But the representatives did contend that the enormity of the damage showed the need to ensure that claims resulting from future events could also be paid.

The potential areas for cooperation discussed ranged from those as simple as allowing one adjuster to determine which damages are covered by flood or homeowners insurance, to a possible federal program similar to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.

Michael J. McCabe, a senior vice president and chief legal officer for Allstate, said the company is an "ardent advocate of a new private and public partnership against catastrophes both natural and manmade."

He said such a partnership could be established with input from the insurance industry, the federal government and from state mechanisms such as those existing in hurricane-prone states like Florida.

David Daniel, a partner in the insurance agency of Daniel & Eustis, offering comment on behalf of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, said that the IIABA "absolutely supports" the concept of a joint public and private arrangement.

He said the group backs a bill (HR 846) titled the Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act that has been introduced by Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla.

Her legislation is designed to ensure sufficient insurance capacity exists to provide natural disaster coverage for homeowners by auctioning reinsurance contracts for specific regions.

Markham McKnight, president of BankCorp South Insurance Services Inc., appearing on behalf of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, said that differences between the National Flood Insurance Program and private homeowners' insurance show the potential for problems that could leave policyholders in a bind.

Flood and homeowners policies "do not follow form," Mr. McKnight said. That means policyholders could be caught in the middle of a disagreement between the private sector and the government over what exactly caused the damage to a property.

"There is no dispute resolution mechanism in place," Mr. McKnight said. Instead, he argued that the two policies should "dovetail" to avoid instances where a policyholder has to wait for the dispute to be resolved. Policyholders, he said, "want to be reimbursed, and they need relief."

Mr. McKnight noted that the government, and specifically the House Financial Services Committee, had already created a "following form" program through the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, which he said could serve as a model for a partnership to cover natural catastrophes.

"It is not a concept that this body is unfamiliar with," he said.

Another agents group, the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, has also voiced support for a federal program.

PIA's board, at its annual meeting Sept. 11 in Portland, Ore., voted unanimously to call on Congress to adopt and fund a coordinated natural disaster catastrophe program, saying the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina showed that lawmakers cannot wait any longer.

Such a program, PIA said, should include prorated participation by states and local governments, together with all sectors of the financial services industry in the creation of a backstop for insurers suddenly overwhelmed by a rush of claims in the wake of a natural catastrophe.

"The goal of such a program is to provide immediate financial stability to markets in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters; to allow continued market stability; and to provide sufficient time to build back market capacity," said PIA national senior vice president Patricia A. Borowski.

Additionally, Ms. Borowski said the program should include funding of loss mitigation projects, and that it includes a provision for the creation of tax-advantaged local or regional enterprise zones in areas affected by natural disasters where recovery is expected to take longer and affect a greater area.