CT Insurance Dept. forms Extreme Weather Mitigation & Resiliency Advisory Council

PHOTO | TABIUS MCCOY/CT MIRROR Gov. Ned Lamont and Sen. Richard Blumenthal looking at the aftermath of the flooding in Oxford, following a severe storm in August.

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By David Krechevsky

The state Department of Insurance said Thursday it has formed a council of experts to provide recommendations for improving the state’s “resiliency in response to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, flooding, and other climate-related risks.”

Called the Extreme Weather Mitigation & Resiliency Advisory Council, it consists of state officials and experts from the following sectors: insurance, consumer advocacy, climate and environmental science, building construction, academia and emergency management.

The department named the following 11 people as members:

Sonja Larkin-Thorne, co-chair, consumer advocate.
Robert Hotaling, co-chair, deputy program advisor for infrastructure for the state.
George Bradner, assistant deputy commissioner of property and casualty, state Insurance Department.
Richard Branigan, CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Bryan Garcia, president and CEO, CT Green Bank.
Joseph Mathieu, vice president, Office of Chief Underwriting Officer, The Hartford.
Eric Nelson, Senior VP of enterprise catastrophe risk management, Travelers.
James O’Donnell, professor of marine sciences and executive director of Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) at the University of Connecticut.
Jim Perras, CEO, Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut Inc.
Joanna Wozniak-Brown, climate and infrastructure policy development coordinator, state Office of Policy and Management.
Matthew Wulf, head government affairs Americas, senior VP, Swiss Re.

Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais said the council’s primary goal is to help people by making properties more resilient to disaster, reducing economic and insured losses, keeping residents in their homes, and ensuring businesses and schools can remain open.

It also would reduce hospital visits, the need for state support, and the emotional toll on individuals, while promoting healthier lifestyles and peace of mind, he said, adding that resilient properties contribute to more affordable and available property insurance and a more competitive insurance market.

The council will develop a resiliency incentive program for homeowners and businesses to reduce their risks from hazards in Connecticut. It will examine grant standards, emerging insurance products, financial thresholds, and partnership opportunities that would create a sustainable and effective program.

Additional considerations include outreach and education for insurance consumers and providers, data sharing to improve consumer and land-use decisions and new public-private partnership models.
Its first meeting is expected to be held in November. The meeting will include discussion and presentations on the background and analysis of similar programs in other states.

The council’s final report, including detailed recommendations, is expected to be delivered to the commissioner by mid-2025.