The Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) has accepted the final report and recommendations of the Severe Weather Mitigation and Resiliency Advisory Council.
The report was formally presented to CID Commissioner Andrew Mais (pictured above) during the council’s final meeting on June 27.
The report outlined both near-term actions and long-term strategies. Among its recommendations were launching a pilot program for resilient home upgrades, including FORTIFIED roof retrofits in high-risk areas; expanding partnerships with organizations to improve access to mitigation measures; and developing a statewide education and outreach campaign focused on insurance literacy and consumer awareness.
It also proposed exploring potential incentives for homeowners, such as tax credits and catastrophe savings accounts, and establishing training and workforce programs to support resilience-related construction and retrofitting.
Advisory Council co-chairs Sonja Larkin-Thorne and Robert Hotaling highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative.
“This report reflects real partnership, experiences, and expertise of so many different stakeholders,” Larkin-Thorne said. “These recommendations will help protect vulnerable populations and ensure Connecticut is ready for the future.”
“Presenting this plan fills me with immense pride, not just as co-chair, but as someone who understands firsthand the transformative power of strategic financing and accessible solutions,” Hotaling said. “Having come from a lower-income background and knowing what it takes to build from the ground up, I believe this forward-looking blueprint is more than just practical recommendations; it’s a pathway to equitable protection and personal empowerment for every resident and small business across our great state. This is about ensuring that proactive funding and robust mitigation efforts fortify our communities, fostering resilience that truly makes a difference in people’s lives.”
The CID stated it would coordinate with state agencies, community leaders, and industry stakeholders to implement the recommendations. The full report was made available through the department.
Formed in October, the Advisory Council included members from government, the private sector, nonprofit organizations and academic institutions. The group was tasked with developing strategies to reduce risk and strengthen the state’s preparedness for severe weather events.
“I want to thank the Advisory Council members for their work, commitment, and collaboration,” Mais said. “Connecticut is already seeing the effects of more intense and frequent storms, and this report gives us a clear and thoughtful roadmap to help communities better prepare, adapt, and recover. I look forward to moving this important work forward.”
