Event Part of an Ongoing Initiative to Promote Disaster
Preparedness
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
As part of an ongoing initiative to promote and raise awareness of
disaster preparedness, The
Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers
Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV),
hosted a symposium today entitled “Opportunities for Integrating
Disaster Mitigation and Energy Retrofit Programs,” along with Ceres, the
Institute for Business and Home Safety and RenaissanceRe. Held on
Capitol Hill in the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works CommitteeRoom, the program convened policymakers, insurance representatives and
other stakeholders to develop a framework for integrating energy
efficiency measures into disaster mitigation home retrofits.
“Extreme weather events can cause massive damage and erase the
investments of property owners and displace vulnerable populations into
substandard housing,” said Joan Woodward, Travelers Executive Vice
President and head of The Travelers Institute. “The Travelers Institute
is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to advance and raise
awareness of mitigation strategies that create more resilient
communities. Building stronger homes is a key principle of the Travelers
Coastal Wind Zone Plan, our proposal to improve the affordability
and availability of coastal wind storm insurance for homeowners.”
The program comprised a series of panel discussions to address how
damage can be better managed through trusted and affordable building
practices for new and existing structures, and if coupled with energy
efficiency measures, can ensure long-lived quality housing and
significant cost savings for households and the federal government
alike. Click here
to view the full agenda.
The Travelers Institute hosted the first panel discussion of the day,
“The Impact of Disasters and the Potential for Mitigation.” Moderated by
Ms. Woodward, panelists included:
- Ed Laatsch, Chief, Building Science Section Risk Reduction Branch,
Mitigation Division, FEMA;
- Warren Edwards, Director, Community and Regional Resilience Institute;
- Eric M. Nelson, Vice President, Personal Insurance and Risk
Management, Travelers.
The discussion covered the economic and social impacts of disasters, the
importance of raising awareness of disaster preparedness and mitigation
techniques, and the effect disaster mitigation techniques can have on
improving the availability and affordability of homeowners insurance for
coastal residents.
About The Travelers Institute
The Travelers Institute, the
public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV),
engages in discussion and analysis of public policy topics of importance
to the insurance marketplace and the financial services industry. The
Travelers Institute draws upon the industry expertise of Travelers’
senior management and the technical expertise of many of Travelers’
underwriters, risk managers and other experts to provide information and
analysis to public policy makers and regulators. Travelers is a leading
provider of property casualty insurance for auto,
home
and business.
For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Contact:
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Media Contacts:
Erin
Haberman, 860-277-3617
or
Jennifer Wislocki, 860-277-7458