Connecticut Insurance Department

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2025

INSURANCE DEPARTMENT’S SEVERE WEATHER MITIGATION & RESILIENCY ADVISORY COUNCIL ISSUES FIRST STATUS REPORT ON MITIGATION, RESILIENCY WORK

Public Informational Meeting Set for May 8


HARTFORD, CT – Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) Commissioner Andrew N. Mais today announced key updates from the CID’s Severe Weather Mitigation & Resiliency Advisory Council. The Commissioner established the multi-disciplinary council in October 2024 to help develop a program and strategies to strengthen Connecticut homes and businesses against climate-related risks.

“The Council is making meaningful progress toward creating strategies that will make Connecticut communities more resilient,” said Commissioner Mais. “By focusing on prevention and mitigation, we can reduce losses, protect lives, and ensure a stronger insurance market for homeowners and businesses.”

Comprised of experts across various disciplines, including the insurance industry, regulators, consumer advocates, climate and environmental science, building construction, academics, and emergency management, the Advisory Council recently issued a progress status report that includes the formation of three specialized subgroups:

  1. Program Design: Developing strategies for property mitigation, with a primary focus on wind and an emphasis on education and communication and flood hazards.
  2. Funding & Financing: Exploring sustainable financial solutions, including insurance incentives, state and federal funding, and private-sector and philanthropic partnerships.
  3. Education & Communications: Creating outreach strategies to engage homeowners, businesses, and municipalities on risk reduction efforts.

“We are exploring the gamut of resiliency strategies that other states have successfully undertaken,” said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank. “This also includes identifying potential funding sources, such as mitigation incentive and private-sector partnerships”.

The Council has:

  • Consulted with national experts, including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), to incorporate best practices from other successful resilience programs.
  • Explored potential standards and financial incentives.
  • Addressed challenges, including the complexity of retrofitting older homes, securing buy-in from the insurance industry, and navigating regulatory hurdles.

The Advisory Council is on track to deliver final recommendations by mid-2025 and plans to convene again in early May 2025 to further its work on mitigation and resiliency solutions.

The Advisory Council’s public informational meeting will be on May 8. More information about the time and location of the meeting will be announced soon.

For more information on the Advisory Council and its work, please visit the Advisory Council’s Website.

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Contact: Mary Quinn
Communications Director
Mary.Quinn@ct.gov
Cell: (959) 529-4904