Latest Catastrophe Headlines

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

Fla., Ga., Ala. Shaken But Not Damaged By Gulf of Mexico Earthquake

Sep 11 2006 // The United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center, reported that a strong earthquake occurred about 250 miles (405 km) south-southwest of Apalachicola, Florida at 10:56 am EDT, Sept. 10 2006. This...

120 Years Ago, Earthquake Shook S.C., Killing 100

Sep 10 2006 // It was the biggest natural disaster in South Carolina before Hurricane Hugo. On Sept. 8, the 120th anniversary of the Charleston earthquake passed quietly. The magnitude 7.3 earthquake on Aug. 31, 1886, killed more than...

Officials: Next Terrorist Attack on U.S Not Matter of If, But When

Sep 10 2006 // The threat of terrorism against the United States remains chillingly lethal five years after 9/11, and officials predict another massive attack is not a matter of if — but when. Despite a government overhaul and more...

Guy Carpenter Study Shows Big Rate Increases in U.S., Mexico

Sep 8 2006 // On the eve of the Reinsurance Rendezvous in Monte Carlo, Guy Carpenter & Company, the risk and reinsurance specialist of the Marsh & McLennan Companies has published its annual, comprehensive study of the global...

Domestic Terrorism Threat on the Rise, Says FBI Chief

Sep 8 2006 // FBI Director Robert Mueller sees a rising threat from homegrown terrorists, but he cautions that foreign groups are far from vanquished and still consume more bureau resources. “We have certainly hundreds” of...

Montana Firefighters Battle Bees as well as Wildfires

Sep 8 2006 // Montana firefighters battling a wildfire that has blackened nearly 290 square miles and burned 26 homes faced a new challenge, authorities said: bees. The blaze that started with lightning on Aug. 22 has forced hundreds to...

Colorado State Predicts Fewer Hurricanes

Sep 7 2006 // Forecasters at Colorado State University have lowered their hurricane predictions for the year, based on below-average activity in August, as well as the ocean-weather patterns they track. “We expect slightly...

Fitch: P/C Insurers’ Performance Exceeding Estimates for ’06

Sep 6 2006 // The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry showed continued favorable and improved operating performance in the first half of 2006 and, based on first-half results and barring any unusual events going forward, the...

What’s Next in Terrorism Insurance Market…and Politics?

Sep 5 2006 // Terrorism insurance has become increasingly common and affordable five years after Sept. 11. But that market has only emerged with the federal government’s pledge to serve as an insurer of last resort — assistance...

Texas A&M finds disaster preparedness lacking

Sep 4 2006 // Five years after 9/11 and one year after Hurricane Katrina, most companies have some form of disaster response plan in place; however, one out of four professionals responsible for corporate disaster preparedness efforts...

Allstate drops Alaska earthquake coverage

Sep 4 2006 // Nearly 7,000 Alaskans will lose their earthquake insurance as their policies come up for renewal. Allstate Insurance Co. is cutting its optional earthquake coverage nationwide, and will drop this plan as policies come up...

Washington governor declares wildfire emergency

Sep 4 2006 // Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire declared a wildfire emergency as several large fires burned in the state and forecasters predicted more thunderstorms and high winds. “Numerous wildfires across Washington pose a...

The Commissioners

Sep 4 2006 // Oregon’s Experience: Addressing credit scores, health care and disclosure Insurance Journal’s Andrew Simpson at a recent meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Here are additional...

Hurricane Katrina, a year later, another perspective

Sep 4 2006 // The Midwest is not affected by hurricanes or hurricane seasons because obviously our only coastal regions involve the Great Lakes, not oceans. The central region of this country does have its own natural disasters in the...

Texas A&M finds disaster preparedness lacking

Sep 4 2006 // Five years after 9/11 and one year after Hurricane Katrina, most companies have some form of disaster response plan in place; however, one out of four professionals responsible for corporate disaster preparedness efforts...

News Currents

Sep 4 2006 // Allstate drops Alaska earthquake coverage Nearly 7,000 Alaskans will lose their earthquake insurance as their policies come up for renewal. Allstate Insurance Co. is cutting its optional earthquake coverage nationwide, and...

News Currents

Sep 4 2006 // There are “35 million people living along the hurricane-prone coast that stretches from North Carolina to Texas. Half of these live in Florida, 10 million on the Atlantic coast and seven million on the Gulf coast....

Figures

Sep 4 2006 // 08/29/2006 The national day of remembrance for all the victims of Hurricane Katrina and those who gave of their time and energy to save lives and help rebuild. $57 billion The estimate of overall insured losses for damage...

James J. Donelon, Louisiana, Commissioner of Insurance

Sep 4 2006 // With his state still in recovery mode after last year’s Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon is arguably one of the busiest state insurance regulators in the U.S. While...

Texas A&M finds disaster preparedness lacking

Sep 4 2006 // Five years after 9/11 and one year after Hurricane Katrina, most companies have some form of disaster response plan in place; however, one out of four professionals responsible for corporate disaster preparedness efforts...