Residents gathered Monday evening for the latest Atkins Neighborhood Conversation to discuss flood insurance with Mary Block, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance with the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation.

Hosted by the Town of Hardwick in partnership with the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE), the evening gave residents an opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting after a community meal. Rather than a formal presentation, the conversation focused on the questions and concerns that people brought with them, including flood insurance coverage, homeowners’ policies, claims following disasters, and preparing before the next flood.

We appreciate Mary taking the time to visit Hardwick and share her knowledge with residents. Insurance can be a complicated topic, and having the opportunity to ask questions directly to someone with her experience was valuable for everyone who attended.

The Atkins Neighborhood Conversations are intended to complement other community outreach efforts by creating opportunities for residents to connect with experts in a relaxed, conversational setting. The series has covered a variety of resilience-related topics this summer, each with its own format and approach.

There is one remaining Atkins Neighborhood Conversation scheduled this season:

Monday, July 27, Update from the Resilience and Adaptation Coordinator (at the Atkins Field Pavilion).

Thank you to everyone who has participated in this year’s conversations and to the Center for an Agricultural Economy for partnering with the Town to make the series possible.