February 6, 2012

SPEAKER DONOVAN ANNOUNCES SHORELINE PRESERVATION TASK FORCE
Rep. Albis to Chair Group to Look at Connecticut Shoreline Concerns
About Climate, Storm Impacts Past and Future

House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today announced the formation of a bipartisan task force to study and make legislative recommendations on storm impacts on homeowners and businesses on Connecticut’s shoreline.

The task force, which will be chaired by State Rep. James Albis (D-East Haven), will also look at the impact of climate changes on efforts to preserve shoreline communities.

“Last August’s Storm Irene caused tens of millions of dollars in property damage,” Speaker Donovan said. “Hundreds of homes received significant damage or were destroyed. Despite the severity of the damage, it would have been much worse had Irene hit the shore as a category 1 or 2 hurricane. We need to look at our policies to see if they are sufficient to meet the specific and unique needs of shoreline communities, residents and businesses.”

Rep. Albis said, “We know that sea levels are rising, and that many shoreline communities incurred significant damage during Tropical Storm Irene. Homeowners and businesses are still recovering. Any severe storm has the potential to cause mass flooding and damage to shoreline properties, and a hurricane of any magnitude could be extremely devastating.

“What we need to do, then, is address the specific and unique needs of shoreline homeowners, businesses and municipalities with regard to rising sea levels, shoreline erosion, storm preparation, response and restoration.”

The task force is charged with making recommendations to the General Assembly for legislation that will:

• Assist those still rebuilding and recovering from Irene
• Develop new policies that specifically address the unique needs of shoreline and waterfront residents and businesses with respect to shoreline erosion, rising sea levels, and future storm planning.
• Make sure new policies complement legislation that may be developed regarding emergency communications between towns and the state; utility company preparedness, response and accountability; and insurance issues.

Donovan and Albis said the Task Force will be made up of legislators from shoreline towns, and will include representatives and senators, Democrats and Republicans. It also likely will include others such as climate and land use experts. The group expects to meet with and hear from homeowners, business owners, shoreline municipal leaders, insurance company representatives, climate scientists, and others before making recommendations.

Membership is expected to be finalized this week, and the task force will begin meeting immediately. Its goal is to complete work and forward recommendations to the General Assembly in December 2012, but Albis said it is possible that the group could produce legislation for consideration during the 2012 session.

Speaker Donovan said, “We have utilized the task force model several times in the last three years, notably in areas like Domestic Violence and the impact of the recession on our children, and those task forces have accomplished much in resulting legislation and heightened awareness of important issues. I am sure that this task force will also shed light on the problem our shoreline towns face.”

State Representatives Richard Roy (D-Milford), Kim Rose (D-Milford) and Lonnie Reed (D-Branford) also spoke at the news conference, as did East Haven resident Andy Weinstein, who lost his home during Tropical Storm Irene.