WASHINGTON, May 13 DC-ProtectingAmerica
WASHINGTON, May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's largest
coalition of first responders, disaster experts and other organizations today
warned that the commission to study the benefits of a national catastrophe
fund, that was included in the Senate's passage today of a bill reauthorizing
the National Flood Insurance Program, needs to act quickly and decisively if
American families are to be better prepared and protected from devastating
natural events like hurricanes and earthquakes.
"The safety and security of American families demands quick consensus on a
comprehensive program that encourages mitigation and preparation before
catastrophe strikes as well as a financial backstop to ensure that they can
repair, rebuild and recover in the aftermath of the next devastating natural
event," said Admiral James M. Loy (USCG, ret.), co-chair of
ProtectingAmerica.org.
"If the commission created in the Senate's reauthorization of the National
Flood Insurance Program is ultimately enacted, that commission needs to be
convened quickly and its deliberations should be conducted and concluded as
expeditiously as possible," he said.
"ProtectingAmerica.org looks forward to providing the expertise and
insights of our 300 member organizations and 15,000 individual members to the
commission so that its work can be completed before the next catastrophe
occurs," he said.
The Senate amendments to the reauthorization of the National Flood
Insurance Program call for the establishment of a commission to study the
effect of creating a national catastrophe fund. The commission would focus
the attention of the Congress on the important benefits that would accrue to
families, communities, first responders and taxpayers if such a fund were
enacted.
The House of Representatives held a series of hearings on the ways to
better prepare and protect American families from catastrophic natural events
and last November, passed the Homeowners Defense Act of 2007 by a bipartisan
vote of 258-155.
That bill would create a national catastrophe fund to stand behind
privately funded state programs that would provide a financial backstop in the
event of a large scale natural catastrophe and, through the state programs,
would help fund first responder programs, mitigation efforts and homeowner
education programs that are all designed to reduce the loss of life and
property resulting from catastrophes.
About ProtectingAmerica.org
ProtectingAmerica.org was formed in 2005 and 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, more than 300 other organizations and businesses and more than 15,000
individuals from across the nation.
ProtectingAmerica.org is chaired by James Lee Witt, former director of the
Federal Emergency management Agency and by Admiral James M. Loy, former deputy
secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security and former commandant of
the US Coast Guard.
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 catastrophe. Among its efforts to support this mission,
ProtectingAmerica.org is working to increase public awareness and 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.
SOURCE ProtectingAmerica.org
