Stonington — Residents whose federal flood insurance policies have been coming up for renewal are getting an unwanted surprise — they are no longer getting the 5 percent discount they had received in past years.

That’s because it appears the town did not address some deficiencies found in its flood planning by FEMA and which need to be addressed to qualify for the discount under the Community Rating System.

Because flood insurance can cost many homeowners several thousand dollars or more, the loss of the discount means a few hundred dollar increase in their bills.

That is compounded by the annual rate increase homeowners face each year as the federal program tries to make the program actuarially sound.

According to its website, the CRS “is a voluntary program for National Flood Insurance Program participating communities."

The goals of the CRS are to reduce flood damages to insurable property, strengthen and support the aspects of the NFIP and encourage a comprehensive approach to flood plain management.

The CRS has been developed to provide incentives in the form of premium discounts for communities to go beyond the minimum flood plain management requirements to develop extra measures to provide protection from flooding.

Town Engineer Scot Deledda, who began working for the town in June 2014, said it appears that FEMA had found some deficiencies in the town’s plan before he came on board and they were never addressed.

The town had a four-month period in which it had no town engineer after Larry Sullivan resigned in February 2014. Deledda said he was never made aware of the deficiencies when he took over.

Deledda said he has been contacted in recent months by residents who lost their discount. He said when he first sought information from FEMA, the agency indicated the town was still a part of the program.

He said he is now trying to find out what steps the town has to take to be in compliance so it can take the necessary corrective steps.

“We’ll do what it takes to get the town back in good standing,” he said.

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas