By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – Parsons City Administrator/Treasurer has been working with flood issues for more than 15 years, and recently he successfully completed the requirements and passed the test and is now a certified floodplain manager.
Myers said he is not a test-taker, but said the state is requiring all communities that are National Flood Insurance Program certified to have continuing education, and they are offering a lot of training.
“I was the treasurer of the state floodplain managers association and I have gotten more involved. I took a year off, and now I am a board member of the state floodplain managers association. My contacts have encouraged me to take the test to be certified and I finally took the test,” Myers said.
Myers said the pass rate on the test for certification is not very good. He said three people sat for the exam when he did and the one other person taking the exam was taking it for the second time.
“When Parsons was accepted into the Community Rating System, it spurred me to take the test and become certified,” he said. “My certification will give the community more points. That CRS rating helps bring down flood insurance rates for the community.”
Myers said the designation serves as a ruby in his crown. “It puts a little more clout behind when I sign for a building permit that I know what I am talking about,” Myers said. “It opens you up to a bigger network. I can communicate with other CFMs throughout the state, CFMs in other states and across the county. It opens up a more professional network for me and a lot more resources I have access to.”
There are two people in the county that are CFMs.
“There are not many of us out there in West Virginia,” Myers said. “I am happy with myself. It is a national exam and it required lots of preparation. It brings a lot to the table for Parsons and I am proud I passed the exam.”
Myers remains on standby to help go down south to help issue building permits.
“This certification opens doors where I can be a better resource not just for my community, but also for the state as a whole,” Myers said.
