Reducing flood risk in Manitou Springs is a priority for city government. This was demonstrated by city staff’s dedication to maintaining a Class 7 rating through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System — resulting in a 15 percent reduction in flood insurance premiums for the community.
This was possible through an extremely collaborative effort among city departments, Manitou Springs School District 14 and the regional floodplain administrator, which resulted in many long nights and 200-plus hours of dedication to this verification.
City staffers mapped all buildings in the 100-year floodplain, carried out extensive outreach for flood preparedness and mitigation, and participated in the Pikes Peak Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The city would like to extend its gratitude to Senior Planner Karen Berchtold, AICP, who managed this operation.
Other city staffers who were instrumental in the success of this verification were Jeff Jones, Public Works director; Eric Karlson, streets/stormwater supervisor; Dylan Becker, planner I; Alicia Stoke, Public Works senior administrative assistant; and John Chavez, stormwater consultant.
For more information on mitigation and maintenance efforts for Williams Canyon, visit www.manitouspringsgov.com/668/_Williams-Canyon-Maintenance.
For more information on hazard mitigation in Manitou Springs, visit www.manitouspringsgov.com/572/Hazard-Preparedness-Mitigation-and-Resil.
The Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. More than 1,500 communities participate nationwide.