The Community Rating System (CRS) is a program implemented by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reward communities such as Orange County which undertake flood plain activities beyond the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The CRS is a point system program, the greater the number of points earned by a community the greater the reduction in flood insurance premiums for the citizens of that community.

Orange County began participation in the CRS in 1991 and currently has earned enough CRS points to be awarded a class 6 rating. This class 6 means that the citizens of Orange County who have flood insurance are receiving a 20% discount on their premium.

An Elevation Certificate is a document issued by a Registered Florida Land Surveyor indicating the lowest floor elevation and the Base Flood Elevation. The Base Flood Elevation is also known as the 1% annual chance flood (a.k.a. 100 year flood) elevation. Insurance agents usually request these documents when writing a flood insurance policy. They need to know the difference between the lowest floor elevation and the Base Flood Elevation in order to quote an accurate rate. In general terms, the higher the floor elevation is above the flood elevation the lower the premium will be.