UNITED STATES
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 FORM 8-K

                              CURRENT REPORT

    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 8, 2004
                                                  ---------------

                           EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC.
            ------------------------------------------------------  
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            Iowa                          0-10956              42-623455
-------------------------------        ------------      --------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of        (Commission       (I.R.S. Employer
         incorporation)                File Number)       Identification No.)


 717 Mulberry Street, Des Moines, Iowa                           50309
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(Address of principal executive office)                       (Zip Code)


                                (515) 280-2902
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Item 7.01  Regulation FD Disclosure

     On October 8, 2004 EMC Insurance Group Inc. issued the following
press release:

EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC. REPORTS 
2004 THIRD QUARTER ESTIMATED LOSSES
FOR HURRICANE JEANNE

     DES MOINES, Iowa (October 8, 2004) - EMC Insurance Group Inc. 
(Nasdaq/NM:EMCI) today reported that the Company's reinsurance segment 
anticipates that losses associated with Hurricane Jeanne, which hit the State 
of Florida on September 25, 2004, will be capped at $1.5 million (or $0.08 
per share, after tax) under the terms of the quota share agreement with 
Employers Mutual Casualty Company, as were the losses from Hurricanes 
Charley, Frances and Ivan. Hurricane losses in the property and casualty 
insurance segment, the majority of which are associated with damage caused by 
Hurricane Ivan in the Gulf States, continue to be estimated at approximately 
$2.4 million.  Total losses associated with the four hurricanes are estimated 
to be approximately $8.4 million. On an after-tax basis, these hurricane 
losses will reduce third quarter earnings by approximately $5.5 million or 
$0.47 per share. 

     EMC Insurance Group Inc., the publicly-held insurance holding company of 
EMC Insurance Companies, owns subsidiaries with operations in property and 
casualty insurance and reinsurance. EMC Insurance Companies is one of the 
largest property and casualty entities in Iowa and among the top 60 insurance 
entities nationwide. 

     The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides issuers 
the opportunity to make cautionary statements regarding forward-looking 
statements.  Accordingly, any forward-looking statement contained in this 
report is based on management's current expectations and actual results of 
the Company may differ materially from such expectations.  The risks and 
uncertainties that may affect the actual results of the Company include but 
are not limited to the following:  catastrophic events and the occurrence of 
significant severe weather conditions; state and federal legislation and 
regulations; rate competition; changes in interest rates and the performance 
of financial markets; the adequacy of loss and settlement expense reserves, 
including asbestos and environmental claims; rating agency actions and other 
risks and uncertainties inherent to the Company's business. When we use the 
words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate" or similar expressions, 
we intend to identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue 
reliance on these forward-looking statements.




     The information contained in this Current Report shall not be deemed to
be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that 
section, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into a filing under the
Securities Act of 1933, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly
set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                    EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC.
                                    Registrant


                                    /s/ Bruce G. Kelley
                                    -------------------------
                                    Bruce G. Kelley
                                    President & Chief Executive Officer


                                    /s/ Mark E. Reese
                                    -------------------------
                                    Mark E. Reese, 
                                    Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
October 8, 2004