250167-MA-Northampton-vTPwYB8qwLB6.pdfU.S. Department of Homeland Security
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
November 4, 2021
The Honorable David Narkewicz
Mayor of Northampton
210 Main Street
Northampton, Massachusetts 01060
Dear Mayor Narkewicz:
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with the results of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating
System (CRS) field verification findings based on your 5-year cycle verification. The field verification report is enclosed for
your records.
I am pleased to inform you that the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has
determined that the City of Northampton will retain its current rating as a Class 8 in the NFIP CRS. The floodplain
management activities implemented by your community qualify it for a 10 percent discount on flood insurance premiums for
most NFIP policies issued or renewed on or after April 1, 2022. This savings is a tangible result of the flood mitigation
activities your community implements to protect lives and reduce property damage.
The CRS rating for your community will automatically be renewed annually as long as there are no NFIP noncompliance
actions, so a notification letter will not be sent every year. This annual renewal will take place as long as your community
continues to implement the CRS activities you certify in your annual recertification documentation. If no additional
modifications or new CRS activities are added, the next verification visit for your community will be in accordance with its
established 5-year cycle. In the interim, FEMA will periodically send the NFIP/CRS Update newsletter and other notices to
your CRS Coordinator to keep your community informed.
I commend you on your community actions and your determination to lead your community to be more disaster resistant. This
commitment enhances public safety, property protection, and protects the natural functions of floodplains, and reduces flood
insurance premiums.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the FEMA Region I Office, CRS Coordinator Katie
Rand by telephone at (617) 832-4716.
Sincerely,
John F. Lyons, Policy Branch Chief
Flood Plain Management Division
Mitigation Directorate
Enclosure
cc: Ms. Sarah LaValley, CRS Coordinator
COMMUNITY
RATING
SYSTEM
VERIFICATION
REPORT
City of Northampton, MA Verified Class 8
NFIP Number: 250167 Cycle-Phone Verification
Date of Verification Visit: May 7, 2021
This Verification Report is provided to explain the recommendations of Insurance
Services Office, Inc. (ISO) to DHS/FEMA concerning credits under the Community
Rating System (CRS) for the above named community.
A total of 1083 credit points are verified which results in a recommendation that the
community remain a CRS Class 8. The community has met all Class 8 prerequisites.
The following is a summary of our findings with the total CRS credit points for each
activity listed in parenthesis:
Activity 310 – Elevation Certificates: Credit is provided for having written
construction certificate management procedures for all new and substantially
improved/substantially damaged buildings. (38 points)
Activity 320 – Map Information Service: Credit is provided for furnishing inquirers
with basic flood zone information from the community’s latest Flood Insurance Rate
Map (FIRM). Credit is also provided for historical flood information and natural
floodplain functions. The service is publicized annually and records are maintained.
(70 points)
Activity 330 – Outreach Projects: Credit is provided for informational outreach
projects and a targeted outreach project. These projects are disseminated annually.
(40 points)
Activity 350 – Flood Protection Information: Documents relating to floodplain
management are available in the reference section of the Forbes Library. Credit is also
provided for floodplain information displayed on the community’s website. (30 points)
Activity 420 – Open Space Preservation: Credit is provided for preserving
approximately 29 percent of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as open space and
preserving open space land in a natural state. (478 points)
Activity 430 – Higher Regulatory Standards: Credit is provided for enforcing
regulations that require development limitations, freeboard for new construction and
substantial improvement, and local drainage protection. Credit is also provided for the
enforcement of building codes. (144 points)
City of Northampton, MA Page 2
NFIP #: 250167
Activity 440 – Flood Data Maintenance: Credit is provided for maintaining and using
additional map data in the day to day management of the floodplain. (103 points)
Activity 450 – Stormwater Management: The community enforces regulations for
stormwater management, soil and erosion control, and water quality. (130 points)
Section 502 – Repetitive Loss Category: Based on the updates made to the NFIP
Report of Repetitive Losses as of December 20, 2019, the City of Northampton, MA has
8 repetitive loss properties and is a Category B community for CRS purposes. All
requirements for a Category B community have been met.
(No credit points are applicable to this section)
Activity 510 – Floodplain Management Planning: Credit is provided for the City of
Northampton Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, adopted on August 20, 2020. A
progress report must be submitted on an annual basis. (50 points)
Activity 710 – County Growth Adjustment: All credit in the 400 series is multiplied by
the growth rate of the county to account for growth pressures. The growth rate for
Hampshire County, MA is 1.05
Attached is the Community Calculations Worksheet that lists the verified credit points for
the Community Rating System.
CEO Name / Address: CRS Coordinator Name / Address:
The Honorable David Narkewicz Sarah LaValley
Mayor, City of Northampton Conservation and Preservation Planner
210 Main Street 210 Main Street
Northampton, Masschusetts 01060 Northampton, Massachusetts 01060
(413) 587-1263
Date Report Prepared: August 5, 2021
Community : City of Northampton, MA NFIP Number : 250167
720 COMMUNITY CREDIT CALCULATIONS (Cycle-Phone Verification):
CALCULATION SECTION :
Verified Activity Calculations: Credit
c310 38 38
c320 70 70
c330 40 40
c340
c350 30 30
c360
c370
c410 x CGA =
c420 455 x CGA 1.05 = 478
c430 137 x CGA 1.05 = 144
c440 98 x CGA 1.05 = 103
c450 124 x CGA 1.05 = 130
c510 50 50
c520
c530
c540
c610
c620
c630
Community Classification Calculation:
cT = total of above cT = 1083
Community Classification (from Table 110-1): Class = 8
CEO Name/Address: CRS Coordinator Name/Address:
The Honorable David Narkewicz Sarah LaValley
Mayor, City of Northampton Conservation and Preservation Planner
210 Main Street 210 Main Street
Northampton, Masschusetts 01060 Northampton, Massachusetts 01060
(413) 587-1263
Date Report Prepared: August 5, 2021
AW-720