City of Central in Louisiana Achieves a Class 5 Rating from National Flood Insurance Program, Enhancing Community Safety and Reducing Insurance Premiums for Property Owners by 25%

January 28, 2025

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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. 


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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). 

What does it take to deliver resilient housing at scale in the Caribbean? Hint: It's not just funds

September 28, 2026
MIAMI, FL— What does it take to deliver resilient housing at scale in the Caribbean? That question was at the center of a panel featuring James Turner, IBTS Director of Federal Programs, during the 10th Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF) in Miami. The event brought together government officials, developers, investors, infrastructure leaders, utilities, development finance organizations, and public-sector decision makers from more than 30 Caribbean nations and territories to discuss the region's infrastructure priorities and investment needs. James was featured on stage for the "Delivering Affordable and Resilient Housing in the Caribbean" panel discussion, alongside Bermuda housing leader Jeane Nikolai and Caribbean business executive André C. Walcott. The discussion focused on a challenge shared across the region: how to provide safe, affordable housing while strengthening communities against hurricanes, flooding, and other natural hazards. Drawing on IBTS' 5-decade-long experience supporting the US Department of Housing (HUD), as well as our experience in FEMA-funded housing and recovery programs, James emphasized that resilient housing is about much more than construction. Successful programs depend on strong building codes, qualified workers, reliable materials, effective quality assurance, and the systems needed to move projects from funding to implementation. Fellow panelists also shared their interesting perspectives based on their experiences. Jeane Nikolai stressed that homes must be built to withstand the region's climate conditions and backed by dependable warranty terms, noting that a lack of such options can narrow the housing choices available. Resilient construction, she emphasized, is essential to protecting both the homes themselves and the people who live in them. André C. Walcott underscored the importance of consistent building standards to ensure quality construction, along with the need for qualified, well-trained personnel and approved building materials, all of which contribute to safer, better-performing homes. The discussion and audience questions made one point clear: housing shortages are a shared challenge across countries, but the obstacles to meeting housing goals vary from place to place. Funding is a significant concern, but it is not the only driving factor in every case. The conversation reinforced why organizations such as IBTS are needed. Across the Caribbean, governments are investing in housing, infrastructure, and resilience, but many face common implementation challenges, including regulatory requirements, workforce shortages, compliance oversight, and program delivery. IBTS helps bridge those gaps via program management, building code compliance, quality assurance, inspections, resilience planning, and related technical services. Beyond the panel discussion, CARIF provided an opportunity for IBTS to engage directly with government representatives, infrastructure agencies, development institutions, utilities, developers, and private-sector partners working throughout the Caribbean. These conversations highlighted a growing focus on turning funding and policy commitments into real-world projects that strengthen communities and improve long-term resilience. Reflecting on the experience, James noted: "I was honored to participate in discussions with a group of solution-oriented leaders and professionals addressing the critical needs of the Caribbean. I look forward to continuing these important conversations and turning the concepts into actionable implementations." For IBTS, the message from CARIF was clear: resilient housing requires collaboration, practical implementation, and a commitment to quality at every stage. As Caribbean nations continue investing in their future, IBTS remains committed to helping communities transform plans, funding, and policy goals into lasting results. About James Turner: Mr. Turner provides nearly 20 years of professional experience, which includes significant knowledge and experience with manufactured housing standards and regulations. His experience includes technical and regulatory projects, design evaluations, performance assessment, conformity assessment, and technical regulatory research and analysis. About IBTS: With a mission to strengthen communities, IBTS serves as a trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments in advancing economic development. Its services ensure the effective planning, implementation, and evaluation of renewable energy projects and federally funded energy and sustainability programs—optimizing performance, reducing risk, and promoting the efficient use of public funds. Beyond its expertise in solar quality assurance, IBTS’s Puerto Rico office provides services in federal fund management; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery; municipal planning; and resilience strategies. As a nonprofit organization, IBTS is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG) , International City/County Management Association (ICMA) , National Association of Counties (NACo) , National Governors Association (NGA) , and the National League of Cities (NLC) . For more information, visit www.ibts.org .

Building the Future of Housing in the US Virgin Islands

September 18, 2026
IBTS supports regional collaboration on affordable resilient and code complaint housing

IBTS Exceeds Weatherization Goal, Upgrades 103 Puerto Rico Homes

July 21, 2026
The Institute for Building Technology and Safety has completed energy-efficiency, health and safety improvements in 103 Puerto Rico homes through a federally financed weatherization program, exceeding its goal of 100 households in about six weeks. The nonprofit organization, known as IBTS, managed operations and coordinated the latest phase of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce’s Energy Public Policy Program. Weatherization programs are intended to reduce household energy costs by making homes more efficient while addressing conditions that can affect residents’ health and safety. The Puerto Rico initiative prioritized low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities, according to IBTS. The organization did not specify the individual improvements made in each home but said the work was intended to increase comfort, improve living conditions and strengthen resilience. IBTS handled project management, inspections, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, document control and staff training, the organization said. The project also reported a 98% satisfaction rate among participants. “This program demonstrates what is possible when federal resources are translated into practical, measurable improvements for families and communities,” said Agnes Crespo-Quintana, IBTS’s Caribbean regional director. Alvin Miranda-Colón, manager of the Weatherization Assistance Program, said the initiative was intended to make energy more affordable while supporting sustainability and community resilience. IBTS said the project required coordination among government officials, contractors, auditors, inspectors, technology providers and participating communities. The organization said that work also developed procedures, trained personnel and expanded institutional capacity that could be used in future federally financed energy, housing and infrastructure programs. Judelly Hernández-Morales, the IBTS project manager, said cooperation between the public and private sectors helped translate federal funding into improvements for participating households.