SAVANNAH, Ga. — Savannah City Council has signed off on a package of flood planning documents meant to lower the risk of high water and keep a discount on flood insurance flowing to thousands of local policyholders.
At its latest regular meeting, the council adopted the 2026 Floodplain Management Plan along with three companion pieces: a Repetitive Loss Area Analysis, a Floodplain Species Assessment and Plan, and a Program for Public Information.
The documents count toward the city standing in the Community Rating System, a voluntary FEMA program that rewards communities for going beyond the minimum rules of the National Flood Insurance Program. Points earned for that extra work translate into cheaper premiums.
Savannah holds a Class 5 rating, the top mark in Georgia. Under that class, residents who carry federal flood policies save 25% on their premiums. The scale runs from Class 10 down to Class 1, with each step lower earning a larger discount.
City records show the rating is shared in the area with Tybee Island, Pooler and the unincorporated parts of Chatham and Bryan counties. Nationwide, only 15% of communities have reached Class 5 or better.
There are 3,929 active flood insurance policies in Savannah, and the discount saved those households and businesses a combined $631,624 last year. Mayor Van R. Johnson II and City Manager Jay Melder both tied the vote to affordability and long-term resilience in a city where low-lying neighborhoods flood often.
Every activity that earns credit has to be documented and sent to FEMA before it counts. The work is handled by the floodplain staff in the Development Services Department. Residents can find program details at savannahga.gov/crs.
Section: More Savannah GA politics news
Filed under: Savannah GA Politics News
