Alianza entre IBTS y el Municipio de Coamo para desarrollar un Plan de Recuperación Municipal

May 27, 2022

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IBTS –organización sin fines de lucro– trabajará para lograr la recuperación integral del Municipio junto con las comunidades


San Juan, PR., El Instituto de Tecnología y Seguridad de la Edificación (IBTS) anunció que firmó un convenio con el Municipio Autónomo de Coamo, Puerto Rico, para desarrollar su Plan de Recuperación Municipal (PRM).


El Programa MRP, financiado por las Subvenciones en Bloque para el Desarrollo Comunitario para la Recuperación de Desastres (CDBG-DR) del Departamento de Vivienda de los Estados Unidos (HUD) y administrado por el Departamento de Vivienda de Puerto Rico (PRDOH), asigna fondos a los municipios de Puerto Rico para llevar a cabo actividades de planificación que aborden las condiciones creadas o exacerbadas por los devastadores huracanes de 2017. Los Planes de Recuperación Municipal resultantes guiarán el desarrollo de comunidades más fuertes, seguras y resilientes.


Junto con sus socios Estudios Técnicos Inc. y ATCS, IBTS brindará un enfoque multidisciplinario para desarrollar el MRP de Coamo, asegurando que los miembros de la comunidad y las partes interesadas tengan amplias oportunidades de participar en el proceso.


"Con el Programa MRP, Coamo se beneficiará de una hoja de ruta que guiará sus esfuerzos mientras continúan fortaleciendo la economía y la sostenibilidad de su municipio. La participación de la comunidad es un componente crítico de un MRP exitoso. Es de los residentes de Coamo que aprenderemos primero cómo fue antes, durante y después de los huracanes y qué acciones y proyectos se necesitan para recuperar y construir resiliencia”, dijo Agnes Crespo Quintana, directora de la oficina del IBTS en Puerto Rico. . “Con IBTS, ATCS y ETI, Coamo contará con un equipo de expertos en planificación municipal, recuperación comunitaria a largo plazo y programas de subvenciones federales, como CDBG-DR. El equipo de IBTS trabajará de la mano con Coamo, sus residentes, empresas, organizaciones comunitarias, municipios vecinos y el gobierno central de Puerto Rico para garantizar una recuperación resiliente para Coamo y toda su gente”, dijo Crespo.


Los trabajos del MRP de Coamo comenzaron en mayo de 2022 y continuarán durante seis meses. Para obtener más información sobre IBTS y el programa MRP, visite https://www.ibts.org/mrp/


Sobre el Municipio de Coamo

Fundado en 1579, Coamo es uno de los municipios más antiguos de Puerto Rico. El huracán María causó daños importantes al Municipio, incluidos numerosos deslizamientos de tierra y la destrucción de más de 2.000 viviendas y muchos edificios que son parte integral de su economía. El programa MRP ayudará a Coamo a continuar su trabajo fortaleciendo su desarrollo económico y su resiliencia ante futuros desastres.


Acerca de IBTS

IBTS es una organización nacional sin fines de lucro y asesor y socio confiable de los gobiernos locales, estatales y federales. IBTS proporciona experiencia en códigos de construcción; gestión de subvenciones federales; experiencia en planificación, mitigación y recuperación de desastres; soluciones de gobiernos locales; garantía de calidad solar; y servicios de resiliencia. Con una larga trayectoria en la prestación de servicios de energía solar en Puerto Rico, IBTS estableció su Oficina permanente en Puerto Rico luego de los huracanes de 2017 para ayudar con la recuperación de la Isla. El trabajo de IBTS está guiado por una Junta Directiva con representantes del Consejo de Gobiernos Estatales (CSG), la Asociación Internacional de Administración de Ciudades/Condados (ICMA), la Asociación Nacional de Condados (NACo), la Asociación Nacional de Gobernadores y la Asamblea Nacional. Liga de Ciudades (NLC).


Acerca de ATCS

ATCS ofrece servicios multidisciplinarios de consultoría de ingeniería, especializándose en soluciones de servicio completo en los campos de transporte, ingeniería y planificación del tráfico, medio ambiente, geoespacial, sitios civiles, ferrocarriles y tránsito, edificios e instalaciones, aire y ruido, y servicios de gestión de emergencias. ATCS tiene nueve oficinas en Virginia, Pensilvania, Maryland y Carolina del Norte.


Acerca de Estudios Técnicos, Inc., (ETI)

Estudios Técnicos, Inc., (ETI) es la firma líder en consultoría de planificación, investigación, estrategia de mercado, análisis social y asesoría económica en Puerto Rico. Con más de 35 años de operación en la Isla, las disciplinas del personal de ETI incluyen economía, planificación, derecho, estadística, gestión, finanzas, marketing, comunicaciones, análisis de datos, programación y geografía, entre otras.


Pie de imagen: El alcalde de Coamo, Juan Carlos García Padilla, firma un contrato con Agnes Crespo Quintana, Esq., Directora Regional de Puerto Rico del Instituto de Tecnología de la Edificación (IBTS), para el Plan de Recuperación Municipal.

By Karen Johnson July 22, 2025
Flood risk and insurance costs are growing concerns for many municipalities — but with the right strategies, local governments can make measurable progress in protecting lives, property, and budgets. The City of Central, Louisiana, offers a strong example of how targeted actions can reduce flood risk and deliver financial benefits to residents. Through a sustained partnership with the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), Central achieved a Class 5 rating in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS), resulting in a 25% discount on flood insurance premiums for all Central residents and businesses. Only two other communities in Louisiana have achieved this rating. In this blog post, Brandon Whitehead, IBTS Floodplain Manager, outlines key actions that contributed to Central’s success, including his top five recommendations for how municipalities can strengthen their own floodplain management programs and improve their CRS ratings. Background: IBTS and City of Central Partnership For more than a decade, IBTS has supported Central’s municipal operations through a nonprofit private partnership (NP3) model, using an integrated and cost-effective team to deliver complete municipal services (excluding police and fire). This long-standing relationship has provided Central with specialized expertise in planning, permitting, ordinance development, and floodplain management , while maintaining consistency across compliance and emergency preparedness efforts. Following significant damage during historic 2016 flooding, Central and IBTS have taken numerous steps to reduce vulnerability, strengthen local policy, and build long-term resilience to flood risks — all of which led to an improved CRS score. The CRS is a voluntary incentive program administered by FEMA that rewards communities for implementing floodplain management practices that exceed minimum National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. The program offers progressively greater flood insurance discounts as communities achieve better classifications, ranging from Class 9 to Class 1. As Brandon explains, “Our most recent improvement from a Class 7 to a Class 5 rating means we’re not only helping property owners save money on premiums, but also actively reducing flood risk across our community. While every community’s path will look different, there are several practical, proven steps that most municipalities can take to strengthen their CRS ratings.” Here are Brandon’s top five strategies municipalities can use to follow Central’s lead and reduce flood risk: 1. Appoint a Qualified Floodplain Manager CRS success starts with strong leadership. Central designated a floodplain coordinator with technical expertise and deep knowledge of FEMA regulations, ordinances, and compliance. Rather than tasking administrative staff with this complex role, cities like Central have brought in specialists — in this case, through IBTS — to guide CRS strategy and implementation. 2. Strengthen Local Ordinances for New Development Central updated its development codes to protect existing properties from increased runoff and flood risk. These updates include: Enhanced drainage requirements for new construction Mandatory assessments to ensure no off-site impact (upstream or downstream) Stricter elevation rules for buildings in flood-prone areas Reduced substantial damage threshold from 50% to 45% of pre-disaster market value, triggering elevation requirements for more structures These changes not only supported CRS goals but also reflected Central Mayor Wade Evans’ push for smarter development and public safety. 3. Use GIS and Modeling Tools to Map Risk With support from engineering partner CSRS, Central developed a hydraulic model to monitor drainage systems and identify high-risk areas. With these tools integrated into the City’s GIS, development applications could be evaluated for impact — enabling more informed planning decisions and protecting legacy neighborhoods. Real-time flood gauges are now being piloted to provide early warnings and improve emergency response. 4. Establish Long-Term Hazard Mitigation Plans Central worked with East Baton Rouge Parish to develop a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan , laying the foundation for infrastructure upgrades, grant funding, and coordinated response. The CRS program awards points for these collaborative efforts, which also contribute to resilience. 5. Limit Use of Enclosures Below Elevated Structures To reduce post-disaster damage and future NFIP claims, Central implemented new limits on enclosed areas under elevated homes (typically used for parking or storage). Homeowners are required to: Keep these enclosures non-residential Sign compliance agreements Undergo annual inspections This practical policy earned CRS credit and helped preserve the intent of elevation requirements. Where to Start Communities don’t need to go at it alone. IBTS partners with municipalities to provide floodplain management services, ordinance development, planning support, and CRS strategy. Whether you’re starting with a Class 9 rating or aiming for Class 1, a structured approach can produce real, measurable benefits for your community. Interested in improving your CRS rating? Contact IBTS to learn how we can support your community’s flood resilience goals.
Tiburones community members asking IBTS staff questions at an info
By Karen Johnson July 18, 2025
Discover how IBTS Puerto Rico’s strategic community engagement approach helps overcome challenges, build trust, and create resilient, locally driven solutions.
State map of Louisiana
January 28, 2025
Central, Louisiana, January 27, 2025 —The City of Central has achieved a Class 5 rating from the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, enabling homeowners and businesses to receive a 25% reduction in their flood insurance premiums while enhancing community safety and strengthening property protections. The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum requirements. More than 1,500 U.S. communities participate in the CRS program by implementing local mitigation, floodplain management, and educational outreach activities. The City of Central is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area and has a population of around 30,000. Since 2011, the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) has provided municipal services for the City, including leading efforts to improve its CRS rating. “This recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to prioritize public safety and strengthen flood resilience in our community,” said Central Mayor Wade Evans. “We are committed to preserving lives, safeguarding property, and ensuring a secure future for Central’s residents.” Situated between the Comite and Amite rivers, about 60 percent of Central’s incorporated area is within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA); these areas require special NFIP floodplain management regulations and mandatory flood insurance due to their high risk of flooding. In 2016, a catastrophic storm, the fourth most costly flood event in U.S. history at the time, sent multiple rivers to record levels in the state; the Amite exceeded its previous record by more than six feet. Following the flood, the City accelerated its disaster planning and floodplain management efforts, which led to achieving a Class 7 rating in 2020; property owners then received a 15% insurance premium discount due to improved zoning requirements and increased educational programs. Mayor Evans’ commitment to public safety and IBTS’ floodplain expertise continue to drive City planning. Central has undertaken numerous infrastructure projects to counter escalating flood risks, which affect much of Louisiana’s low-lying geography. The City has collaborated with East Baton Rouge Parish on a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, implemented an effective hydraulic model to monitor flood and stormwater, and strengthened City ordinances pertaining to building elevation and new development drainage requirements. Future plans include using real-time forecasting models to better prepare for weather events and developing a multi-jurisdictional assessment of floodplain species and plants.  Achieving a Class 5 rating “is the result of collaborative efforts to implement effective flood mitigation strategies,” said Brandon Whitehead, Central’s CRS Coordinator. “We appreciate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the NFIP for their partnership as we continue working toward a safer and more resilient Central.” The new CRS rating, effective October 1, 2025, will automatically renew annually as long as the City complies with NFIP guidelines and continues its certified floodplain management activities. For more information on the City of Central’s floodplain management activities or the NFIP CRS program, contact Karen Johnson, IBTS Market Engagement Program Director, at kjohnson@ibts.org . ### IBTS is a national nonprofit organization and trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments. Our nonprofit mission to serve and strengthen communities is advanced through our services. These include building code services and regulatory expertise; compliance and monitoring; community planning; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery expertise; energy solutions; municipal services; grants management; program management and oversight; resilience services; solar quality management; and workforce development and training. IBTS’ work is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Governors Association, and the National League of Cities (NLC).