About Us
The California Insurance Emergency Response Association (CIERA) began as an ad hoc insurance industry initiative, called the Natural Catastrophe (Nat Cat) Planning Group, following the 2011 earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan. Insurance claims and catastrophe executives began studying catastrophe loss scenarios around the world and selected California earthquake risk as the focal point for further study and potential pre-disaster, industry-wide response planning. They invited the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) to join in the fall of 2016. CEA participating residential insurers and other insurers, the Surplus Line Association of California, and independent claims adjusting and engineering firms have also joined the collaborative effort.
Membership
CIERA membership is available to both individuals and organizations, with annual membership fees covering the basic costs of administration and pre-disaster planning. When a response is triggered, members will pay for post-disaster response services through pre-agreed arrangements.
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Organizational members, for all entities with 20 or more employees or employee equivalents such as independent contractors. At this level of commitment, organizational members can have up to five participants in CIERA activities and discussions, up to two participants at CIERA’s annual meeting, and participate in CIERA elections or other matters upon which members may be asked to vote.
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Individual members, for individual contractors, sole proprietors, and all entities with less than 20 employees or employee equivalents such as independent contractors. Individual members can have one participant in CIERA activities and discussions, including the annual meeting, but will not have voting rights.
If you or your organization is interested in becoming a CIERA Member, please submit an enquiry through the Contact page.
CIERA Leadership

Damaged apartment building, 1989 M6.9 Loma Prieta Earthquake

David Kodama, Jr., ASLI
Chief Industry & Regulatory Officer
The Surplus Line Association of California
CIERA Board President

Jeff Lim, Esq.
Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel
Palomar Holdings, Inc.
CIERA Board Member

Ben McKay
CEO & Executive Director
The Surplus Line Association of California
CIERA Board Member

David Repinski
Chief Executive Officer
CRU Group
CIERA Board Member

Gary Russell
Senior Large Loss & Catastrophe Claims Manager
CSAA Insurance Group
CIERA Board Member

George Sittner
Chief Insurance & Claims Officer
California Earthquake Authority
CIERA Board Member

Ryan Ammon
Vice President of Claims Operations & Head of Property
USAA
CIERA Board Member

Kim Stine
Executive Manager
CIERA

