HARTFORD – A bill that relieves property owners of higher insurance deductibles related to storm damage, first proposed by House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. in the wake of the devastation from the remnants of Hurricane Irene last summer, was unanimously approved by the House today.
“This bill eliminates confusion about what exposure homeowners might have and what their rights are. Last year Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reached Connecticut, but people were being assessed higher deductibles,’’ Cafero said.
Under the bill that now goes to the Senate (HB 5230), the higher deductibles that insurance companies can claim when weather systems are deemed hurricane strength would not be in effect unless the storm winds exceed 74 miles per hour when they reach Connecticut. Hurricane Irene knocked out power for days but created confusion in the aftermath about how much insurance companies could claim in deducible costs.
It was deemed a hurricane as it made its way up the Eastern Seaboard but downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reached the metropolitan New York City area.
“This bill obviously had broad partisan support and I hope we can get it through this session,’’ Cafero said.
