The city of Austin has recently responded to a resolution passed by the Austin City Council regarding flood insurance and education. The Watershed Protection Department released a memo outlining their actions in response to the resolution brought forward by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes.
One of the key points in the response is the allocation of $100,000 from the general fund to start a pilot program aimed at providing financial assistance to lower-income homeowners for acquiring federal flood insurance. The department is working with the Housing Department to implement this program, although there are challenges to be addressed. The memo emphasized the importance of not only addressing upfront insurance costs but also reducing flood risk to discourage people from living in flood-prone areas.
Additionally, the city supported the idea of hiring a new full-time employee to assist with the Community Rating System (CRS) rating, which can lead to discounts on flood insurance policies. While Austin currently holds a class 5 CRS rating, further reductions are desired to benefit policyholders.
In terms of flood early warning systems, the city already has a program called FEWS in place, which includes various measures such as flashing beacons at low-water crossings and an extensive network of monitoring devices to communicate threats of severe rainfall events to the public. The city is also working on inventorying static signage for flood-prone areas.
Regarding public education on flooding and flood insurance, the Watershed Protection District stated that they are actively engaged in year-round Flood Safety Awareness and Preparedness activities to educate the public on the dangers of flooding and how to stay safe before, during, and after a flood. The department conducts various outreach efforts, including paid advertisements in multiple languages, emergency alerts during heavy rainfall, and an annual flood safety video contest.
Furthermore, the department highlighted the upcoming flood safety awareness week in April as part of their ongoing efforts to educate and engage the community on flood-related issues. It is clear that the city of Austin is taking proactive steps to enhance flood insurance accessibility and public awareness of flood risks.
