ATTN: Changes Coming for NFIP (Flood Insurance)

Should you buy flood insurance or not if you live within the boundaries of First Colony Levee Improvement District (FCLID)?  That is a question that each homeowner must ask themselves.  Whether you already have it or are considering it, here is something you need to know.

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is coming out with a new method of rating the flood risk of a property.  Their original method was with a product called Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).  This methodology has not changed in over 50 years, but change is coming, and it will go into effect October 1, 2021.  This new method called Risk Rating 2.0 utilizes the latest technology available to assess the flood risk of a property.

With Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA estimates that 14% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate decrease in their flood insurance premium; 79% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate increase in their flood insurance premium that could range from $0 to $10 per month; 3% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate increase in their flood insurance premium of $10 to $20 per month; and 4% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate increase in their flood insurance premium greater than $20 per month.

We do not yet know how Risk Rating 2.0 will impact flood insurance prices in FCLID.  We do not know which category of premium change will include us.  However, if you already have flood insurance, you are grandfathered into how fast your flood insurance premium can increase.  It is federally mandated that a flood insurance premium cannot increase by more than 18% per year.

Therefore, we encourage you to get flood insurance. Contact your home insurance provider.  Since a flood insurance policy takes 30 days to go into effect, you must purchase your policy by September 1, 2021, for your policy to become effective prior to the effective date of Risk Rating 2.0.

Click here for additional information regarding Risk Rating 2.0.

Tropical Storm Beta Informational Update

As of Noon Sunday, September 20, 2020, the Brazos River Richmond gauge is at Stage 14.4 and is expected to continue falling over the next several days. Tropical Storm Beta is currently predicted to make landfall west of Fort Bend County on Monday evening, then make a turn to the northeast, with the Sugar Land/Missouri City area inside the cone of impacted areas. Rainfall predictions for the next 3 days are currently for as much as 10 inches, with most of that total predicted to occur on Monday. These conditions can create street ponding during the heavier rain bands, which should subside between bands.

The District’s Operator has implemented the Preparation Phase of the Emergency Action Plan. At this time, with the river predictions to be well below bank-full conditions, the District drainage facilities, both north and south of SH 6, will operate under gravity flow conditions. As conditions warrant, the District will post additional updates through this website and by text messaging for those residents signed up for that service.

Residents should monitor their respective City and County websites for information and news releases:

Critical Elevations within the District are shown on the District’s website.