What's happening
City Council members have recently sought to find new options for financial assistance for residents' flood insurance, given rising costs and the flooding risks in an area sometimes known as "Flash Flood Alley."
Last spring, the city reported that its local flood mitigation efforts had earned residents an additional 5% discount on insurance policies by scoring highly in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Community Rating System. And in the summer, city officials voted to reserve $100,000 for a flood insurance financial assistance pilot that's now rolling out.
“When we think about building a more resilient community, it’s important that we recognize the rise in insurance rates. And so by providing this pilot program around flood insurance, we really will be making a big difference in our community," said council member Vanessa Fuentes, who sponsored the effort in last year's budget talks. "I’m pleased that our city is leading the way in this type of innovation and support."
The project
Council voted March 6 to advance the program through a new contract with the Del Valle Community Coalition, with a further $30,000 added from the city's general fund. The project will kick off in March, and the DVCC will begin reaching out to residents about the support soon after, Watershed Protection Department spokesperson Joan Esquivel said.
Unlike most city contracting, the DVCC wasn't chosen through a public solicitation given its urgency and the program timeline, Esquivel said. Instead, the coalition was selected as it's an existing city vendor for Austin's home resiliency program.
"DVCC has been building relationships with income-eligible homeowners to increase their resiliency over the past two years, making them uniquely qualified to deliver the services of this pilot program," Esquivel said.
Details about qualifying for assistance and the type of aid to be offered isn't yet available. Looking ahead, city staff will gather information on the pilot's performance and report back to city officials when it wraps up before any possible extension or expansion is considered.
More details
After last year's bump in the FEMA scoring system and officials' request for further action on flood insurance assistance, the watershed department said several more updates are being pursued to further improve Austin's rating. The department may seek additional staff this year to help with that work.
There are currently about 7,500 active flood insurance policies in Austin, according to the department. Esquivel said it's too early for the city to tell if last year's update improved local coverage, available to both homeowners and renters.
"[W]e are hopeful that with the discount going from 20% to 25%, more people at risk of flooding have chosen to seek coverage or that existing policyholders have chosen to increase their coverage amounts," she said.
Residents can check their property's status in or around local floodplains through a city mapping tool, and learn more about flood insurance through FEMA.
More information about Austin's local drainage improvement projects can be found through the watershed department's website, and residents can request work in their area via 3-1-1.
What's next
The Watershed Protection Department is planning a series of public events for Flood Safety Awareness Week, which runs from April 21-26. Programming will include:
- An educational Flood Safety Fest on April 26 at Campbell Elementary School, 2613 Rogers Ave., Austin
- Recognition of the department's Flood Safety Contest student public awareness campaign winners
- Formal council recognition April 24
