March 20, 2007

ProtectingAmerica.org Praises Senators Nelson and Martinez
For Their Leadership on Catastrophe Preparedness

James Lee Witt and Admiral James Loy Urge Immediate Senate Action

(Washington, D.C.) – The co-chairs of ProtectingAmerica.org, former FEMA director James Lee Witt and former deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Admiral James Loy, today praised Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Mel Martinez (R-FL) for introducing legislation to prepare the nation, both structurally and financially, for the onslaught of natural catastrophe.

'The response and recovery system that Americans rely upon during and after a catastrophe and the private insurance marketplace, which is essential to helping American families repair and rebuild in its aftermath, must be reviewed and reinforced,' Mr. Witt said.

'Legislation is a critical first step,' the former FEMA director said.  'ProtectingAmerica.org stands ready to support Senators Nelson and Martinez, as well as the other members of Congress who are working to develop a comprehensive natural disaster policy for the United States.' 

'The bipartisan representation at today’s announcement underscores the vulnerability that this country faces with regard to natural catastrophe.  Throughout America’s history, virtually every region of this country has experienced natural catastrophes and, if repeated today, those events would destroy entire communities, bring ruin to countless numbers of American families and have an immediate impact on state, regional, and the national economies,' Admiral James Loy said.

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of last week’s press conference led by Representative Barney Frank (D-MA), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, during which Members of Congress from states throughout the country expressed an urgency to enact solutions to improve America’s catastrophe preparedness.

A Nation Exposed

• Risk experts and modelers suggest that 57 percent of the American public resides in areas that are prone to earthquakes, hurricanes or other disasters. 

• Twenty states, including Hawaii and every state that borders the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, face the threat of hurricanes every year.

• The largest earthquake to ever rock the continental US emanated from New Madrid, Missouri in 1811 and affected an area that stretched from Mississippi to Michigan, from Pennsylvania to Nebraska.

• Eight out of the 11 most costly U.S. natural catastrophes have occurred since 2001.

• Since 1900, 11 hurricanes have made direct hits on New England; six of them on the New York coastline.  The 'Long Island Express,' a massive hurricane that in 1938 made landfall in Long Island and raced through Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, killed 700 people and left 63,000 people homeless.  If the same storm struck today, damages would exceed $100 billion according to risk modelers.

About ProtectingAmerica.org

ProtectingAmerica.org is a non-profit organization consisting of emergency management officials, first responders, disaster relief experts, insurers and others.  Its members include the American Red Cross and more than 200 other organizations and businesses.

At the core of ProtectingAmerica.org’s mission is the establishment of a comprehensive, integrated national catastrophe management solution that will better prepare and protect American families, communities, consumers and the American economy from natural catastrophe.   ProtectingAmerica.org is working to increase public awareness and enhance consumer education; advocate for better coordination with local, state and federal mitigation and recovery efforts, and strengthen emergency response and financial mechanisms to rebuild after a major catastrophe.

The organization supports comprehensive federal legislation that would establish a privately financed national catastrophe fund that would serve as a backstop to state catastrophe funds.  The funds’ private deposits and the majority of its earnings could only be used to cover replacement and rebuilding costs following major catastrophic events.  A portion of the funds’ earnings would be dedicated to increase public and consumer education, strengthen first responders, and enhance building codes and their enforcement.

ProtectingAmerica.org was formed in 2005 to lead a concentrated effort to improve the way America prepares for and protects its families, communities, consumers and economy from catastrophe.

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