AIR¨s Terrorism Loss Estimation Model was used to provide detailed exposure data for possible terrorist targets used in the exercise. Organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the ANSER Institute for Homeland Security, the purpose of the exercise was to assist the Administration and Congress in their efforts to increase the effectiveness of response to specific and credible threats of a major terrorist incident.
"The CSIS turned to AIR for its expertise in extreme-event modeling, including terrorism," said Philip Anderson, director of the Homeland Security Initiative at the CSIS. "The exposure data provided by the AIR terrorism model was critical to the exercise, as it provided information on commercial and residential property values and potential human casualties for the impacted areas."
The exercise brought together a distinguished group of current and former policy makers to play the roles of government leaders, including former Senator Sam Nunn, who played the role of the U.S. President. Other participants included former Virginia Governor James Gilmore, current Deputy Under Secretary for Transportation Security James Loy, former FBI Director William Sessions, former CIA Director James Woolsey, former FEMA Director James Lee Witt and former White House Spokeswoman Dee Dee Myers.
"The lessons learned from this important, high-level exercise will help the government prepare for and possibly deter future terrorist attacks in the United States," said Jack Seaquist, AIR terrorism model product manager and Silent Vector observer. "Having been selected to support Silent Vector is a tremendous validation of AIR¨s approach to modeling terrorism."
Since its release in early September, the AIR terrorism model has received a great deal of interest from entities in the insurance, financial services and real estate industries, as well as several branches of government. The model comprehensively analyzes potential losses from threats posed by domestic extremists, formal international and state-sponsored terrorist organizations and loosely affiliated networks.
About AIR Worldwide Corporation
AIR Worldwide Corporation (AIR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), is a leading catastrophe and weather risk modeling company. Through its web-based and computer software solutions (ClimateCastTM, CLASIC/2TM, CATRADER®, CATMAP®/2, AIRProfiler®), AIR services the insurance, reinsurance and capital markets. AIR's models simulate losses from both man-made and natural catastrophes in more than 35 countries. AIR is headquartered in Boston and has additional offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit the AIR website at www.air-worldwide.com.
About ISO
ISO is a leading source of information, products and services related to property and liability risk. For a broad spectrum of commercial and personal lines of insurance, ISO provides statistical, actuarial, underwriting and claims information and analyses; consulting and technical services; policy language; information about specific locations; fraud-identification tools; and data processing. In the United States and around the world, ISO serves insurers, reinsurers, agents, brokers, self-insureds, risk managers, insurance regulators and other government agencies.
Release: Immediate
Contacts:
Giuseppe Barone / Erica Helton
MWW Group (for ISO)
201-507-9500
gbarone@mww.com / ehelton@mww.com
Mike Gannon (AIR)
617-267-6645