Des Moines residents can now get flood insurance with lower premiums. Here's why:

Des Moines residents now can get cheaper flood insurance after the city completed several floodplain management projects that increased its score with the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System.

Iowa's capital city now is a class five community under the CRS, meaning residents can receive National Flood Insurance Program insurance with 25% lower premiums than residents in a community not in the CRS. Des Moines residents initially qualified for a 20% premium reduction.

Clive and Cedar Falls are the only other class five communities in Iowa. If Des Moines reaches class one, the best rating the CRS gives, the premium reduction would reach 45%.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency , the CRS is a voluntary incentive program that rewards communities with floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the NFIP. Communities are ranked based on how well they achieve three objectives: reducing and avoiding flood damage to insurable property, strengthening the insurance aspects of the NFIP and fostering comprehensive floodplain management.

Des Moines' attainment reflects large-scale capitol investment into flood prevention in the wake of flooding in 2008 and 2018. In a news release , the city highlighted four key initiatives that have made Des Moines less prone to flooding and flood damage.

More: As state faces expensive levee fixes, could a $10 billion plan decrease flooding in Iowa?

Levee alterations along the Des Moines and Racoon Rivers addressed deficiencies that made overflows more likely. The project consists of eight phases, the first of which was completed in 2021. Closes Creek storm sewer improvements were accelerated after 2018 flash flooding and expanded the capacity and resiliency of storm water drainage throughout northwest Des Moines.

The Highland Park neighborhood had a history of outdated sewers and flooding, but a new system installed in phases since 2020 has reduced the number of properties required to have flood insurance in the area from 175 to one. Lastly, the city spent $12.7 million to buyout most of the repetitive loss properties in the Fourmile Creek watershed.

Ryan Magalhã es is a reporter for the Register. Reach them at rmagalhaes@dmreg.com .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines residents can now get flood insurance with lower premiums. Here's why: