Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
FBI Data Mining Targets Include Insurance Fraud Suspects
Jul 12 2007 // The FBI is gathering and sorting information about Americans to help search for potential terrorists, insurance cheats and crooked pharmacists, according to a government report. Records about identity thefts, real estate...
Former National Hurricane Center Directors Discuss Tough Position
Jul 12 2007 // A day after the director of the National Hurricane Center went on leave following questions about his leadership, former directors said Tuesday he should have listened more carefully to his staff and been slower to make...
Report Shows Mix of Decisions Resulted in Failed New Orleans Levees
Jul 12 2007 // There was no single decision made involving the New Orleans hurricane-protection levee system that shaped its failure to defend the area from flooding resulting from Hurricane Katrina, according to a comprehensive study of...
Firefighters Hope to Continue Progress on Record-Setting Utah Wildfire
Jul 11 2007 // Progress was being made as crews headed out Tuesday to fight a record-breaking wildfire burning in central Utah. The size of the fire increased to 469 square miles gaining only about 11,000 acres from Monday to Tuesday...
Calif. Earthquake Authority Pushes for Industry Assessments
Jul 11 2007 // Negotiations are continuing in the California insurance industry, as the state’s Earthquake Authority (CEA) continues to seek a way to make up $2.183 billion first industry assessment layer. At its recent governing...
Promise for Backup Generators in Fla. Hurricane Shelters Unkept
Jul 10 2007 // Most of the backup generators that Florida lawmakers promised would be installed in hurricane shelters for the state’s most fragile residents by the start of hurricane season have not been installed and won’t...
U.S. P/C Insurers’ Paid $2.1 Billion for 2d Quarter Catastrophes
Jul 10 2007 // U.S. property/casualty insurers are expected to pay homeowners and businesses an estimated $2.175 billion for second-quarter property losses resulting from a total of six catastrophes in 25 states — tying the record for...
Kan: Flooding, Blizzards, Tornadoes Cause Millions of Dollars in Damage
Jul 10 2007 // The first half of 2007 has been one to forget for many Kansans as blizzards, deadly tornadoes and now flooding have caused millions of dollars in damage, disrupted lives and put a dent in the state’s economy. Of the...
Rain Douses S.D. Wildfire that Killed One, Injured Two
Jul 10 2007 // Overnight rain and cooler temperatures dealt a “priceless” blow to a wildfire that has killed a homeowner, injured two firefighters and destroyed 27 houses, a top fire official said early Monday. Joe Lowe,...
Hurricane Center Chief Reassigned After Staff Called for His Removal
Jul 10 2007 // The director of the National Hurricane Center was temporarily reassigned Monday, four days after many of the center’s employees called for his removal because of his comments about an aging weather satellite. More...
Staff Revolt Shakes U.S. National Hurricane Center
Jul 9 2007 // The new director of the National Hurricane Center, under fire from staff members who want him ousted, said that he does not plan to resign but will if that would benefit the public. About half the center’s employees...
Massive Central Utah Wildfire Continues to Grow
Jul 9 2007 // A massive wildfire that has swept across two central Utah counties and closed two highways continued to grow over the weekend, officials said. So far, the Milford Flat Fire has burned an estimated 160,000 acres, or 250...
RMS Releases Report on Recent Pu’er, China Earthquake
Jul 5 2007 // A preliminary loss estimate report from Risk Management Solutions indicates that the recent earthquake that struck the Chinese province of Yunnan will cost some 1.91RMB ($250 million) in economic losses. “The...
Commerce Department to Probe Readiness of National Hurricane Center
Jul 5 2007 // The Commerce Department ordered an unscheduled review of the National Hurricane Center, whose director has publicly complained about insufficient funding but said he and his staff are well prepared to forecast...
Chertoff, Governors Appeal for Coast Residents to get Storm Ready
Jul 2 2007 // Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff joined governors from Mississippi and Alabama in appealing for Gulf Coast residents to get prepared for the height of hurricane season. Some 400 delegates to the three-day...
House bill renews federal terrorism reinsurance for 10 years
Jul 2 2007 // Congress officially has a new bill to reauthorize the federal terrorism reinsurance program. Two Democrats from Massachusetts — U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano and the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Barney...
Builder’s risk: difficult but manageable
Jul 2 2007 // New capacity enters the market, but terms and conditions not easy for many The rest of 2007 will continue to be a difficult time for developers and builders to secure builder’s risk insurance for their projects, at...
House bill renews federal terrorism reinsurance for 10 years
Jul 2 2007 // Congress officially has a new bill to reauthorize the federal terrorism reinsurance program. Two Democrats from Massachusetts — U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano and the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Barney...
Builder’s risk: difficult but manageable
Jul 2 2007 // The rest of 2007 will continue to be a difficult time for developers and builders to secure builder’s risk insurance for their projects, at least in catastrophe prone regions. But outside of coastal areas and...
RMS Releases New European Earthquake Model
Jun 28 2007 // Risk Management Solutions has launched an extensive new model for earthquake risk in Europe, which it believes is the “most comprehensive model of its type.” It covers Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and...
