A New Jersey group, promoting the idea of a state backstop fundto support insurers hit by mega-catastrophes, said results of ahomeowners' preparedness survey underscore the need for thelegislation they are promoting.

Pete McDonough, a spokesman for ProtectingNewJersey.org and theparent group ProtectingAmerica.org, said the survey released lastweek by the Insurance Information Institute Inc. reveals theinattentiveness of many homeowners to the need for preparing fordisaster.

“They don't think it is going to happen to them,” said Mr.McDonough.

He was specifically referring to the survey results which showedthat among homeowners in coastal states New Jerseyans are poorlyprepared. Connecticut residents are the least prepared for adisaster, closely followed by the homeowners in New York'smetropolitan area and Maryland.

In an effort to combat some of that inattention, he said theorganization is seeking to expand into other states, but cautionedthat it would depend on the individual state's receptiveness tosupporting the organization's aim to establish state catastrophebackstop programs and raising the profile of disasterpreparedness.

New Jersey, where ProtectingNewJersey.org recently beganoperations as an affiliate of ProtectingAmerica.org, was singledout by the I.I.I. for falling closely behind Connecticut in thescoring.

I.I.I. noted that in the state's history it has sufferedsignificant hurricanes on a number of occasions, for example in1944 when Long Beach Island was obliterated, and 1821 when a stormhit the state that is believed to have been a Category 4 on afive-point scale.

“These results are particularly unsettling given the AccuWeatherprediction that a major hurricane will strike New Jersey during thecoming hurricane season,” said David Smith, director ofProtectingAmerica.org and resident of New Jersey, in astatement.

The situation has gotten the attention of some legislators,significantly Assemblyman Michael Panter, D-Monmouth, who hasintroduced a bill (A-3236) to create a catastrophe fund to serve asa backstop to private insurers to assure adequate funding forhomeowners should a major hurricane strike the state.

Mr. McDonough said Mr. Panter is still obtaining co-sponsors,and the bill should come up for a hearing in the fall. He said aSenate companion bill could be introduced shortly.

Richard Stokes, regional manager and counsel for PropertyCasualty Insurers Association of America in Trenton, N.J., saidthis is a time for discussion among insurers about the bill, but asan association, no position has been taken.

Insurers have a variety of concerns, with some believing that itis the carriers' business to assume risk and the government shouldnot be involved, he said. The other concern insurers have is makingcertain the monies collected for the fund remain dedicated to thefund and are not used to fill state budget deficits, he added.

“It's too early to tell where the bill will go, but a naturaldisaster would certainly bring it more focus,” Mr. Stokesnoted.

“We expect to see a good public debate over this,” he said,adding that PCI would have a better sense of its position by thefall.