The city of Simi Valley announced last month that the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently determined that the city’s National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating would improve to a Class 7 rating.

The higher rating qualifies homeowners for a 15 percent discount on the premium cost of flood insurance for National Flood Insurance Program policies issued or renewed within special flood hazard areas in the city on or after Oct 1, 2009.

Approximately 7,230 properties throughout the city are in the special flood hazard zone.

FEMA administers the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides discounted flood insurance premium rates to communities that attain certain standards for floodplain management.

The community rating system recognizes the city’s efforts for protecting property beyond the minimum flood standards and thereby reducing flood insurance premiums for property owners.

City residents required to purchase NFIP flood insurance may typically save an additional $100 to $200 a year in premium payments, depending on the cost of the current premium. Other or small discounts may apply to properties in other designated flood zones.