But the residents were not having it, accusing Cogswell of worrying more about the viability of the insurance companies than the citizens who pay her salary.

Fears of a potentially devastating hurricane season have prompted some insurers to consider dropping coastal customers at renewal time unless they take additional precautions, such as buying federal flood insurance or installing shutters, which can cost thousands of dollars.

Property owners living within 1,000 feet of water have been hit particularly hard. Some have been forced to sign up with expensive specialty insurers such as Lloyds of London. Others are being asked to agree to higher deductibles, which could leave them footing the bill for thousands of dollars in rebuilding costs.

Cogswell repeatedly pointed out that if smaller insurance companies don't raise premiums to cover catastrophic insurance costs, homeowners would be left with worthless policies.

State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal pointed out to the audience that national insurers are on course to make record profits this year as fears of a catastrophic hurricane have not materialized.

Blumenthal called proposals to increase deductibles and to force homeowners to install expensive shutters or risk being dropped "unreasonable, unprecedented and unfair."

Carol Ward, of the Black Point section of East Lyme, said she is looking for a new insurer after her company, Andover Insurance, insisted that she install shutters on her garage.

This is cache, read story here