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The resulting King County Flood Hazard Reduction Plan identifies a need for more than $300 million in flood hazard reduction efforts (see Figure 8). The plan identifies 168 homes as possible candidates for elevation, at an estimated cost of $4 million. Although the average cost of elevating a home is much less than the cost of acquiring and relocating it, elevation was recommended only in areas with very low velocity flows and where a home would not be at risk from undercutting through erosion. It should be noted that costs vary greatly around the country, depending on building types, how many non-flood related items (such as stairs and landscaping) are included, and local economic conditions. Frankfort, Kentucky, was scheduled to have a large portion of its downtown protected by a levee constructed by the Corps of Engineers. The project would leave several hundred properties exposed to flooding by the Kentucky River. The City created a task force which conducted a building-by-building survey, The resulting mitigation plan recommended acquiring properties in the high velocity flood way , flood proofing others, revising the City-County comprehensive plan, assisting in locating new low and moderate income housing, constructing some small protection projects, and publicizing flood insurance, While not preparing comprehensive plans, other communities have opted for flood proofing as part of comprehensive approaches to help all flood prone properties. In some cases, flood proofing was chosen as a way to help areas not protected by planned structural measures. For example, two Illinois communities, Mount Prospect and Des Plaines, initiated rebate programs to help people who would not be protected by major sewer improvements. External Impact: Sometimes flood proofing is selected because other flood protection measures have adverse impacts on other properties or the enviromnent. Structural projects can increase flood heights and destroy habitats. Except for barriers, flood proofing projects do not alter flood flows or affect habitats; they just modify existing buildings. Flood proofing can also be less disruptive to a neighborhood than, for example, removing houses or building a large wall. Fairfax County, Virginia, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, had proposed channel improvements at public meetings. Residents objected to having their back yards disturbed by bigger and wider ditches. These two communities have since redirected their planning efforts to focus on flood proofing solutions in these neighborhoods. Community Rating System: The Community Rating System (CRS) is a part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Flood insurance rates are reduced in communities that apply to the CRS and show that they are implementing flood plain management activities that exceed the minimum requirements of the NFIP, There are 18 credited activities, including public information programs, technical assistance to residents, higher standard regulations, acquisition and relocation, flood proofing and flood warning. These activities and their credit points are explained in the CRS Coordinator's Manual for local officials. Most communities apply because they have already implemented some of the credited activities. However, once in the CRS, some want to improve their insurance rate reduction, so they initiate new programs to receive more credit for more activities. For example, officials in Kemah, Texas, and South Holland, Illinois, became interested in flood proofing after reading the manual. They have implemented public information programs and have planned funding programs, in part to receive CRS credit, but primarily to offer an additional form of assistance to help protect flood prone properties. -16-