Iowa City Work Prompts Lower Flood Insurance Rrates

Property owners in Iowa City’s 100-year flood plain will get a 15 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums thanks to work on a variety of flood-related projects.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the 15 percent discount is up from the current 10 percent discount. It comes after a federal review found city efforts had reduced risks since the 2008 flooding, which damaged homes, businesses and many buildings on the University of Iowa campus.

Julie Tallman, a city development regulations specialist, credited the city’s work on projects ranging from flood plain management to its checking of bridges where debris can get caught up. The city also has improved protection of vulnerable wells, set up the deployment of temporary flood protection and razed buildings in flood-prone areas.