) funding.