FEMA to Review Hurricane Sandy Flood Insurance ClaimsFEMASandyClaims
On May 18, 2015, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began notifying approximately 142,000 flood insurance policyholders nationwide who submitted a Hurricane Sandy flood claim that they may request a review of their claim file.  This review was initiated due to litigation in New York and New Jersey involving inaccurate engineering reports associated with claim payments. Letters will be mailed over a four-week period, with property owners who had an engineering report as part of their claim among the first group to receive letters from FEMA.  Most reviews will be concluded within 90 days of the policyholder requesting the review.  

Claimants do not have to wait for a letter from FEMA to initiate a claim review.  They may visit the Sandy Claims Review Center website or call 1-866-337-4262 to start the review process.  The claimant must have the following information available:  flood insurance carrier name; policy number at date of loss; date of loss; address of property that was damaged; and current mailing address and telephone number.  A case worker who is an National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) adjuster will be assigned to each review.  Policyholders should not contact their insurance company or agent.

In Connecticut, 6,102 claims from Hurricane Sandy were closed with $246,332,804 in claims paid. The average Hurricane Sandy claim payment in Connecticut was $44,344.34. 
2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season BeginsHurricaneSeason2015
Subtropical storm Ana, the first named storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, formed off the coast of South Carolina on May 7, nearly a month before the season officially began on June 1.  Despite this early storm, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a below average hurricane season this year due to the effects of El Nino, which suppresses the development of storms.  El Nino is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that results in strong, upper-level westerly winds that break apart developing hurricanes.  NOAA predicts six to eleven tropical storms, three to six hurricanes, and zero to two major hurricanes during this season.  NOAA cautions that this is only a general guide to the expected overall activity during the upcoming hurricane season.  It is not a seasonal hurricane landfall forecast, and does not predict levels of activity for any particular region.  Hurricane landfalls are largely determined by the weather patterns in place as the hurricane approaches which are only predictable when the storm is within several days of making landfall.

In 1992 El Nino was present and only seven named tropical storms occurred.  One of those named storms was Category 5 Hurricane Andrew which devastated Miami and south Florida.  It only takes one storm making landfall in your community to cause disruption and damage.  Residents are encouraged by the Governor's Office to develop an emergency supply kit and have an family emergency plan.  The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.
Report - Hurricane Perceptions of Coastal CT ResidentsPerceptions
In March 2015, the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication published the report Hurricane Perceptions of Coastal Connecticut Residents.  The report describes public attitudes and behaviors towards past and future hurricanes and tropical storms, based on a representative survey of 1,130 households along the Connecticut coast.  The report finds that most residents are ill-prepared for the significant safety and economic threats posed by severe coastal storms and hurricanes.  
CIRCA Matching Funds Program AvailableCIRCAFunds
The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) has announced a second round of grant funds under their Matching Funds Program - up to $100,000 is available. CIRCA will consider requests from Connecticut municipalities, institutions, universities, foundations, and other non-governmental organizations for projects that work to advance the mission of CIRCA, which is to increase resiliency in Connecticut municipalities against the impacts of climate change.  Project proposals should develop knowledge and/or experience that is transferable to multiple locations in Connecticut and have well-defined and measurable goals.  CIRCA Matching Funds will provide up to 25% of the primary funder's contribution other than municipal or State of Connecticut funds to enhance the likely success of project proposals that advance CIRCA research and implementation priorities.  Requests are due to CIRCA by July 15, 2015.  Matching Funds requests will be accepted on a rolling basis every two months. 
Long Island Sound Blue PlanLISBluePlan
On May 29, 2015, Governor Malloy announced that he plans to sign legislation, House Bill 6839 - An Act Concerning a Long Island Sound Blue Plan and Resource and Use Inventory, which he introduced earlier this year establishing a Long Island Sound Blue Plan.  The legislation was passed by both the State Senate and House of Representatives.  Under the legislation, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the University of Connecticut will convene relevant state agencies, academic institutions, and stakeholders to compile an inventory of the natural resources and the human resources of the Long Island Sound.  
USACE North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive StudyUSACENoAtlanticStudy
In January 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued the report North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study:  Resilient Adaptation to Increasing Risk.  Following Hurricane Sandy, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 directed USACE to conduct a comprehensive study to identify the flood risks of vulnerable populations, infrastructure and resources throughout more than 31,200 miles of the North Atlantic coastal region affected by Sandy and implement strategies to reduce those risks both now and in the future.  
The objective of the study is to make the region more resilient to the impacts of future storms and sea level rise.  The study provides a coastal risk management framework that analyzes risk and identifies possible solutions, strategies and actions to promote resilient coastal communities.
Connecticut Earns High Marks for State Building CodeBldgCode
In March 2015, the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) released its report Rating the States 2015 which assessed residential building codes in states along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast.  Connecticut ranked fifth out of eighteen coastal states, behind Virginia, Florida, South Carolina and New Jersey.  States were evaluated on code adoption and enforcement, requirements for building official certification and training, and contractor licensing.  Connecticut scored 88 out of 100 points, up from a score of 81 in 2012, the first year IBHS ranked state building codes.    
Training OpportunitiesTrainings

CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF FLOOD MANAGERS (CAFM)

October 21, 2015:  CAFM 2nd Annual Conference, Water's Edge Resort, Westbrook, CT, www.ctfloods.org.

 

CONFERENCES


September 8-11, 2015:  Floodplain Management Association Annual Conference, Rancho Mirage, CA, http://fma.temp-website.com/annual-conference.

June 19-24, 2016:  Association of State Floodplain Managers Annual Conference, Grand Rapids, MI, www.floods.org.  

FEMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is located at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  EMI serves as the national center for emergency management training of federal, state and local government officials.  Tuition, housing, and all books and materials are provided at no cost.  Participants are responsible for the cost of a meal pass (approximately $150/week).  Below is a select list of floodplain management classes offered until December 2015. A full list of training classes can be found at the EMI website.  
 
 
E170  HAZUS-MH for Hurricane - October 26-29
E172  HAZUS-MH for Flood -July 27-30 
E174  HAZUS-MH for Earthquake - November 16-19
E176  HAZUS-MH for Floodplain Managers - December 14-17 
E179  Application of HAZUS-MH for Disaster Operations - September 28-October 1
E190  ArcGIS for Emergency Managers - August 24-27, October 5-8
E273  Managing Floodplain Development through the NFIP - Sept 21-24, Nov 16-19
E278  Community Rating System (CRS) - July 27-30, August 31-Sept 3
E282  Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts II - August 3-6
E284  Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts III - August 24-27
E296  Application of HAZUS-MH for Risk Assessment - August 3-6
E313  Basic HAZUS-MH - December 7-10
E386  Residential Coastal Construction - August 31-Sept 3
Visit the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep.  Published by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse, Inland Water Resources Division, Floodplain Management Program.  Editor:  Diane Ifkovic, State National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Coordinator, email:  [email protected].
CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Please contact us at (860) 418-5910 or [email protected] if you; have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint.