Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
IIABNY Issues Timely Warning on Earthquake Insurance Coverage
Aug 24 2011 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York has issued a timely warning in the wake of the earthquake that struck the east coast yesterday afternoon, which affected many New York residents. The IIABNY...
Recap of Forecasts for 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Aug 24 2011 // Private forecaster Weather Services International (WSI) Tuesday increased to 18 from 15 the number of named storms it predicted for the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. WSI said it still predicted 8 hurricanes, four of...
East Coast Earthquake Losses Less Than $100 Million: Eqecat
Aug 23 2011 // The earthquake that struck Virginia and rattled the Eastern United States Tuesday caused less than $100 million in insured losses, catastrophe modeling company Eqecat said. Eqecat said the relatively weak nature of the...
Entire East Coast Placed on Hurricane Alert
Aug 23 2011 // The United States put its eastern seaboard on alert for Hurricane Irene Tuesday, as the powerful storm barreled up from the Caribbean on a path that could hit the U.S. coast on the weekend. Even as the first hurricane of...
Earthquake Rattles East Coast; No Deaths or Major Damage Reported
Aug 23 2011 // A strong earthquake struck the U.S. East Coast and was felt as far away as Canada on Tuesday, shaking buildings in many cities, delaying flights and trains and sending thousands of frightened workers into the...
Hurricane Irene Seen Skirting Florida, Possibly Landing in Carolinas
Aug 23 2011 // Hurricane Irene was expected to strengthen over the next few days and could hit the southeastern United States as a large and powerful storm late in the week, forecasters said Tuesday. The U.S. National Hurricane...
Hurricanes May Be Catalyst for Insurance Rate Increases
Aug 23 2011 // Hurricane Irene, threatening to become the first hurricane to hit the United States in three years, could be the catalyst the insurance industry has been seeking in its quest for across-the-board premium increases after...
ACE Expands Terrorism, Political Violence Team; Biggas is New Underwriter
Aug 23 2011 // ACE announced from its London office that it has appointed Marie Biggas to the position of underwriter for terrorism and political risks for ACE Overseas General (AOG). She joins ACE from the Chaucer Syndicate, and will...
Hurricane Irene Soaks Puerto Rico, Could Hit Florida By Week’s End
Aug 22 2011 // Hurricane Irene buffeted Puerto Rico with winds and torrential rain Monday, knocking out power and downing trees as it churned westward on a track that will threaten Florida by the end of the week. Local media in the U.S....
Tornado Causes Some Damage in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Aug 22 2011 // The first tornado to touch down on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this year caused some property damage in Ontonagon, but no reported injuries. The twister touched down Friday at a recreational vehicle park and...
Hurricane Irene – 1st of the Season – Could Hit Miami
Aug 22 2011 // Tropical Storm Irene strengthened into a hurricane as it came ashore over Puerto Rico, reaching category 1, according to the most recent bulletin, released at 5:00 AM AST, from the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The...
AIR Chief on Cat Models: ‘What’s All The Fuss About?’
Aug 19 2011 // When it comes to revised hurricane models, AIR Worldwide CEO Ming Lee has one basic question, “What really is all this big fuss about?” Lee, whose Boston company launched the catastrophe modeling industry in...
QBE 1st Half Net Profits up 53% to US$673 Million
Aug 19 2011 // QBE, Australia’s global insurance group, announced a 53 percent increase in the half year net profit after tax of US$673 million. The group noted that this figure was “within the range provided to the market on...
EQECAT Models $260 Mn Windstorm Risk Cat Bond for French Nat’l Power Co.
Aug 15 2011 // Oakland-based catastrophe modeling firm EQECAT has provided risk modeling services to Electricité Réseau Distribution France S.A. (ERDF) for the issuance of a €150 million [$216 million] catastrophe bond transferring...
Tropical Storm Gert Strengthens, Will Brush Bermuda
Aug 15 2011 // Tropical Storm Gert strengthened slowly Sunday on a track toward Bermuda and forecasters said the global reinsurance hub could expect increased winds, rain and surf when the storm passed on its eastern side. Gert, the...
Florida’s Citizens Has Sweet Plan to Cover Hurricane Losses
Aug 15 2011 // Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Insurance Journal’s Satire Issue, August 15, 2011. The content in this issue is not real and is not to be taken seriously. It’s supposed to be humorous....
Florida Windfields to Steer Hurricanes
Aug 15 2011 // Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Insurance Journal’s Satire Issue, August 15, 2011. The content in this issue is not real and is not to be taken seriously. It’s supposed to be humorous....
PR Catastrophe
Aug 15 2011 // Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Insurance Journal’s Satire Issue, August 15, 2011. The content in this issue is not real and is not to be taken seriously. It’s supposed to be humorous....
40 Homes Destroyed in Deadly Okla. Wildfire
Aug 14 2011 // Residents in Pawnee County, Okla. have started to sift through the ashes following a wildfire that destroyed nearly 40 homes and may have done up to $20 million worth of damage, according to official estimates. Dozens of...
Ark. Tornado Survivors Can Appeal Aid Decisions
Aug 12 2011 // People in western Arkansas who were hit by tornadoes and storms might have been turned down for disaster aid on their first try. But officials said that isn’t always the final answer. “A letter that says you...
