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Insurers, consumer groups urge state study and public outreach on flood insurance availability
Summary
Insurance groups told the Insurance and Real Estate Committee that Connecticut needs a study and public-awareness effort on flood insurance availability, uptake and barriers, citing rising storm frequency and low rates of coverage among homeowners.
Insurance industry representatives told the Insurance and Real Estate Committee that Connecticut should commission a study of flood-insurance options, barriers and public awareness to help residents better protect homes from storm-related water damage.
Eric George, president of the Insurance Association of Connecticut, urged passage of Senate Bill 1385 to examine options for increasing uptake of flood insurance and to evaluate public-awareness strategies. "Approximately 90% of all U.S. natural disasters involve flooding in some form," George told lawmakers, and he argued many homeowners do not realize homeowners policies do not cover flood damage.
Why it matters: Supporters said extreme convective storms and rising precipitation increase flood risk across the state and noted that the National Flood Insurance Program and private-market options exist but are underused. The proposed study would inventory available programs, identify barriers to purchase, and propose remedies for state outreach and consumer education.
Committee discussion and next steps
Committee members praised an earlier informational hearing and asked for the study to quantify barriers to purchase, evaluate affordability challenges, and recommend targeted outreach, particularly for properties outside mapped FEMA flood zones that nonetheless face local drainage or ground-water flood risk.
No formal vote occurred at the hearing; committee members said they would consider study scope and funding.
