Regulators from four big states ended their suburban SanFrancisco "summit" to draw up a national catastrophe insuranceprogram by announcing tonight they had agreed on a wide-rangingoutline, but not the specifics.

California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said the basicunderpinnings included requiring individual property owners to takesteps to mitigate risk, asking the private insurance andreinsurance sector to provide a guaranteed all perils personal linecatastrophe policy, and involving state and federal governments toprovide a backstop for insurers.

"We're solidly behind that framework. Details will have to beworked out," said Mr. Garamendi.