Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Oregon Wildfire in Mop-up Phase, 36 Structures Destroyed and 660 Threatened
Aug 18 2020 // A wildfire burning in the scenic Columbia River Gorge that has destroyed dozens of structures is 65% contained, according to authorities. Some evacuation orders were downgraded as of Monday because of the containment...
Texas Forest Service Warns of Increased Wildfire Activity, Fuel Dryness
Aug 17 2020 // Continued hot and dry conditions across much of the state have resulted in increased wildfire activity, particularly in north central Texas and in areas along the Interstate-35 corridor, the Texas A&M Forest Service...
Weather Service: Storms Spawn at Least 6 Tornadoes in Minnesota
Aug 17 2020 // The National Weather Service has confirmed that storms on Aug. 14 spawned at least six tornadoes in Minnesota. Survey crews determined the strongest tornado was an EF1 in McLeod County packing winds estimated at up to 95...
Heatwaves Raising California’s Wildfire Risk
Aug 17 2020 // The current heatwave broiling Californians like no event in decades is also elevating the risk for another potential disaster in the weeks ahead: wildfires. While heat and dry conditions have contributed to the Lake and...
RMS Estimates Insured Losses from Hurricane Isaias at $3-$5 Billion
Aug 17 2020 // Estimated total insured losses from Hurricane Isaias will be between $3.0 and $4.5 billion in the U.S. This includes estimated losses to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) of between $400 and $700 million,...
California Wildfires Burning Amid High Risk of Large Blazes
Aug 14 2020 // Dry vegetation fueled three wildfires near Los Angeles amid warnings Friday that the risk of new blazes erupting was high as temperatures spike and humidity levels drop during a statewide heat wave. A huge forest fire that...
Last Year Was Among Earth’s 3 Hottest Years on Record, Climate Report Shows
Aug 13 2020 // Last year will be remembered as among the world’s hottest, while greenhouse gases reached their highest levels on record, according to the 30th annual State of the Climate report. The international annual review of...
New Jersey Provides Guidance for Homeowners After Tropical Storm Isaias
Aug 13 2020 // The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) has provided guidance for homeowners suffering property damage caused by the recent tropical storm that rattled the state. DOBI has issued guidance for New Jersey...
Google Turns Android Phones Into Earthquake Sensors
Aug 12 2020 // Alphabet Inc’s Google’s Android phones on Tuesday started detecting earthquakes around the world to provide data that could eventually give billions of users precious seconds of warning of a tremor nearby, with...
Secondary Perils Drive Global Insured Catastrophe Losses of $31B During H1: Swiss Re
Aug 12 2020 // Global insured property losses from disasters were US$31 billion in the first half of 2020, up from US$23 billion during the same period last year, according to Swiss Re Institute’s sigma estimates. Natural...
California Bill Addressing Property Rates in Wildfire-Prone Areas Awaits Hearing
Aug 11 2020 // The stage has been set for a major battle over a California bill due to be heard in the next few weeks in a key committee that opponents say is a direct attack on insurance consumer protections and proponents say is the...
Texas Windstorm Insurance Company: No Rate Change for Now
Aug 11 2020 // The board of directors of Texas’ property insurer last resort for wind and hail in the state’s coastal counties has voted to file a 0% rate change with the Texas Department of Insurance. The Texas Windstorm...
Tropical Storms Could Set a Record at 25 This Season
Aug 11 2020 // The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last Thursday predicted up to 16 more named tropical storms this year, to as many as 25, the highest in the agency’s history. The 2020 Atlantic...
Connecticut Residents Warned About Repair Scams After Tropical Storm Isaias
Aug 11 2020 // Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has warned Connecticut residents to be on alert for tree removal, power restoration or other repair scams in areas still without power or where heavy damage resulted from Tropical...
Weather Service Says Delaware Tornado Set Distance Record
Aug 11 2020 // A single tornado cut a record 29-mile swath of damage through Delaware as Tropical Storm Isaias pelted the mid-Atlantic region with high winds and heavy rains earlier this week, according to the National Weather...
Insured Losses From Hurricane Isaias Could Reach $4 Billion in U.S.
Aug 10 2020 // Hurricane Isaias likely caused $4 billion of insured losses in the U.S. and $200 million in the Caribbean, according to risk modelers at Karen Clark & Co. The estimates cover privately insured wind and storm surge...
Homes Evacuated by Growing Wildfire in Western Colorado
Aug 10 2020 // Several residents near a western Colorado wildfire were ordered to evacuate as the blaze continues to expand. The fire about 18 miles north of Grand Junction was started more than a week ago by lightning in remote and...
Update: North Carolina Reports Minor Damage After Strongest Earthquake Since 1916
Aug 10 2020 // The most powerful earthquake to hit North Carolina in more than 100 years shook much of the state early Sunday, rattling homes, businesses and residents. The National Weather Service in Greenville said the 5.1-magnitude...
Tornadoes Confirmed in Pennsylvania During Storm
Aug 10 2020 // The National Weather Service has confirmed that tornadoes touched down in Bucks and Montgomery counties during Tuesday’s storm. The weather service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, said more details would be...
Hurricane Planning During COVID-19
Aug 10 2020 // COVID-19 has thrown the world into a tailspin over the past several months, and businesses everywhere have had to adjust their models to accommodate the new environment. With hurricane season now in full swing, planning...
