Floridians Send 3,100 Letters to Call for National Action ... NOW!

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Florida residents are making their voices heard in support of Governor Crist’s national catastrophe protection program. Last week, Floridians sent over 3,100 letters to thank Crist for his efforts and to urge Members of Congress to act now.

Governor Charlie Crist is working to make catastrophe preparedness and protection a national priority, so when the unthinkable happens, families will get the help they need to rebuild and recover.

Coalition Action Update:

ProtectingAmerica.org Co-chair Testifies Before Congressional Committee

ProtectingAmerica.org co-chair Admiral James M. Loy testified before members of the Senate Banking Committee that America needs a comprehensive public-private partnership to prepare and protect American families from future natural catastrophes. ADM Loy presented committee members with surprising statistics, highlighting the number of American families that are overwhelmingly exposed to catastrophes like mega-hurricanes or earthquakes. One such example is the suggestion of risk experts and modelers that 57 percent of the American public resides in areas that are prone to earthquakes, hurricanes or other disasters. Loy passionately stressed the urgency of the current situation and the need for immediate action on this national problem.

Read more.

Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Backs National Catastrophe Fund

On April 26, the Insurance Journal reported presidential candidate Mitt Romney's support for the creation of a national catastrophe fund. Romney explains, 'You want as large a pool as you can possibly have. You want as many states participating as you possibly can.' Read the full article.

As former governor of Massachusetts, Romney has firsthand experiences with shortages of available and affordable homeowners insurance. On April 26, the state's insurer of last resort, the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association, proposed a hotly protested 25 percent increase for Cape and coastal residents.

Solutions Needed:

As Recovery Efforts Continue in New Jersey, Concern Over the 'Big One' Mounts

The April Nor'easter resulted in parts of New Jersey being declared a Federal Disaster Area.

New Jersey is on the road to recovery following the unprecedented Nor'easter that walloped the state with more than eight inches of rain, displacing more than 4,300 residents and creating hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

With residents now safe and rivers below flood stage, it is timely to remember that the 'Big One' is yet to come. As an editorial in The Herald News, serving Passaic and parts of Bergen County, NJ, reminded readers, 'There will be other catastrophic storms that will leave North Jersey crippled. With hurricane season approaching, we think now is the time to take a regional approach to flood control. When the next big one hits, let's be ready.' Read the editorial in its entirety.

New Jersey Assemblyman Michael Panter, D-Monmouth/Mercer, issued the following statement, describing the state's need for measures to prepare.

While I am confident that the state can mend following this week's Nor'easter, red flags should rise regarding our ability to recover if a more severe storm were to impact New Jersey.

Considering we are only a month away from the official start of the hurricane season, the state needs to do all it can to prepare for and be ready to respond to all storms, especially a category 3 or 4 storm.

I am currently working to secure a voting date in May or June for the New Jersey Consumer Catastrophe Preparedness and Protection Act (A-3236) to be posted for committee consideration. I am pleased that Senators Joseph Doria and Diane Allen have introduced the bill in the Senate. We must all work together in a bipartisan manner to protect the residents, as well as the economy, of the state.

-Assemblyman Michael Panter on the Spring Nor'easter and the New Jersey Consumer Catastrophe Preparedness and Protection Act

Countdown to 2007 Hurricane Season:

El Niño's Rapid Dissipation Leads to Daunting Predictions

Colorado State University atmospheric scientists Phil Klotzbach and William Gray have increased their widely trusted Extended Range Forecast of Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity and U.S. Landfall Strike Probability for 2007.

The team's Tropical Meteorology Project, which has been predicting hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin since 1984, now estimates that 2007 will have five intense hurricanes, nine total hurricanes and 17 named storms. Prediction numbers rose due to rapid dissipation of El Niño conditions, which were credited with suppressing hurricane formations in 2006. They expect to update the forecast again on May 31.

Read their forecast in its entirety.

As reported by The Associated Press, two teams of researchers at North Carolina State University say the 2007 hurricane season will see more activity than last year, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico. The teams are credited with accurately predicting a mild season in 2006.

As reported by Mike Baker of the AP, 'Everything shows it's going to be a much busier year than last year,' according to Len Pietrafesa, a professor of oceanic and atmospheric science at North Carolina State who contributed to a team funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The team predicts 16 to 17 named storms will form in the Atlantic basin. A second team predicts 12 to 13 named storms.

Read more.

Building Smarter and Stronger

Hospital Designed to Withstand Category 5 Hurricanes

Aerial view of the nearly complete Homestead Hospital in Homestead, Fla.

As a threatening hurricane draws near, hospital administrators and officials are under increased pressure to keep patients safe.

With patient safety in mind, the nearly complete Homestead Hospital in Homestead, Fla., is the first in the region designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. The 388,000-square-foot structure is scheduled to open this spring.

Built 9.5 feet above sea level with reinforced walls to endure 221 mph winds, impact-resistant windows and innovative roof design, the Homestead Hospital is a model of smart, strong building and sets a precedent for future mitigation efforts.

Read more about the new Homestead Hospital.

Learning From History:

Charleston, South Carolina's Earthquake Risk

Did You Know?

This map shows intensities, by county, based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale

Likely impact in red areas, including Charleston:

Well-built wooden structures are severely damaged and some destroyed. Most masonry and frame structures are destroyed, including their foundations. Some bridges are destroyed. Dams are seriously damaged. Large landslides occur. Water is thrown on the banks of canals, rivers and lakes. Railroad tracks are bent slightly. Cracks are opened in cement pavements and asphalt road surfaces.

Beneath the picturesque city of Charleston, S.C., lies a serious but little-known threat. The strongest earthquake ever to hit the Eastern Seaboard shook Charleston on Aug. 31, 1886. Shocks from the 7.6 magnitude earthquake were felt from Cuba to New York, Bermuda to the Mississippi River.

History being our greatest teacher, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) warns, 'The Palmetto state has a seismic past and will, no doubt, tremble again as quakes shake the ground beneath our feet.'

The earthquake threat to South Carolina is ever-present. With the knowledge that an earthquake could wreak havoc on the Coastal Plain once again, it is important for residents to take the necessary steps to become educated and prepared for future events.

More about the 1886 earthquake and how to prepare for earthquakes.

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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.