Scoop: Des Moines' flood prevention leads to insurance break
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Floods in 1993 damaged large sections of the metro, including downtown Des Moines. Photo: Brooks Kraft LLC/Sygma via Getty Images
Federal officials upgraded Des Moines' flood protection rank this week — a major win for the city's mitigation efforts and a financial score for residents.
Why it matters: Starting in October, some property owners' flood insurance premiums will drop as much as 25%, Axios has learned.
Catch up quick: The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program for communities that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. The federally managed program makes coverage available in thousands of communities.
- Premiums are discounted to reflect reduced flood risks on a class scale of 1-10 following infrastructure investments.
- Des Moines' rank improved from a Class 6 to a Class 5.
State of play: DSM has spent tens of millions of dollars in levee improvements since 2008 after multiple floods caused billions of dollars in damage across large swaths of the city.
- The rate of city stormwater projects tripled after nearly 2,000 homes were damaged in 2018 — more than $150 million of work that remains ongoing.
Context: Climate change is driving the need for infrastructure improvements with considerable potential for future flooding, state climatologist Justin Glisan said on Iowa Press last month.
Zoom in: State and metro governments in the region have added wetlands and farm field buffers that reduce flood risks and improve water quality.
- DSM has also reimbursed residents hundreds of thousands of dollars for voluntary flood management improvements.
What they're saying: The ranking quantifies the city's work in reducing flood risks, Patrick Beane, DSM's clean water administrator, said in a video.
- The lower premiums will apply to properties near levee systems, including downtown's dense business corridor, he said.
Friction point: Some of the city's projects have been controversial, including in 2021 when multiple homeowners unsuccessfully pleaded with the City Council to backtrack on a buyout program that claimed their flood-prone properties.
- Plus: Sewer rates have increased in recent years, partly to help cover some of the project costs.
What's next: DSM's levee improvement program has five more phases, including in the city's southeast section, near Pleasant Hill.
- Work will continue until at least 2028.