Gemma Fabris, CFM

1. Embracing Disaster
Up against the odds
Evolution driven and
development-induced hazards
• Climate change and rising
sea levels
• Development in
floodplains
Finding new opportunities in
the midst of disaster
Gemma Fabris, CFM
State Hazard Mitigation Officer
Connecticut Department of
Emergency Services and Public
Protection
Division of Emergency Management
and Homeland Security

2. The Way We Live
In just over 10 years Connecticut has
had 9 Major Disaster Declarations.
The Northeast has seen a 70 percent
increase in precipitation in major events
between 1958 and 2010. The National
Climate Assessment
Disasters don’t recognize political
boundaries
Photo: Milford, CT during Irene, 2011 DR-4023-CT

3. Regional Planning
and Recovery:
what happens to you happens
to us all
• Planning without blinders
• Economic recovery is regional
• Recovery: adverse affects to the
neighboring community
• Domino effects
• Collaboration between communities
• Additional local and Federal support
Photo: Aerial view of the Connecticut River after Irene,
2011 DR-4023-CT

4. Adaptive Planning
We use a combination of things
to avert natural disasters and
minimize the affects:
• Warning
• Relief (PA funding in the
aftermath)
• Insurance
• Mitigation
Inadequate if used alone.
Photo: Westport CT house built circa
1920’s

5. Risk Perception
Acknowledgement
of risk leads to
addressing risk
Cohesive mitigation
efforts
Reduce vulnerability
Increase
sustainability
Photo: Mill Cove Westport,
during Superstorm Sandy
DR-4087-CT, October 2012

6. Options in
Recovery
Repair, Rebuild or Remove?
Considerations:
• Incentives
• Public Perception/buy-in
• Funding availability
• Rethink current use

7. Behind the Curve
• Public vs Private sector
• Willingness to take risks
• Seek out new opportunities
• Politics typically not driven by long term
benefits
• Election cycles are short
Photo: Westport CT houses built circa 1920’s

8. Adaptive Reuse:
realization of other benefits
• Community Improved Quality of
Life
• Economic Benefits
• Environmental Enhancement
• Political Role Model
Photo: Old Mill site restoration,
Westport, CT

9. “A win-win situation prevailed, with the
structures no longer standing, the
waterflow has changed.”
“It has benefited the oyster beds & we have
a beautiful new land piece, protected
forever from the storms...for the public to
enjoy.”
Compo Mill Cove Resident, Westport Conn

10. Infrastructure
Projects
• More community buy-in
• Potential higher costs
• Multiple impacts from various types of
disasters can translate into multiple
benefits
 First responders
 Homeowners (loss of life, property,
disruption of work and family, economic impact)
 Municipality (loss of tax revenue, additional
response costs)
 Insurance rates, CRS
Photo: Saugatuck Island, Westport, CT

11. On A Good Day
Photo: Saugatuck Bridge, Westport, CT

12. Planning for a
Sea of Change
Learn to turn the effects
climate change into
opportunities.
Expand on the opportunities
presented rather than keep
disasters at bay.
It’s a perfect world if we learn
to adapt to it.
Photo: Saugatuck Bridge, Westport, during
Superstorm Sandy DR-4087-CT, October
2012