This public forum is co-sponsored by the Whidbey Island Democratic Club and Whidbey Climate Action

Climate change is turning the insurance market on its head for property owners, businesses, and lenders. How are Washington policymakers responding, and what can consumers and businesses do to manage their risks?

Ms.Kuderer will be discussing the evolution of climate resilience initiatives, from pioneering risk disclosure requirements to emerging mitigation standards for communities facing heightened wildfire, flood, and severe weather threat, in terms of “the future of insurance.”

As residents of Whidbey Island, we have special concerns and questions, including...

1. Will Washington State cover losses in a catastrophic fire like Pacific Palisades? Will that bankrupt the State?

2. Does the State have robust mapping of areas under threat of disaster? Is public infrastructure continuing to be planned, permitted and built in areas susceptible to disasters like fire, flooding, and sea level rise? How can we stop this?

3. What happens to our mortgages when the insurance company drops us and we can’t get any other insurance? Will the state come in as “insurer of last resort?” What will that do to our state budget?

4. How can we support public policy that avoids public money being used to protect or restore private property that was knowingly located in a high risk zone?

Join us to hear from Patty Kuderer and gain a deeper understanding of “the future of insurance.”