N.Y. flu exercise in Sept.

The New York State Insurance Department said that it expects all insurance companies in the state to participate in an exercise this month to evaluate the readiness of the nation’s financial services to survive a pandemic flu outbreak.

“There has never before been an exercise of this scope in the United States and all sectors of the financial services industry will be represented. It is important that all insurance companies, both large and small organizations alike, register to participate,” said Deputy Superintendent Louis W. Pietroluongo.

Designed to simulate a global influenza outbreak, the exercise is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and major trade organizations.

The simulation will be conducted over a three-week period beginning Sept. 24. Participants will access a secure Web site to respond to various such scenarios.