Florida Gov. Charlie Crist continued his advocacy efforts for the creation of a national catastrophe fund by stating his case to Congress.

During the National Governors’ Association winter meeting in Washington, Crist presented U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with a resolution passed by the Southern Governors' Association, calling on Congress to create a national catastrophe fund.

Pelosi, D-Calif., made no commitment to a fund but said she is interested in learning about the proposal. According to Crist, Reid, D-Nev., was also, 'very sympathetic.'

As reported in the Miami Herald on February 27, 'The resolution notes that 'every state is vulnerable' to natural disasters, listing ‘`hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, earthquakes, blizzards, crop loss and wildfires.’ Crist said he plans to bring the resolution to the summer meeting of all 50 governors.

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In a Vulnerable Nation, Co-chair Admiral James Loy Urges Elected Officials to Heed Crist’s Call

ProtectingAmerica.org Co-chair Admiral James Loy authored an op-ed reinforcing the call by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and other Florida legislators for the establishment of a national catastrophe fund. The op-ed appeared in The St. Petersburg Times, The Miami Herald and the Tallahassee Democrat.

Loy encourages our elected leaders to learn from history and act now to help better prepare and protect America from future catastrophe, stating that we can no longer ignore the daunting predictions of leading meteorologists. Experts attest to at least 10 more years of increased hurricane activity.

Additionally, listeners of several Florida radio stations and NPR’s '‘All Things Considered,' heard interviews with Loy about the need for national catastrophe legislation. Appearances included the Florida Public Radio Tallahassee station WFSU-FM, and several Florida Public Radio Network affiliates.

Read the op-ed in its entirety

Hear Loy on 'All Things Considered'

'It Would Have Been Worse'

In Texas and Florida, Building Codes Are Proven Effective in Mitigating Damage

TWIA's territory includes the 14 counties along the Texas gulf coast

A study conducted by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) proves building codes are an effective means of minimizing hurricane damage and loss.

TWIA conducted a study of nearly 10,000 claims on residences damaged in Hurricane Rita. The study found far fewer claims associated with dwellings built to the new building codes enacted by the Texas legislature in 1998.

On average, losses on homes built to code were 40 percent to 50 percent less than those on homes built under older regulations.

'It is clear that the building codes work and that their use should be expanded and become mandatory throughout the entire seacoast territory,' said Sandra Helin, a spokeswoman for TWIA.

Likewise, the building codes enacted in Florida following Hurricane Andrew helped save newer homes from the destruction caused by a strong of tornadoes that tore through four counties in February.

Read more about the Texas study

Read more about how Florida's building standards saved homes -- and lives

Making Strides in Preparedness: New Madrid States Take Proactive Approach to Earthquake Threat

The threat of a large-scale earthquake in the New Madrid seismic zone, which stretches from just west of Memphis, Tenn., into southern Illinois, has forward-thinking disaster management officials working hard to prepare citizens and response systems for a worst-case scenario.

Earthquake experts and emergency management officials in Shelby County, Tenn., are working to identify ‘pinch points,’ or geographic areas most vulnerable to the effects of an earthquake.  'We're on a search for our 'pinch points' because our ability to respond and be resilient during a disaster hinges on whether we are able to serve the most needy,'' said Gary Patterson of the University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information.

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Meanwhile, the emergency managers of 13 western Kentucky counties have joined forces with National Guardsmen to simulate response to a 7.5-magnitude earthquake. Using helicopters to transport small teams throughout the area, and working on the assumption that telephones will not be in service, soldiers practice alerting the units and carrying out a full-scale damage assessment, search and rescue.

Read more about the drill

IBHS to South Carolina: Acknowledge Your Risk and Build Stronger

In a press release last week, the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) urged South Carolina decision makers to oppose the proposed amendment to the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC) that would allow some at-risk homes to build below the minimum requirements for window and door wind resistance. Currently, the Palmetto State is moving to adopt the latest editions of the codes with certain exceptions.

'Any action that could potentially decrease a home’s resistance to natural hazards below consensus minimum requirements defies reason. The South Carolina Building Codes Council should take this opportunity to adopt the latest consensus design provisions and ensure that new homes built in South Carolina are better able to withstand nature’s forces,' states Tim Reinhold, IBHS Vice President and Director of Engineering. 

Read the release in its entirety

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