Latest Catastrophe Headlines

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

Climate Change: The potential insurance costs and what’s being done

May 7 2007 // Estimating the potential costs of future weather related events, linked to climate change, is, at best, an inexact science; there are just too many variables. Nonetheless, a picture is emerging that, whatever happens, the...

Key subcommittee chairman favors six to eight-year terrorism insurance extension

May 7 2007 // Insurance industry pushes for longer period with some in favor of 20 years or more In his opening statement as chair of a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee considering extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act...

Another report details property/casualty insurers’ 2006 profitability, escape from storms

May 7 2007 // Warns falling prices mean profits are at, or are steadily, approaching the cyclical peak Another report on the insurance industry confirms and details what has been widely acknowledged: a sharp decline in catastrophes in...

Congress should consider ‘guiding principles’ for TRIEA

May 7 2007 // The Coalition to Insure Against Terrorism (CIAT) and the American Insurance Association (AIA) jointly announced on April 24 that the two organizations have agreed on a set of common principles to be considered by Congress...

Fortified building standards: Gulf Coast market salvation?

May 7 2007 // Concrete houses sprouting up in southern Alabama, Mississippi and elsewhere in the Gulf Coast region are more than just fortified structures that will protect their owners from up to 250 mph winds and 36 foot storm surges...

Figures

May 7 2007 // $100 Million Insured losses from the storm that spawned tornadoes and large hail over portions of the Dallas – Fort Worth area on April 13, have been set at approximately $100 million, the Insurance Council of Texas...

Declarations

May 7 2007 // Sometimes a plaintiff “While the state is often a defendant in civil cases, and we welcome reform efforts in many regards, it is important to remember that the state is sometimes a plaintiff. … Our ability to...

Congress should consider ‘guiding principles’ for TRIEA

May 7 2007 // The Coalition to Insure Against Terrorism (CIAT) and the American Insurance Association (AIA) jointly announced on April 24 that the two organizations have agreed on a set of common principles to be considered by Congress...

Congress should consider “guiding principles” for TRIEA

May 7 2007 // The Coalition to Insure Against Terrorism and the American Insurance Association jointly announced on April 24 that the two organizations have agreed on a set of common principles to be considered by Congress as it...

Weather Report

May 7 2007 // Estimating the potential costs of future weather related events, linked to climate change, is, at best, an inexact science; there are just too many variables. Nonetheless, a picture is emerging that, whatever happens, the...

News Currents

May 7 2007 // Key subcommittee chairman favors six to eight-year terrorism insurance extension Insurance industry pushes for longer period with some in favor of 20 years or more In his opening statement as chair of a U.S. House of...

News Currents

May 7 2007 // Another report details property/casualty insurers’ 2006 profitability, escape from storms Warns falling prices mean profits are at, or are steadily, approaching the cyclical peak Another report on the insurance...

Tenn. Earthquake Commission to Begin Meeting Next Month

May 3 2007 // Tennessee’s first commission devoted to dealing with a major earthquake is scheduled to begin reviewing disaster preparations next month. The West Tennessee Seismic Safety Commission was established after concerns...

Total Cost of Risk Continues Downward Trend, RIMS Survey Finds

May 2 2007 // The commercial insurance industry continued to experience an overall decline in total cost of risk in 2006 despite coastal property premium hikes, according to the 2006 Annual Benchmark Survey book from the Risk and...

Fla. Renews Tax Break on Hurricane Prep Items

May 2 2007 // Flashlights, gasoline cans, weather radios and plastic tarps are among the storm preparedness items that will be available tax-free as hurricane season begins. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has signed a bill into law making...

Swiss Re Expands Nat Cat Global Asset Protection Services

May 1 2007 // Swiss Re announced from the RIMS Convention in New Orleans that its Global Asset Protection Services (GAPS) are offering new consulting capabilities to improve the management of risks that result from wind and earthquake...

R.I. Staging Massive Hurricane Response to Fake Hurricane Yvette

May 1 2007 // Rhode Island is prepping for the worst hurricane to ever crash into New England — on paper at least. About 250 federal emergency management officials plan to stage a response to the fictional “Hurricane...

Report: U.S. Turned Away Foreign Aid Offered After Hurricane Katrina

May 1 2007 // In the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, the U.S. government failed to take advantage of millions of dollars in foreign aid from its allies, The Washington Post reported. The U.S. has collected about $126...

Additional Federal Funds Approved For Southeast Georgia Wildfires

Apr 30 2007 // Gov. Sonny Perdue said additional federal funds were authorized to assist in fighting the “Kneeknocker Fire” that has flared up again in Georgia’s Brantley County, just outside the city limits of...

Earthquake Hits Southeast England

Apr 30 2007 // A moderate earthquake rattled parts of southeast England Saturday morning, toppling chimneys from houses and rousing residents from their beds. Several thousand people were left without power after the quake in the county...