By working through the years to improve the city’s flood-management program and its fire-protection rating, Washington officials have brought about changes resulting in lower fire-insurance and flood-insurance premiums for property owners in the city.

Those efforts continue. In October, the city’s flood-management program will be evaluated, as it is every five years. If that evaluation by the National Flood Insurance Program results in the city’s Community Rating System score dropping from a seven to a six, property owners in the city who have flood insurance would see the discount on their premiums go from 15 percent to 20 percent, an average savings of about $120 a year.

In 2012, Washington was recognized for operating a top-notch floodplain-management program. Washington residents have some of the lowest flood-insurance premiums in North Carolina. Washington is one of 15 communities in North Carolina with a seven rating.

The Washington Fire-Rescue-EMS Department is ready to prove to the Office of the State Fire Marshal the city deserves a better fire-response rating than its current 5 rating. During its last inspection, the department was advised to improve how it records and reports fire training information and the amount of equipment sent to a fire. In the past, the city considered the aerial platform it used to own as a pumper also. The state said that apparatus could be classified as either an aerial platform or a pumper, not both. Now that the aerial platform is gone, the city sends a pumper to fires to meet the state requirements, according to Mark Yates, the city’s fire marshal.

A new inspection might not happen until late 2017 or in early 2018, Yates said. “We’re ready,” said Yates, adding the department has addressed the issues raised in the last inspection.

City Manager Bobby Roberson is confident a new inspection would result in a lower rating, likely resulting in lower fire-insurance premiums for property owners in the city. “I’m shooting for a 3,” he said earlier this week.

Because of hard work by city officials, and a little luck, property owners in the city could see their premiums for fire insurance and flood insurance decrease in the coming months. If that happens, city officials responsible for the lower premiums will have tangible proof they’ve done their jobs.