LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to take such actions as are necessary to create a federal catas-
trophe fund

WHEREAS, The hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005 were startling reminders
of both the human and economic devastation that hurricanes, flooding and
other natural disasters can cause; and
WHEREAS, A catastrophic natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina can
lead to economic devastation throughout the country, including the many
states in which the event did not occur; and
WHEREAS, The current system of response to catastrophes leaves many
people and businesses at risk of being unable to replace what they have
lost, wasted tax dollars, and raised insurance premiums, which leads to
shortages of insurance needed to sustain our economy; and
WHEREAS, The lack of adequate and sufficient insurance protection
places greater pressure on both the state and federal governments to
assist the victims of natural catastrophes; and
WHEREAS, Every state is vulnerable to natural catastrophes such as
hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, earthquakes, blizzards and
wildfires; and
WHEREAS, The United States federal government has provided, and will
continue to provide, billions of after-event appropriated dollars and
resources to help our nation recover from catastrophes at huge cost to
all American taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, The United States federal government has a critical interest
in ensuring appropriate and fiscally responsible risk management and
pre-planning for catastrophes through measures such as loss prevention
and mitigation, improved public education and effective emergency
management services; and
WHEREAS, The United States Congress has had under consideration, but
taken no action on, multiple proposals over the past decade to address
natural catastrophic risk insurance; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to take
such actions as are necessary to create a federal catastrophe fund; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.