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“We have transformed the way we respond to emergencies over the past several years. We are now more prepared to respond to an extreme weather event than we ever have before," Malloy said.
He said the state must be prepared to respond to tropical storms, hurricanes, storm surges, flooding, ice storms, extreme high winds, extreme heat, and slow onset events such as sea level rise. Connecticut has been hit twice in recent years by hurricanes, including Sandy, which hit three years ago, and by debilitating snow and ice storms.
"The current working group we have among our state agencies has improved communication and planning while maximizing state resources. By making this group permanent, we can ensure that a formal, structured body exists that to respond quickly and efficiently in the future in order to protect critical infrastructure systems,” he said.
The State Agencies Fostering Resilience Council, or SAFR Council, will be responsible for working to create a roadmap based on the best climate impact research and data and assisting the state Office of Policy and Management in the creation of a state policy on disaster resilience.
The SAFR Council includes 12 members appointed by the governor: The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management (Chair); and the commissioners of the the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Department of Housing, Department of Transportation, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Department of Public Health, Department of Insurance, Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Administrative Services; and the Vice President for Research at the University of Connecticut; the Executive Director of one university-based research institution, and the Executive Director of one statewide organization responsible for representing at least 50 percent of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities.
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