NU Online News Service, Nov. 1, 1:28 p.m.EDT

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and GeorgiaInsurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens say they have renewed apartnership agreementon a contingency plan between their respective states.

The agreement will ensure continuity of operations of criticalfunctions in the event of a catastrophe causing significantdisruption to either state's operations.

“After the 2004-05 hurricane season, we saw a need to havethis kind of agreement in place,” Audrey Brown, chief of staff inthe Florida department tells NU Online News Service. “Georgia alsohas had issues with flooding and other things. We're only aboutfour hours apart, so it makes sense.”

She says the agreement revises and replaces a previous agreementdated July 2009 with Georgia's former Insurance Commissioner JohnW. Oxendine.

Under the agreement, members of an affected state will usetemporary workspace designated by the other's state, in eitherTallahassee or Atlanta, until the infrastructure of the affectedstate has been restored, according to the Florida Office ofInsurance Regulation.

The memorandum of understanding specifies the terms andconditions of the host state's support requirements as well as theresponsibilities of the affected state.

“The Georgia Department of Insurance appreciates thisopportunity to work together with our Florida colleagues to improveboth states' ability to provide essential regulatory services andprotections to our citizens in the event of a man-made or naturaldisaster,” says Hudgens. “We hope and pray, of course, thatsuch a disaster never occurs. If it does, however, thisagreement increases the level of preparedness of bothdepartments.”

Commissioner McCarty adds, “It is essential that we areproactive in our planning to allow each office to provide criticalservices and information to emergency response teams and the publicdirectly following a major catastrophe. This agreement increasesour capacity to perform these important functions.”

Primary elements of the agreement include:

• The mobilizing state will promptly notify host state contactswhen a disaster occurs and operations must be moved to the hoststate.

• The host state will provide logistical support to include alimited number of laptop and desktop computers, Internetcapabilities and fax machines.

• The host state will provide space for 20 employees for aperiod of 45 days.