NEW YORK--A change in the make-up of Congress may not help advocates pushing for creation of federal and state catastrophe fund programs, the head of a group campaigning for the concept said at a press conference here.

Speaking today on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan, James Lee Witt, chief executive officer of Witt Associates and national co-chairman of ProtectingAmerican.org, said it's "hard to say" if the Democrats take over Congress if it would be more advantageous to passage of a national catastrophe program.

"This is not a political issue," he said. "It should be bi-partisan. Catastrophes are a concern to both Democrats and Republicans."

Mr. Witt, the former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Clinton administration, heads the effort along with retired Coast Guard Adm. James M. Loy, also former Department of Homeland Security deputy secretary, to create both national and state catastrophe funds to step in when disaster strikes.

Mr. Witt joined New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to announce their support for bills in the New York State Legislature to create a state catastrophe plan.

Ms. Gotbaum called on the legislature to do its part to establish the funding for the plan that would help with the rebuilding of the city should a hurricane ever strike.

She noted that the city is considered highly vulnerable to a hurricane and that a Category 3 storm (with sustained winds clocked at between 111 to 130 mph on the Saffir-Simpson scale) would bring a 10 foot wall of water to the city's streets and turn rows of high-rise buildings into wind tunnels.

"We are doing our part in New York City," said Ms. Gotbaum. "The state must act now."

Mr. Stringer said while the state and city have prepared for major disasters, it has not prepared for the kind of destruction a hurricane could bring and plans for the rebuilding needed in the aftermath.

"We have the opportunity now that in the event of a natural catastrophe, we can increase the insurance available for rebuilding," said Mr. Stringer. "We can't wait [to begin for planning] to put the city back together."

Under New York's plan, Mr. Witt said, the state would provide $10 million seed money to begin building the fund.

With premiums paid by insurers, the fund would grow, and after a time, if no funds have been paid out to catastrophes, portions of the proceeds would go to emergency workers and other first responders to improve their equipment and readiness, he said.

Ms. Gotbaum and Mr. Stringer said discussion on the state's plan should begin come January.

Nationally, Mr. Witt said that he thought hearings to discuss a national catastrophe plan would begin after the 110th Congress is in place.

Both New York and New Jersey have seen bills introduced in their state legislatures, which would create state catastrophe funds, said Mr. Witt. Both California and Florida are seeking to make changes in existing programs, he added.

The bill in New York is being sponsored by state Sen. Michael Balboni, R-East Williston (S-6301), and Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney, D-Suffolk County (A-9754).

ProtectingAmerica.org's campaign has the strong support of Allstate and State Farm, but other insurers in the property-casualty community are opposed to the concept.

Special Reports /

National Cat Fund Not An Issue For Politics, Says Witt

Related Stories

Recommended For You