EBC Connecticut Program: Extreme Weather and Climate Change Updates – Resiliency, Adaptation, and Mitigation

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Nearly four years after Superstorm Sandy caused an estimated $70 billion in damages and brought coastal communities throughout the northeast to a complete standstill, it appears that everything is back to normal in some places…or is it? The Hartford Courant reported on 11 August 2016 that real estate prices are at pre-Sandy levels along the Connecticut shoreline and communities continue to build in areas vulnerable to coastal flooding.  In 2040, if a similar storm occurred, the impacts would be more severe and costly. What these observations are not taking into consideration is what effects sea-level-rise (SLR) will have on these communities in the future. The water levels in many areas are, unequivocally rising, which will exacerbate the future coastal flooding impacts; however, many communities, regional and state entities, and insurance providers are implementing flood mitigation and resiliency actions designed to reduce the impacts from future coastal flooding looking out 25 to 100 years.

In response to these significant impacts on public and private properties, critical facilities and infrastructure as well as natural resources many local and state governmental agencies, public universities, insurance agencies, and private entities in Connecticut have taken important steps in making coastal communities more disaster resilient.

This EBC Connecticut Chapter morning program will feature a series of presentations that provide insight into the recent efforts by communities, state and insurance agencies, and universities to make communities more resilient to future impacts from sea level rise and flood hazards. The program will provide an overview of recently completed climate adaptation plans and resiliency projects as well as insurance programs that make residents and communities more resilient.

The program will touch on the following topics and will include a panel discussion centered on the lessons learned from the recent climate adaptation and resiliency efforts in Connecticut:

• Risk Insurance
• Adaptation Planning at the property owner, municipal and State level
• Living Shorelines and Natural and Nature Based Features
• Regional Resiliency Efforts

General Continuing Education Certificates are awarded by the EBC for this program (3.5 training contact hours). Please select this option during registration if you wish to receive a certificate.

Program Co- Chairs

• Gail Batchelder, Ph.D., PG, LEP, Technical Director, HRP Associates
• Samuel Bell, Senior Hazard Mitigation Specialist, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Speakers

• Julie Eaton, E.I.T., Lead Resiliency Engineer, Weston & Sampson
• Rebecca French, Ph.D., Director of Community Engagement, Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA)
• Louis A Gritzo, Ph.D., Vice President, Research, FM Global
• Stuart Keller, Operations Engineering Manager, FM Global
• Hande McCaw, P.E., Senior Coastal Engineer, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Program Details

Registration: 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Program: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Individual Registration
EBC Member: $65 – additional late fee of $20 after April 17
Non-Member: $95 – additional late fee of $20 after April 17
Government/Non-Profit: $25

Group Registration
For EBC Members only – register five attendees for the price of four!
Discount will automatically be applied during online registration.

Fine Print
Cancellations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 17 for a refund. No-shows will be charged. Please keep in mind that online registration for this program will close at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18. Walk-in registration is accepted at the door with a $20 late fee.

Subsidized Registration

Subsidized registrations are not accepted at the door. Only 5 registrations available at each rate.

EBC Members Only – Young Environmental Professional Rate: $25
For EBC Members only. Attendees who have worked in their field for less than 5 years.

Job Seeker Rate: $25
For attendees currently seeking employment, not for those currently self-employed.