Raleigh, NC

Raleigh, North Carolina, has achieved a Class 5 rating in the Community Rating System (CRS) - a milestone that seemed out of reach just over a year ago. Since 2013, the city had not participated in the CRS program due to issues with Elevation Certificate (EC) documentation. However, when Seamus Riley stepped into the role of Floodplain Management Supervisor for the city in March 2024, he and his team were given a goal: bring the city back into the CRS within one year.

Hurricane Helene Underscores the Urgency for Change

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene delivered record-breaking rainfall and widespread flooding across Raleigh. Historically, substantial damage determinations were managed outside the Stormwater Division, where Raleigh’s Floodplain Management Group is housed, and staff relied on paper forms and manual processes that complicated tracking and reporting. The hurricane  highlighted the urgent need for modernized floodplain management tools and processes. It became clear to the team that a new system was essential - not just for disaster response, but for long-term resilience and CRS reentry.

Implementing a Trusted Solution

Seamus knew that in order to rejoin the CRS, the city would need a comprehensive tool to document activities, ensure EC accuracy, and make Elevation Certificates accessible to the public. In his prior role within the Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation Department in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Seamus used Forerunner to manage Elevation Certificates and provide flood risk information to the public. He knew Forerunner would be beneficial to the City of Raleigh and quickly implemented Forerunner into his team’s operations. 

With Forerunner, Seamus and his team have improved their ability to track Elevation Certificates, detect errors on ECs, enhance the city’s inspections and compliance activities, and bring greater efficiency into their floodplain management workflows. Forerunner’s offline substantial improvement/substantial damage capabilities have simplified capturing, documenting, and organizing inspection reports.

Raleigh developed innovative methods for rapidly calculating Base Flood Elevations – an otherwise challenging calculation when relying on FEMA's paper-based data due to the area's elevation changes and irregular flood zones. Forerunner collaborated with the Seamus and his team to integrate raster data directly into the city's geospatial dashboard. This upgrade enables Raleigh’s floodplain team to automatically generate BFEs, improving the speed and accuracy of flood risk assessments. In tandem with this effort, Raleigh also advanced its regulatory framework by enforcing stricter Design Flood Elevation standards in both the AE zone and the shaded X zone (its designated 1% future conditions area), exceeding minimum compliance requirements.

Milestone Achievement: Raleigh Earns a Class 5 Rating

With these improvements, Raleigh has reestablished itself as a participating CRS community. Its new Class 5 rating, effective October 1, 2025, will save property owners over $350,000 annually on flood insurance premiums. This number is expected to grow as the city expands public outreach around the importance of flood insurance.

Ahead of hurricane season, Raleigh plans to generate Flood Zone determination letters for every structure inside and outside of the Special Flood Hazard Area, and encourage residents to use its Forerunner-provided public website to obtain flood risk information. The city also plans to conduct focused outreach to renters in the Triangle Area to ensure they obtain flood insurance. 

A Model for Modern Floodplain Management

Raleigh’s transformation demonstrates how municipalities can leverage technology to improve administrative efficiency, enhance public communication, meet regulatory requirements, and build safer, more resilient communities. With a commitment to proactive floodplain management, Raleigh has set a compelling example for other municipalities aiming to reduce risk and better protect their residents.