PROTECTINGAMERICA.ORG E-NEWS Momentum Building for Catastrophe Management Legislation Around the Country - Momentum is building for a catastrophe fund in Massachusetts. Senate Bill 628, which would create the Massachusetts Catastrophic Event Fund, has been introduced. The fund will help lower insurance costs and provide a greater amount of consumer choice. Read more
The Commonwealth has a compelling interest in maintaining a viable market for property insurance, and to the extent that the private sector is unable to maintain such a market the Legislature must take action. Robert O’Leary, Massachusetts State Senator |
- U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu, D-LA., and Joe Biden, D-DE., pushed for the creation of a national catastrophic insurance fund during a tour of areas damaged by Hurricane Rita. Read more
The regulations on the books do not work in a catastrophe situation such as this (Hurricane Rita devastation). U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA |
- The Hawaii Legislature is considering a comprehensive package of bills to better prepare and protect residents from the consequences of catastrophe. Read more
ProtectingAmerica.org Co-Chair James Lee Witt and Charter Member James Dalessandro to Make Appearances at 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Centennial April 18, 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the San Francisco earthquake. The city has planned extensive activities to commemorate the event. ProtectingAmerica.org co-chair James Lee Witt will speak at the San Francisco Centennial Conference as part of a panel to discuss earthquake preparedness and policy. Read more Also, as part of the anniversary activities, charter member of ProtectingCalifornia.org and ProtectingAmerica.org James Dalessandro will show his 1906 earthquake documentary, 'The Damndest, Finest Ruins.' See a preview of the documentary | |  | | Photo: James Dalessandro, left, with ProtectingAmerica.org co-chair James Lee Witt at the ProtectingCalifornia.org announcement event in December 2005. Witt holds Dalessandro’s historical novel, 1906, about the great San Francisco earthquake. Both men will appear at the San Francisco Earthquake Centennial anniversary. Witt will be on a featured panel to discuss earthquake preparedness and policy and Dalessandro will show his 1906 earthquake documentary, 'The Damndest, Finest Ruins.' | |
Read James Dalessandro’s May 2005 San Francisco Magazine article 'Earthquake!' that looks at the city’s readiness for the next 'big one.'
History, here more than anywhere, should be our greatest teacher. Among the voices of local history, disaster division, one is preeminent. Dennis Sullivan was chief of the San Francisco Fire Department on April 18, 1906. What he has to tell us is simple. Preparation is everything. Denial and complacency are far greater threats than the San Andreas and Hayward Faults. We cannot prevent an earthquake any more than we can stop a hurricane in its tracks, but we can mitigate its results, minimize its damage. Ninety-nine years after his death, Dennis Sullivan is still talking to us, and we are fools not to listen. James Dalessandro, 'Earthquake!' San Francisco Magazine |
Read more about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, including up-to-date news items and resources on the earthquake and centennial activities.
Ominous Warnings Ahead for 2006 Hurricane Season Experts are starting to make predictions for the 2006 hurricane season- and what they’re saying is not good. In addition to being another busy storm season, experts believe that coastal areas in the Northeast, including New York City, are due for a major hurricane. - Accuweather.com is reporting that the Northeast U.S. coast could be the target of a major hurricane during the 2006 hurricane season. Current weather cycles and above-average water temperatures are creating patterns reminiscent to those seen in the 1938 'Long Island Express' hurricane, the strongest hurricane to hit the Northeast coast in recorded history. Read more
- Due to elevated hurricane activity and predicted increased hurricane landfall, Risk Management Solutions announced that hurricane insurance losses will rise 40% in Florida, and 25-30% for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coastal regions. Read more
Less than 60 days until the start of the 2006 hurricane season. Are you prepared?
ProtectingAmerica.org Co-Chair James Lee Witt to Speak at AAIS Annual Conference in Florida this Month ProtectingAmerica.org co-chair James Lee Witt will speak to the American Association of Insurance Services during their Annual Conference on how the nation can best prepare for and protect against catastrophes. Read more
ProtectingAmerica.org Welcomes New Coalition Members
ProtectingAmerica.org is excited to introduce its newest members into the growing coalition working to better prepare and protect America from catastrophe. New members include AT&T, CBS Outdoor, EDS, the International Association of Emergency Managers, the California Office of Emergency Services, the Commerce and Industry Association of NJ and United Policyholders. See a list of coalition members Are you interested in supporting the effort to better prepare and protect America? Learn more about the coalition and register for membership at ProtectingAmerica.org.
Coalition Member Spotlight - CBS Outdoor Over the past three years, ProtectingAmerica.org coalition member CBS Outdoor instituted a full-scale initiative to assist New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle in crafting Integrated Communications Plans geared towards catastrophe preparedness. Committing media experts, industry resources and consultants to the issue of the nation’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management on the Federal, State and local levels, CBS Outdoor partnered with these cities to use bus, rail and other outdoor advertising to deliver important preparedness messages to their citizens. Keep visiting our newsroom for more news, studies, and spotlights on ProtectingAmerica.org coalition members. Send Us Your News-Do you have news that you would like to include in our Coalition Spotlight? Write to us at enews@protectingamerica.org and let us know how your organization is working to better protect America from catastrophe. Your news will be added to the Web site and featured in an upcoming newsletter.
ProtectingAmerica.org's mission is to raise awareness, educate the public and policymakers, and offer solutions that will better prepare and protect America from major catastrophe in a sensible, cost-effective fashion. Please contact enews@protectingamerica.org if you have any questions or comments.
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