Iowa City residents in the 100-year floodplain will receive a 15 percent discount on their flood-insurance premiums by the beginning of next spring because of the city’s participation in FEMA’s Community Rating System.

Flood-insurance policyholders in Iowa City’s 100-year floodplain currently receive a 10 percent discount.

Iowa City received the new discount after a classification upgrade in the rating system. The city started implementing methods that would reduce the amount of damage that can occur during a flood event.

The new classification will go into effect on May 1, 2014. The insurance discount will be automatically applied to all new and existing policies, and policyholders do not need to contact their insurance companies to get the new rate.

— by Rebecca Morin