January 10, 2008 -- The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced the Catastrophe Advisory Committee. This group will advise Mayor Giuliani on the needs of local communities in preparing for and responding to hurricanes and other natural disasters, in addition to the creation of a National Catastrophic Fund.

Joe M. Allbaugh, former Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will serve as the National Chair of the committee.

“Every community in America must be prepared for natural disasters and terrorist attacks, which is why I support the creation of a National Catastrophe Insurance Fund and why I have made ensuring that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters one of my 12 Commitments to the American People,” Mayor Giuliani said.

ProtectingAmerica.org, a coalition of first responders, emergency management professionals and small and large businesses, today praised the announcement by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani that he supports the creation of a national catastrophe fund to help the residents of catastrophe-prone states to repair, rebuild and recover in the aftermath of massive natural disasters, and save homeowners across America an estimated $11 billion in reduced insurance premiums every year.

“Mayor Giuliani’s backing of a national catastrophe fund that would be funded by insurer revenues, not taxpayer dollars, is a clear indication that he is one of the presidential hopefuls who recognizes the enormous failings of the current catastrophe recovery system,” said Robert W. Porter, executive director of ProtectingAmerica.org.