Latest Catastrophe Headlines

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

AIR Unveils Update of CATStation

Aug 17 2005 // AIR Worldwide Corporation (AIR) announced the latest release of CATStation, its web-based catastrophe risk management system. CATStation now reportedly provides insurers the ability to better manage accumulations of risk...

N.D. Officials Crack Down on Uninsured Contractors in Wake of July Hailstorm

Aug 16 2005 // In the aftermath of last month’s destructive hailstorms, North Dakota’s Construction Compliance Task Force has begun aggressively checking construction sites to ensure that contractors are insured and...

Tropical Storm Risk Reports More Hurricanes on the Way for U.S.

Aug 15 2005 // As the hurricane season recently entered its third month, a London-based storm forecaster reports that a higher-than-usual number of hurricanes are expected to hit the United States this year. Tropical Storm Risk increased...

Wash. State Battles Blaze as More than 100 Homes Destroyed; Other Western States Face Fires

Aug 13 2005 // While temperatures fell Friday and the humidity rose, that was about the only good news for folks and firefighters in southeastern Washington State, as a nearly 50,000-acre wildfire continued to blaze. More than 100 homes...

RMS to Open Bermuda Office

Aug 12 2005 // Calif.-based Risk Management Solutions will open an office in Hamilton, Bermuda. RMS made the announcement at a market seminar on the island that focused on recent technical developments in catastrophe modeling relevant to...

Earthquake Damage Can Be Avoided

Aug 10 2005 // Although earthquakes are among the least predictable natural hazards, losses to unprepared businesses can be substantial when they do occur. Affiliated FM, a commercial property insurer and loss prevention expert serving...

Fla. Medical Examiners to Discuss FEMA’s Non-Hurricane Funeral Payments

Aug 10 2005 // The Florida Medical Examiners Commission will meet Thursday on Key Biscayne, Fla. to discuss findings indicating that the Federal Emergency Management Agency paid hurricane funeral claims in Florida amounting to $1.3...

N.D. Hailstorm Damage Tops $100M Insured Damage

Aug 10 2005 // A severe hailstorm that ripped through Bismarck and Hettinger, North Dakota late last month caused more than $100 million in damage to insured property. According to North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman, several...

Wharton Study Recommends Short-Term TRIA Renewal, Study of Long-Term Solution

Aug 10 2005 // A 224-page report from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania recommends that Congress renew the current federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Act backstop but “only for a relatively short period of...

Society of Insurance Research Agenda: Natural Catastrophes, Legislative, Political Issues

Aug 9 2005 // Insurance implications of natural catastrophes, key legislative and political issues confronting insurers and how emerging technologies will affect the insurance business, will be discussed during Oct. 16 to 19 Society of...

Safety Group Requests Federal Aid to Protect Communities from Windstorms

Aug 8 2005 // There are clear opportunities for the federal government to support research into making homes and businesses safer from violent windstorms and to remove barriers to developing hazard resistant construction. That was the...

Insurers Unveil ‘Market-Based’ Proposals to Boost Terrorism Coverage

Aug 8 2005 // Property casualty insurers have outlined what they term a “market-based” approach to providing terrorism risk insurance. The proposals include repeal of some state laws on fire policies and creation of a...

HURRICANE DENNIS LOSSES TOP $10 MILLION

Aug 8 2005 // As claims reportedly continue to pour in, Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine said insured losses in Georgia from Hurricane Dennis now exceed $10 million. “Damage to insured homes, vehicles and businesses is...

Insurers Unveil ‘Market-Based’ Proposals to Boost Terrorism Coverage

Aug 8 2005 // Property casualty insurers have outlined what they term a “market-based” approach to providing terrorism risk insurance. The proposals include repeal of some state laws on fire policies and creation of a...

Safety Group Requests Federal Aid to Protect Communities from Windstorms

Aug 8 2005 // There are clear opportunities for the federal government to support research into making homes and businesses safer from violent windstorms and to remove barriers to developing hazard resistant construction. That was the...

RMS’ Terrorism Risk Analysis Tools

Aug 8 2005 // Risk Management Solutions released its Global Geocoding Platform and upgraded Global Terrorism Risk and Terrorism Scenario models, which provide insurers and reinsurers with the first worldwide view of their catastrophe...

Insurance Company of the West Unveils Stand-Alone Terrorism Coverage

Aug 5 2005 // Insurance Company of the West has announced it will offer admitted stand-alone property terrorism coverage for most states around the country. Additional states, including New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut,...

Warning: Bulk of Season’s Atlantic Hurricanes Still to Come

Aug 2 2005 // With a very active Atlantic hurricane season underway, the government’s hurricane experts are warning that the bulk of this season’s storms are still to come. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric...

PIA of Fla. Plans September ‘Hurricane Lessons,’ Legislative Summary

Aug 1 2005 // The Professional Insurance Agents of Florida have scheduled four meetings in September during which it will presented morning “Hurricane Lessons” and an afternoon summary of Florida insurance regulations and...

MIT Hurricane Study: Global Warming ‘Pumping Up’ Destructive Power

Aug 1 2005 // Global warming is pumping up the destructive power of hurricanes and typhoons, a new study published by Kerry Emanuel, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology hurricane specialist suggests. Emanuel’s analysis of data...