Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
More Data Can Increase Hurricane Exposure Understanding: ImageCat
Jul 21 2014 // According to Gavin Lewis, commercial director of ImageCat, a US and London based risk management provider, “even in the middle of hurricane season, catastrophe risk managers can improve their understanding of their...
Typhoon Rammasun, Strongest Storm in Decades, Kills 18 in China
Jul 21 2014 // The strongest typhoon to hit southern China in four decades has killed 18 people, the government said Sunday, while in the Philippines the death toll from the storm’s earlier destruction rose to 94. Typhoon Rammasun...
Texas Hailstorm Damage Estimated at $400M
Jul 21 2014 // Insured losses to vehicles, homes and commercial property from the June 12 hailstorm in Abilene, Texas, are expected to hit $400 million, the Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) reported. Leroy Perkins of the Perkins...
Storm Season a Reminder of the Importance of Building Stronger
Jul 21 2014 // A home in Burnet County, Texas, that was picked up and carried 100 yards by a tornado in June, was reinforced according to its owner, Trenton Ashworth. When the twister hit, the family of four took cover in a bathroom. The...
State Farm Hurricane Deductibles in Louisiana Jump to 5%
Jul 21 2014 // State Farm’s 308,000 Louisiana homeowner’s customers are confronting an unpleasant change: their policies now include a mandatory 5 percent hurricane deductible. State Farm spokesman Gary Stephenson told The...
Peremption for Me, But Not for Thee
Jul 21 2014 // The Difference Between Insurance Agents and the Insurers They Represent Hurricane season 2014 had barely begun when Hurricane Arthur formed and wreaked havoc along the East Coast during the 4th of July weekend. Whether the...
Report: $100M in Losses from Southern California Quake
Jul 21 2014 // The moderate earthquake that struck Southern California in spring did more damage than people may think – and a bigger quake on that fault could be more devastating than a “big one” on the region’s...
16 States Face High Risk of Earthquakes
Jul 20 2014 // Sixteen states are at high risk of damaging earthquakes over the next 50 years and certain areas of the United States face a higher threat of temblors than previously thought, a federal geological survey agency said. The...
Hailstorm Damages Crops in Northeastern Wisconsin
Jul 18 2014 // A severe hailstorm caused significant damage to crops in northeastern Wisconsin, farmers and researchers said. Matt Stasiak, an agricultural researcher, tells the Door County Advocate the hail crushed cherry trees,...
Typhoon Rammasun Poised to Strike Hainan Province in China: AIR
Jul 18 2014 // According to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide, after striking the Philippines with high winds and floods, “a strengthening Typhoon Rammasun is set to make landfall in China between 6 and 12 UTC on July 18,...
Insured Losses From Hurricane Arthur Below $250 Million: RMS
Jul 18 2014 // Insured losses from Hurricane Arthur will not exceed $250 million from wind and coastal flooding, catastrophe risk modeling firm RMS said. According to RMS, the expected loss covers damages to Residential, commercial,...
Louisiana Commissioner Asks State Farm to Offer Lower Hurricane Deductible
Jul 17 2014 // Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has asked State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. (State Farm) to offer its Louisiana policyholders Louisiana the option of a 2 percent hurricane deductible on their homeowners’ insurance...
Senate Passes TRIA Renewal with Broker Licensing Provision
Jul 17 2014 // In a 93-4 vote, the Senate today passed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014 (S. 2244 ) that extends the federal reinsurance program for seven years. In addition to extending the Terrorism Risk...
Typhoon Rammasun Passes South of Manila, Strengthening Expected: AIR
Jul 17 2014 // According to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide, Typhoon Rammasun weakened as it crossed the Philippine island of Luzon and passed to the south of Manila, where wind speeds of 60-140 km/hr (37-87 mph) were observed,...
Minor Damage Reported after 2 Oklahoma Earthquakes
Jul 16 2014 // Minor damage has been reported after back-to-back earthquakes hit an Oklahoma City suburb early on July 15. The U.S. Geological Survey says a 3.8 magnitude earthquake hit 3 miles north-northeast of Harrah shortly after 2...
Typhoon Rammasun Makes Landfall in Philippines; AIR Analysis
Jul 16 2014 // Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide reported that Typhoon Rammasun made landfall in the Philippine province of Sorsogon with sustained winds of 157 km/h (98 mph) on Tuesday, July 15, in late afternoon local time. The...
Record Settlement Reached in Australia Wildfire Class Action Lawsuit
Jul 16 2014 // Survivors of one of Australia’s deadliest wildfires are to be awarded nearly A$500 million (US$467.5 million) in a class action settlement reached Tuesday, the largest such compensation in the nation’s...
7 More Small Earthquakes Shake Central Oklahoma
Jul 15 2014 // The U.S. Geological Survey on July 13 recorded seven small earthquakes shaking central Oklahoma in a span of about 14 hours. The temblors are part of an increase in earthquakes across Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas that some...
Lightning Strikes Spark Wildfires Across Oregon
Jul 15 2014 // A Southern Oregon wildfire destroyed six homes and 14 other buildings, and dozens of additional blazes ignited after thousands of lightning strikes lashed the state. The Moccasin Hill fire began Sunday near the ranching...
Typhoon Rammasun Targets the Philippines; AccuWeather Report
Jul 15 2014 // A bulletin from the AccuWeather Global Weather Center reports that “Typhoon Rammasun is on track to threaten the Philippines Tuesday and Wednesday. “Rammasun strengthened back to a tropical storm early Sunday...
