Raleigh, NC

Raleigh, North Carolina, recently earned a Class 5 rating in the Community Rating System (CRS) - a milestone that once felt out of reach. Since 2013, the city had not participated in CRS due to issues with Elevation Certificate (EC) documentation. In March 2024, Seamus Riley was appointed Floodplain Management Supervisor for the Stormwater Division with the goal of reinstating Raleigh into the CRS program within a year.

The urgency of that goal became clear just months later when Hurricane Helene delivered record-breaking rainfall and widespread flooding across the city. Staff relied on paper forms and manual processes to document flood damage, which slowed down reporting and made it difficult to track substantial damage determinations. The hurricane underscored Raleigh’s vulnerability and highlighted the need for modern tools that could strengthen both disaster response and long-term resilience.

Implementing a Trusted Solution

Seamus knew from experience that Forerunner could provide the comprehensive solution Raleigh needed. In his prior role in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Seamus had used Forerunner to digitally manage Elevation Certificates and deliver flood risk information to residents. Soon after stepping into his new role in Raleigh, Seamus implemented Forerunner to modernize the city’s floodplain management program.

Since adopting Forerunner, Raleigh has significantly enhanced its ability to track and validate Elevation Certificates, as well as streamline floodplain inspections and reporting. Notably, Forerunner has enabled Raleigh to pioneer faster and more user-friendly methods for calculating Base Flood Elevations (BFEs). Previously, determining BFEs was challenging due to the city's varied elevations and irregular flood zones. However, by integrating raster data into its Forerunner geospatial dashboard, Raleigh has now generated BFEs for all properties, reducing manual calculations and providing more transparency to the public on their property's flood risk. Stronger regulatory standards, including stricter Design Flood Elevation requirements in both AE and shaded X zones, complement these technological advancements. These requirements exceed FEMA's minimum standards and further bolster the city's resilience. 

To prepare for future flood events, Raleigh’s floodplain management team has also been trained on Forerunner’s Substantial Damage Estimator tool, preparing them to respond quickly and accurately to disasters.

Expanding Public Access and Outreach

In addition to operational improvements, Raleigh has made major strides in public transparency. The city launched a Forerunner-powered website where residents can access property-level flood risk and compliance information.  Ahead of the 2025 hurricane season, the city generated and publicized Flood Zone determination letters for every structure both inside and outside the Special Flood Hazard Area - proactively equipping residents and businesses with actionable information while meeting CRS outreach requirements at scale. This initiative has dramatically reduced the volume of flood risk requests directed at staff, while ensuring residents have on-demand access to critical information and data. 

The City of Raleigh also plans to conduct focused outreach to renters across the city, a population often overlooked in flood insurance efforts, to encourage greater uptake of flood coverage. 

A Model for Modern Floodplain Management

With these operational improvements and efficiencies, 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, with savings expected to grow as public outreach expands. At the same time, staff efficiency has increased substantially as tasks that once consumed hours of manual effort can now be completed in minutes.

Raleigh’s transformation demonstrates how municipalities can leverage technology to improve administrative efficiency, enhance public communication, and deliver measurable financial savings - all while building safer, more resilient communities. With a commitment to proactive floodplain management, Raleigh has set a compelling example for other communities seeking to reduce risk and better protect their residents.