Latest Catastrophe Headlines

All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Chicago Exchange offering futures contracts on ’07 hurricanes

Feb 26 2007 // The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the largest derivatives exchange in the U.S., is launching contracts that will allow insurers and others to hedge risk against hurricane damage. The exchange, a unit of CME Holdings Inc.,...

A look behind the very good P/C results for 2006

Feb 26 2007 // The numbers, or estimates, for the property casualty insurance industry for 2006 are in. Dr Robert Hartwig, president and chief economist of the Insurance Information Institute, discussed them with Insurance...

Should windstorm be added to the NFIP?

Feb 26 2007 // U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., recently introduced the Multiple Peril Insurance Act, which would offer windstorm coverage as an option for consumers within the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The bill has sparked...

A look behind the very good P/C results for 2006

Feb 26 2007 // The numbers, or estimates, for the property casualty insurance industry for 2006 are in, and Dr. Robert Hartwig, president and chief economist of the Insurance Information Institute, discussed them with Insurance...

Katrina lawsuits: Are the winds of fortune changing for insurers?

Feb 26 2007 // In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when it became apparent that property losses would total billions of dollars, the insurance industry was understandably concerned that courts in Mississippi and Louisiana...

Reaping the wind will be the responsibility of insurers

Feb 26 2007 // There seem to be many questions on the minds of consumers, agents and public policy makers about coastal insurance issues presently and in the future. As an industry, we have been forthright about insurance issues facing...

La.’s Blanco: Insurance industry over-reacting to 2005 hurricanes

Feb 26 2007 // The insurance industry is over-reacting to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, threatening the region’s recovery by withdrawing coverage and charging exorbitant rates, Gov. Kathleen Blanco told a gathering of insurance...

Lessons learned from Katrina and beyond

Feb 26 2007 // The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season came and went with barely a blip — despite initial projections by some that there would be two to five major hurricanes that year. How could insurance industry predictions be so...

(Un)funny money

Feb 26 2007 // Hawaii may have its hurricanes, California has its earthquakes and floods, and Colorado (at least this year) has cumulative snowfalls nearly a mile high. Yet in 2006, the Midwest — not West — won in the...

A look behind the very good property/casualty results for 2006

Feb 26 2007 // The numbers, or estimates, for the property/ casualty insurance industry for 2006 are in. Dr. Robert Hartwig, president and chief economist of the Insurance Information Institute, sat down with Insurance Journal’s...

Agents welcome windstorm debate; insurers warn against subsidies

Feb 26 2007 // The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (the Big “I”) says the debate over windstorm coverage is crucial for consumers and independent agents and brokers in many regions around the...

News Currents

Feb 25 2007 // Chicago Exchange offering future contracts on ’07 hurricanes The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the largest derivatives exchange in the U.S., is launching contracts that will allow insurers and others to hedge risk...

Thomas Hampton, District of Columbia, Commissioner, Department of Securities, Insurance and Banking

Feb 25 2007 // Thomas Hampton, commissioner of the District of Columbia Department of Securities, Insurance and Banking. Hampton, who was reappointed to his post by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty in January, discusses the District’s...

A look behind the very good P/C results for 2006

Feb 25 2007 // News Currents The numbers, or es-timates, for the property casualty insurance industry for 2006 are in, and Dr. Robert Hartwig, president and chief economist of the Insurance Information Institute, discussed them with...

Lessons learned from Katrina and beyond

Feb 25 2007 // The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season came and went with barely a blip — despite initial projections by some that there would be two to five major hurricanes that year. How could insurance industry predictions be so...

8 La.’s Blanco: Industry over-reacting to hurricanes

Feb 25 2007 // Governor says state is making headway on storm protection 9 Ark. auto insurance fraud suspect turns self in Fraud ring allegedly scammed hundreds of thousands of dollars 10 New Orleans couple drops suit against Allstate No...

A look behind the very good P/C results for 2006

Feb 25 2007 // News Currents The numbers, or es-timates, for the property casualty insurance industry for 2006 are in, and Dr. Robert Hartwig, president and chief economist of the Insurance Information Institute, discussed them with...

Reaping the wind will be the responsibility of insurers

Feb 25 2007 // There seem to be many questions on the minds of consumers, agents and public policy makers about coastal insurance issues presently and in the future. As an industry, we have been forthright about insurance issues facing...

Katrina lawsuits: Are the winds of fortune changing for insurers?

Feb 25 2007 // In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when it became apparent that property losses would total billions of dollars, the insurance industry was understandably concerned that courts in Mississippi and Louisiana...

Editor’s Note: Should windstorm be added to the NFIP?

Feb 25 2007 // The agents’ association is concerned about lack of markets and affordable windstorm coverage for both homeowners and businesses, which it believes has reached crisis proportions in some states. U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor,...