Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
News Currents
Jul 23 2007 // Fireman’s Fund launches Bay Area wildfire readiness program To kick off Fireman’s Fund wildfire readiness program, firefighters from the Marin County, Calif., Fire Department ignited a controlled fire on the...
Industry supports terror bill but not all agree with NBCR mandate
Jul 23 2007 // At a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. last month, insurance industry group representatives generally spoke in favor of a bill that would extend the federal backstop for terrorism insurance coverage for another 10...
Allstate 2nd Quarter Earnings Rise 16 Percent, Fall Short of Estimates
Jul 20 2007 // Allstate Corp., the nation’s No. 2 property and casualty insurer, said Wednesday its second-quarter profits climbed 16 percent on strong auto insurance sales but operating income fell as the company paid...
Big California Wildfire Still a Potential Threat to Rural Homes
Jul 20 2007 // California firefighters have been working to stop a 28,346-acre wildfire from spreading in rugged Central Coast wilderness and posing a threat to rural homes, while rain aided the battle against an 8,250-acre forest fire...
Steam Explosion Causes Scare in NYC; Not Believed to Be Terrorism
Jul 20 2007 // New York City fire and emergency crews responded to the scene of a suspected steam explosion near Grand Central Station in Manhattan on Wednesday during the evening rush hour, officials said. The New York Police Department...
Borrowing Money Likely Option for Florida Catastrophe Fund
Jul 18 2007 // Florida officials said Monday they are considering borrowing as much as $5 billion to make sure the Hurricane Catastrophe Fund will have enough to pay claims in the event of a large hurricane. The state Board of...
Strong Earthquake in Japan Takes 7 Lives, Destroys Hundreds of Homes
Jul 17 2007 // A strong earthquake struck northwestern Japan on Monday, destroying hundreds of homes, buckling seaside bridges and causing a fire at one of the world’s most powerful nuclear power plants. At least seven people were...
Group Seeks Site for Hurricane Center in Southwest La.
Jul 13 2007 // Though unsure exactly where it would be built or when, backers of a proposed National Hurricane Museum and Science Center in southwest Louisiana say they’re confident the $100 million project will become reality. The...
Texas Approves $1 Billion in Reinsurance for Windstorm Pool
Jul 13 2007 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) in early June submitted a proposal to the Texas Department of Insurance for the purchase of $1.5 billion in reinsurance under a three-tiered program. On July 11, Texas...
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...
