Latest Catastrophe Headlines

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

News Currents

Jul 24 2006 // Witt pointed out that as he looks across Florida, the Gulf coast states and America, he has recently seen more devastating events than have ever been witnessed in the history of the nation. He said that in today’s...

Former FEMA director promotes government-industry disaster mediation

Jul 24 2006 // News Currents Federal and state governments should work with private insurance companies to sponsor disaster mediation programs, according to a former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. James Lee Witt,...

STUDY QUESTIONS EFFECTIVENESS OF EFFORTS TO DETER TERRORISM

Jul 24 2006 // Government attempts to deter terrorism can backfire and promote invigorated reprisals and a cycle of violence, according to a new study by University of Maryland researchers. The study is based on a review of what the...

Donelon orders insurers to extend hurricane claims period in Louisiana

Jul 24 2006 // Just over a month after asking insurers in his state to voluntarily do so, Louisiana Commis-sioner of Insurance Jim Donleon issued Directive 199 mandating that all companies insuring property in Louisiana extend the period...

Excess flood market steps up when national flood program falls short

Jul 24 2006 // The historical lessons learned from Katrina and Rita, and looming predictions of a future with bigger and stronger storms, have made flood insurance popular these days — even in locations where it was previously...

Former FEMA director promotes state, federal disaster mediation

Jul 24 2006 // Federal and state governments need to work with insurance companies to sponsor disaster mediation programs before something happens — before people who have worked all their lives for everything they have, all of a...

U.S. property/casualty industry posts record 1Q profits

Jul 24 2006 // The U.S. property/casualty industry’s net gain on underwriting rose $1.4 billion, or 20.8 percent, to $8.4 billion in first-quarter 2006 from $6.9 billion in first-quarter 2005. The combined ratio–a key measure...

FAIA cat team volunteers honored for helping during Hurricane Katrina

Jul 24 2006 // Veronica Della Porta, chairman of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, recognized catastrophe team volunteers who traveled to hard-hit areas and assisted victims during 2005, when hurricanes hit the southeast...

Sen. Smith unveils ‘comprehensive plan’ to fix Florida’s insurance woes

Jul 24 2006 // Unless the state adopts a comprehensive and workable plan, accumulating financial stress could destroy the viability of the Florida insurance market and leave millions of Floridians without affordable and reliable...

Hurricane consultant outlines mitigation steps

Jul 24 2006 // According to a consultant for the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Florida’s building codes, which were approved in 2001, are working. He also says that Hurricane Charlie was a “model” hurricane in the...

FAIA cat team volunteers honored for helping during Hurricane Katrina

Jul 24 2006 // Veronica Della Porta, chairman of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, recognized catastrophe team volunteers who traveled to hard-hit areas and assisted victims during 2005, when hurricanes hit the southeast...

‘Adequate rate for the risk’ a big concern for industry executives

Jul 24 2006 // The question of how to structure property insurance rates adequately in coastal zones while still making it affordable for people to live and work there is becoming an increasingly important one to insurers and consumers...

News Currents

Jul 24 2006 // Former FEMA director promotes state, federal disaster mediation Federal and state governments need to work with insurance companies to sponsor disaster mediation programs before something happens, before people who have...

The excess flood market steps up when national flood program falls short

Jul 24 2006 // The historical lessons learned from Katrina and Rita, and looming predictions of a future with bigger and stronger storms have made flood insurance popular these days — even in locations where it was previously...

Former FEMA director promotes state, federal disaster mediation

Jul 24 2006 // Federal and state governments need to work with insurance companies to sponsor disaster mediation programs before something happens — before people who have worked all their lives for everything they have, all of a...

Quake Triggers Tsunami Fears in Indonesia

Jul 24 2006 // An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 struck off Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Sunday, causing residents to flee coastal areas in fear of a tsunami. Indonesian officials — who have been under fire for...

Ind. April Hailstorms Generate $560 Million in Claims

Jul 24 2006 // A wave of April thunderstorms that pummeled central Indiana with hail the size of golf balls, or bigger, has so far generated insurance claims totaling $560 million, making it one of the state’s costliest weather...

One Home Lost to Wildfire in Western Montana

Jul 24 2006 // A wildfire in western Montana destroyed a house and two outbuildings, a U.S. Forest Service official said Saturday. The fire, which has scorched about 4 square miles, is one of five large blazes in Montana, according to...

INTRODUCING H.E.A.T. – A Timely Security Solution for the Upcoming Hurricane Season

Jul 24 2006 // GRAND ISS has organized Special Security Teams solely focused on responding to devastating storm-related risks St. Petersburg, FL – GRAND ISS, a global provider of security, risk mitigation, and investigative...

The excess flood market steps up where NFIP drops off

Jul 24 2006 // The historical lessons learned from Katrina and Rita and looming predictions of a future with bigger and stronger storms highlight more than ever before the importance of flood insurance, even in locations where it was...