Allstate Launches Advocacy Campaign Aimed at Waking Americans Up to Catastrophes.

NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- What if while Katrina was pounding New Orleans, California had been hit by an earthquake?

Actually, there were three that day.

The above is an example of one of the messages that Allstate is delivering to consumers in a new national advertising campaign launched today and set to appear in major newspapers across the U.S.

In the new campaign Allstate has taken a stand to raise awareness and spur a national dialogue about better preparing and protecting Americans from catastrophic events. The campaign offers ideas about how we can all help better manage our nation's response to these devastating events before they strike and offers some startling catastrophe facts for consumers to consider.

The campaign also represents a call to action for consumers to evaluate our country's disaster preparedness for themselves and get involved by becoming part of the solution through the http://www.ProtectingAmerica.Org coalition.

"Allstate is a vocal proponent of developing a new way for how America deals with catastrophes and this advertising campaign is intended to bring our message to consumers," says Thomas J. Wilson, president and chief operating officer, The Allstate Corporation. "The risks we all face from natural disasters are on the rise. In order to help ordinary Americans manage those risks and the financial consequences that result from catastrophes, a stronger public-private partnership at the local, state and federal levels must be forged."

"Insurance companies and individual Americans cannot solve this problem alone. State governments and our leaders in Washington must help develop a solution. The damage from catastrophes can be mitigated. But the country must act now - before another catastrophic hurricane or a major earthquake strikes."

The Allstate campaign will include full-page advertisements in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Washington Times, the Chicago Tribune and Capitol Hill publications Roll Call and The Hill. The content of the advertisements offers some catastrophe facts for people to consider as well as what Allstate believes can be done to better prepare and protect our country from the impact catastrophes cause.

The ideas Allstate is offering on better preparing Americans for major catastrophes include:

1. Strengthen first responders. Build additional capacity into local
   police and fire departments so that the situation can be
   stabilized, human suffering minimized and further property damage
   prevented.

2. Better understand the growing risks. More people are moving into
   areas that are at higher risk for natural disasters. Many who live
   in these areas may not fully appreciate the risk or chose not to
   purchase broader protection. Either way, add the two together, and
   it's a disaster waiting to happen.

3. Rebuild smarter and stronger. In some parts of the country,
   building codes aren't strong enough to make buildings withstand
   the catastrophes that are likely to occur.

4. Create catastrophe funds. The public and private sectors must work
   together to create a financial backstop program at the state and
   federal level that can provide consumers more protection at lower
   cost. Funds would accumulate in advance of catastrophes so we are
   better prepared. Consumers and insurance companies cannot solve
   this crisis alone.

Allstate is the charter member of ProtectingAmerica.org, a coalition dedicated to developing a better system for handling catastrophes. Together, we are advocates for a stronger partnership between the U.S. and State Government and private insurers to better prepare and protect Americans from the impact of catastrophes.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 13,600 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R). Encompass(SM) and Deerbrook(R) Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.