IBTS Welcomes Agnes Crespo-Quintana as Puerto Rico Division Director

December 1, 2021

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Agnes Crespo-Quintana, ESQ, IBTS’ new Puerto Rico Division Director

December 1, 2021 – (San Juan, Puerto Rico) – The Institute for Technology and Safety (IBTS) is pleased to welcome Agnes Crespo-Quintana as the new Director for its Puerto Rico Division, based in San Juan. Ms. Crespo-Quintana’s rich experience in developing public policy, furthering the Island’s economic development and disaster recovery efforts, and engaging stakeholders across sectors are a perfect fit for the nonprofit organization, which serves as a trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments nationally.


Ms. Crespo-Quintana’s robust work history includes engagements with both the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) and the Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico (DDEC) and as the leader of the Economic Development Unit for the Puerto Rico Community Foundation. She is also an experienced attorney and entrepreneurial coach who has focused on guiding the Island’s public and private sectors with resilience, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable development approaches, as well as legal support, grant writing, and business development services.


IBTS’ Puerto Rico Division, established following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017, focuses on building a more resilient Puerto Rico through services such as federal grants management, community planning, building code and safety expertise, resilience assessments, and workforce development. As Director, Ms. Crespo-Quintana will leverage her expertise as a liaison to government agencies and community organizations focused on the Island’s reconstruction and recovery; with federal funding programs such as Community Development Block Grants (CDBG-DR); and with creating public policies directed toward social economic development to expand and build on this important work.


“We are delighted to welcome Ms. Crespo-Quintana to the IBTS team,” says IBTS President and CEO Ashok Goswami. “She brings not only an understanding of Puerto Rico’s economy and its recovery, but a rich history of engaging and working with the stakeholders that are so important to ensuring a resilient and thriving future for the Island,” he continued.


“I am committed to supporting the strengthening of government structures in order to achieve a socially and economically sustainable future for Puerto Rico,” says Crespo-Quintana. “IBTS’ mission and commitment to not only support the Island on its road to recovery, but also to see it prosper, certainly matches mine. We have a challenge and a lot of work to do.”



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IBTS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building resilient communities. We are experts in CDBG-DR compliance and fund management; energy efficiency; solar and renewable energy; disaster recovery; strategic intervention in community-based organizations; resilience planning and strategic communication. IBTS’ Puerto Rico office, located in San Juan, has been instrumental in helping the island recover from the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes. IBTS is guided by a board of directors from five leading governance organizations representing: The Council of State Governments (CSG), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Governor’s Association (NGA), and the National League of Cities (NLC).

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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. 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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.
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