August 29, 2006                                                                      

ProtectingAmerica.org Launches National Education and Advertising Campaign

Offers Solutions to Better Prepare for and Protect America from Future Catastrophes

*Click on each of the above ads for a larger representation

(Washington, D.C.) – ProtectingAmerica.org, led by former FEMA director James Lee Witt and former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Admiral James M. Loy, today launched a national education and advertising campaign designed to increase awareness among opinion leaders and the American public that the nation as a whole must do more to minimize the risk and impact of a major catastrophe.  ProtectingAmerica.org supports legislative action to create a financial backstop against natural catastrophe and help Americans better prepare themselves for these events. 

'Catastrophe preparation is not strictly a consumer burden.  Legislators throughout the country must recognize the need to better address how America prepares itself for catastrophe – before the next one strikes.  Creating a comprehensive, public/private catastrophe management solution that helps provide affordable and available insurance for consumers, establishes and enforces more stringent building codes and strengthens our first responders is crucial to help consumers protect their lives, property and investments,' said Admiral Loy.

The advertorial campaign consists of full-page, opinion oriented advertisements running in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post and Washington Times.  The statement 'The Enemy is Mother Nature' from the ad begs the question: 'How do you deal with an enemy that has no government, no money trail and no qualms about killing women and children?'  Audiences are invited to visit the Web site, http://www.protectingamerica.org/, to learn more about preparing our nation for catastrophe and to take action by urging Congress to support H.R. 4366, a proactive solution that will prepare Americans before the next catastrophe by:

• Strengthening financial protection for consumers by establishing special 'catastrophe funds' at the state and federal level.  A portion of property insurance premiums that corresponds with the catastrophic risk to be covered would be deposited into the catastrophe funds, where they would grow tax-free. No tax dollars would be used to support the funds, and insurance companies could not use these funds for any purpose other than to pay claims from catastrophes that exceed a certain threshold.
• Strengthening prevention and mitigation programs through stronger building codes and better enforcement to ensure new construction better meets the challenges of catastrophic events.  Other prevention and mitigation programs can also save lives and better protect property.
• Improving consumer education and consumer protections to make sure people are better prepared for catastrophes before they strike and to empower them to guard against scam artists who too often rush to the scene of a disaster and take advantage of families at their deepest time of need.
• Improving the process of relief, recovery and rebuilding by developing new processes to stage and deploy essential relief materials and to make sure there are adequate building materials, supplies and licensed contractors available in the aftermath of a catastrophe.
• Creating a rigorous process of continuous improvement by establishing a commission of local, state and federal officials along with the private sector to review and assess recovery efforts after every disaster.  The commission would identify ways to continually improve our ability to recover from catastrophes.
• Assuring the viability of the private market and its ability to provide coverage to families, businesses and communities.

ProtectingAmerica.org, a coalition of emergency management officials, first responders, disaster relief experts, insurers and others, has been organized to support efforts to better prepare and protect Americans from the consequences of natural disasters through a comprehensive, public-private solution that will increase public awareness through improved education; allow for better coordination with state, federal and local mitigation and recovery efforts; strengthen emergency response and improve financial mechanisms to rebuild after a major catastrophe.

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