Latest Catastrophe Headlines

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

LOSSES FROM 4 FLA. HURRICANES WILL EXCEED ANDREW’S RECORD:

Oct 25 2004 // Insurance claim payments to victims of the four Florida hurricanes to date will exceed $22 billion, surpassing the insurance payout from Hurricane Andrew, the costliest natural disaster in history, according to the...

Uncertainties Worry Conventioneers

Oct 25 2004 // Clear skies prevailed over Florida during October’s ASCnet and Big “I” conferences in Orlando, but an underlying feeling of anticipation prevailed because the hurricane season lasts until the end of...

Dispute Mediation Program Begun for Hurricane Victims

Oct 25 2004 // Disgruntled Florida storm victims dissatisfied with their insurers can expedite settlements and keep the disputes out of court with mediation—at the insurance company’s expense. About two million Floridians are...

HURRICANE IVAN LOSSES IN ALABAMA $279M TO $325M:

Oct 25 2004 // Alabama-based The Alfa Insurance Group and Alfa Corporation have commented on the effects of Hurricane Ivan. “Hurricane Ivan had a significant impact on certain counties in Alabama and created a large number of...

GOV. WANTS HURRICANE REPORT:

Oct 25 2004 // Texas Gov. Rick Perry has directed state Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw to assess Texas’ ability to handle large-scale evacuations in the event of a catastrophic hurricane, the governor’s office...

BEST AFFIRMS RATING OF CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE AUTHORITY:

Oct 25 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) of California Earthquake Authority (CEA). The rating outlook is stable. The rating of CEA reflects its distinctive structure, which has been...

SAFECO ESTIMATES 3Q CATASTROPHE LOSSES:

Oct 25 2004 // Seattle-based Safeco announced that its aggregate pretax catastrophe losses for the third quarter are estimated at $195 million. The estimated effect on third-quarter net income is $127 million after tax, or $0.96 per...

TDI Schedules Texas Windstorm/Hail Conference

Oct 22 2004 // The recent experience of Florida, which is recovering from not one or two but four serious storms in a single hurricane season, has underscored the need for Texas officials to reevaluate the state´s potential risks due to...

Deadly Typhoon Tokage Hits Japan

Oct 21 2004 // Typhoon Tokage roared through Southwestern Japan on Wednesday, killing at least 48 persons, injuring more than 200, and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The NHK, Japan’s public broadcasting service,...

The Midland Co. Reports Q3 Profit

Oct 21 2004 // Cincinnati-based The Midland Company, a provider of specialty insurance products and services, reported results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2004. Net income per share was 12 cents, which included 1 cent in...

AIG Unveils Q3 Numbers, Notes Storm Impact

Oct 21 2004 // American International Group Inc. (AIG) on Thursday reported third quarter 2004 net income of $2.51 billion or $0.95 per share, compared to $2.34 billion or $0.89 per share in the third quarter of 2003. Third quarter 2004...

Ascot Underwriting Chooses AIR’s Risk Model Software to Aid Global Catastrophe Risk

Oct 20 2004 // Ascot Underwriting Ltd (Ascot), a managing agent at Lloyd’s of London has selected AIR Worldwide to provide risk modelling software to manage its catastrophe risk. Ascot has licensed AIR’s CATRADER and CLASIC/2...

Argonaut Unveils Hurricane Claims Exposure

Oct 20 2004 // San Antonio-based Argonaut Group Inc. has reported that, based on claims information currently available, the combined effect of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne is estimated to result in pre-tax losses, net of...

ZFS Says Net Hurricane Claims Around $400 Million

Oct 19 2004 // Zurich Financial Services Group announced that it expects aggregate claims payments related to the four recent Atlantic hurricanes to be approximately $525 million before tax and net of reinsurance. “This corresponds...

Safeco Unveils Q3 Numbers, Notes Hurricane Impact

Oct 19 2004 // Seattle-based Safeco on Tuesday reported third-quarter results, reflecting strong fundamentals in a period with substantial hurricane losses and the loss on the sale of Life & Investments. The company posted a net...

Fla. CFO Reports 5th Arrest of Unlicensed Public Adjuster Working in Hurricane-Damage Area

Oct 18 2004 // A Pennsylvania man working in the Fort Myers, Florida area was arrested by investigators with the Department of Financial Services on a charge of operating as a public adjuster without a license. Albert E. McBride III, 36,...

Allmerica Notes Impact from Hurricane Jeanne

Oct 18 2004 // Massachusetts-based Allmerica Financial Corp. announced estimated pre-tax catastrophe losses of approximately $30 million related to Hurricane Jeanne. The company expects to cede all Hurricane Jeanne losses to reinsurers,...

Best Reacts to Allstate Floridian’s Capital Management Efforts Following Hurricanes

Oct 18 2004 // A.M. Best Co. reported this week that it acknowledges Allstate Floridian Insurance Group’s (Allstate Floridian) (Northbrook, Ill.) capital management efforts following Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and...

A.M. Best Affirms FSR for Florida Farm Bureau Group

Oct 18 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) of the Florida Farm Bureau Group. The rating applies to Florida Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company and its fully reinsured subsidiary, Florida...

Unitrin Tabs Full Hurricane Losses at Less Than $15M

Oct 17 2004 // Chicago-based Unitrin, Inc. announced that it expects its net losses resulting from Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne combined will be less than $15 million after-tax. Unitrin had previously disclosed that its...