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3. The OPS' description of the "flood-related public information activities currently being implemented within the community (including those by non-government agencies)" must include activities being implemented within the city, For example, the ISOICRS Specialist cannot tell if a project at one location (e,g., a booth at a shopping mall in another city) will benefit the city unless the city documents that its residents frequent the site, 4, The city must document that it is implementing its share of the OPS' projects, The memo or other documentation should state something like "we support the strategy and are implementing the following projects [list the projects]," More information on outreach projects is provided in the 1999 edition of CRS Credit for Outreach Projects, This includes several strategy documents that were prepared in 1998 by CRS communities when they learned that the new element would provide more points in 1999, See Appendix E of the CRS Coordina, tor's Manual to order a copy or download it from http://www.fema.gov/nfip/crs.htm. A CRS Success Story: City Credit for County Activities -Santa Clara Valley Water District Website San Jose, California The Santa Clara Valley Water District (District) has achieved a base rating for the entire COWlty Wlder the Community Rating System. The District, whose mission includes providing flood management for Santa Clara County, already performs a large number of CRS creditable activities, The District's vigilant creek maintenance program and our award. winning "Hey Noah!" flood awareness program are just two examples of activities that receive CRS credit. Usually, FEMA works directly with individual cities and towns who want to participate in the CRS. However, when the District realized that its activities, which it manages cOWltywide, would meet many of the CRS standards for NFIPICRS Update . higher-than-required proactive flood management, we initiated an innovative approach to the CRS, In an Wlusual partnership, sanctioned by the CRS, the District prepared an application for CRS points, following the same guidelines that apply to individual cities and towns. The points obtained through the District's documented activities will apply countywide, to any city or town that participates in CRS, After a review by the ISOICRS Specialist, the District's activities are credited under the following activities: . 330 (Outreach Projects) . 350 (Flood Protection Library) . 410 (Additional Flood Data) . 420 (Open Space PreservatIOn) . 440 (Flood Data Maintenance) . 450 (Stormwater Management) . 540 (Drainage System Maintenance) . 610 (Flood Warning Program) As a result, the District has been credited a countywide, verified base of 563 points. If a city or town in the COWlty meets the CRS prerequisites (being in full compliance, agrees to keep elevation certificates, etc,), it now qualifies to receive a minimum class 9 rating, simply by applying to the CRS program, The District's flood management and flood awareness programs have qualified individual residents for a minimum 5% discount on their annual flood insurance premiums, That's a yearly savings of about $30 for a typical home, If each community participates only to the class 9 level, which is already supported by District activities, there would be a net savings to citizens of this county of nearly half a million dollars yearly! , " Editor's note: FEMA saves, too. Under this "Uniform Minimum Credit" approach, redundant documentation and extra visits by the ISOICRS Specialist are eliminated. The District has also made it a goal to get all of its communi- ties into the CRS and is using the CRS as a marketing tool to help illustrate the benefits of its programs. -8- Winter 2000