First Colony Levee Improvement District

Three years ago, FEMA introduced its new pricing approach (Risk Rating 2.0) to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  The change revolutionized the 50+ years of the NFIP policy premium pricing.

In the former “legacy” approach, structures mapped in “X” zones and “shaded X” zones (leveed areas) were offered preferred rate policies, basically every house paid the same price.  Under RR 2.0, each structure reflects its own unique risk factor which determines the premium for each individual property.

FEMA has a program called the CRS (Community Rating System) which allows communities to work towards a class rating that can result in premiums discounts.  Under the former “legacy” approach, anyone with a preferred rate policy could not take advantage of a CRS discount.  Now, every structure can.  The City of Sugar Land has a Class 6 rating (20% discount) and Missouri City has a Class 7 rating (15% discount).

After two years, FCLID has successfully worked with both cities and FEMA to be recognized for inclusion in these discounts.  See the letters here for Sugar Land and Missouri City.

Policyholders need to ensure that upon renewal, or initial taking, of a NFIP policy the Community Identification Number (CID) on the policy is either Sugar Land (#480234) or Missouri City (#480304) and NOT FCLID (#481583).

From Ready.gov

• Know what to do before, during, and after a hurricane.
• Prepare before hurricane season starts. Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1.
• Create an emergency communication plan with your family before a hurricane.
• Have emergency supplies in place at home, at work, and in the car.
• Consider purchasing flood insurance because damages caused by flooding are not covered under normal homeowner’s insurance policies.
• Learn how to prepare in the event of an evacuation.
• Listen to local officials.
• Sign up for alerts from the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management.

The most serious threat to property protected by the FCLID levee comes from weather events that involve heavy local rainfall, possibly in combination with high water events on the Brazos River.

The following weather events can significantly impact our area:

• Local rainfall that exceeds 12” in 24 hours in our area.
• Severe Brazos River flooding from upstream dam releases or lower basin rainfall that raises the water level in the Brazos River.
• Moderate river events where high water limits the gravity
  discharge rate from inside the levee combined with moderate
  to heavy local rainfall that raises water levels inside the levee protected area.

During heavy rain events it is advisable NOT to park vehicles in the street or set out trash bins. Our streets are designed as part of the overall drainage system for the District, and you should expect water to drain through the streets before it drains out of the District.

As previously posted, the District is participating with LID 19 and MUD 115 (the Riverstone Districts) in the construction of a second pump station along Steepbank Creek which will provide approximately 200,000 gpm additional pumping capacity for extreme rainfall events coincident with high Brazos River events.

This project has been under construction for approximately two years at this time and has experienced two significant delays. The first is a delay in the installation of the permanent electrical service equipment (transformer and meter) by CenterPoint Energy. The second delay was caused by an act of vandalism and theft late last year, which damaged several pieces of equipment and wiring.

The revised expected completion date is late Summer, 2026.