Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
NHC Issues Hurricane Watch as Frances’ Threat to Florida Grows
Sep 2 2004 // The latest bulletin from the National Hurricane Center in Miami confirms that a “Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the Florida East Coast from Florida City Northward to Flagler Beach, including Lake...
Progressive Offers Tips to Keep Drivers and Vehicles Safe as Hurricane Frances Approaches
Sep 2 2004 // After Charley’s passage the Progressive Group of insurance companies, the third largest auto insurer in the U.S. and insurer of about one in 10 Florida drivers, has had a lot of experience with storm related...
Floridians: Prepare for Different Scenarios from Hurricane Frances
Sep 2 2004 // Hurricane Frances will likely affect the state of Florida in a variety of ways. While some areas will see high wind, others might be deluged with rain, while still more could have a mix of both. The Institute for Business...
A.M. Best Places Allstate Floridian Under Review
Sep 2 2004 // A.M. Best Co. placed the financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) of Allstate Floridian Group under review with negative implications. All companies listed are affiliates of The Allstate Corporation and...
St. Paul Travelers Mobilizes Catastrophe Team in Florida
Sep 2 2004 // St. Paul Travelers and its subsidiary First Floridian have mobilized their Catastrophe Response Team to assist policyholders who may be affected by Hurricane Frances. Because of the company’s response to Hurricane...
Allstate Estimates Charley Losses at $425 Million
Sep 1 2004 // The Allstate Corporation, the second largest U.S. writer of homeowners’ policies, announced that its pre-tax catastrophe losses related to Hurricane Charley are preliminarily estimated to be approximately $425...
Frances Now a Category 4 Hurricane; Aims Directly at East Coast of Florida
Sep 1 2004 // Hurricane Frances has strengthened substantially as it continues on a northwestern path over the open waters of the Northern Caribbean. Maximum sustained winds remain near 140 mph (220 km/hr) with higher gusts, making the...
Protecting People First Foundation to Study Impact Resistant Glass in Florida
Sep 1 2004 // The Protecting People First Foundation announced it is returning to Southwest Florida to continue an on-site study to document the contribution of impact resistant glass, safety film, hurricane shutters and other...
Texas Insurance Industry Could Face Cash Crunch if Major Hurricane Hit
Sep 1 2004 // The Texas insurance industry could find itself in a cash crunch if a storm like Hurricane Charley hit the coast, and insurers could be forced to pass on the costs to homeowners across the state, industry officials...
UPDATE: Category 3 Hurricane Frances Still Heading towards U.S.
Aug 31 2004 // The National Hurricane Center’s latest bulletin on Hurricane Frances, issued this morning, confirmed that the storm is a category 3 hurricane, packing winds near 125 mph (205 km/hr.) with higher gusts. The NHC said...
3 More Midwest Insurers Issue Charley Loss Estimates
Aug 31 2004 // Three more insurers issued their loss estimates related to Hurricane Charley, which hit the Southeastern United States three weeks ago. Springfield, Ill.-based insurer Horace Mann Educators Corp. estimates its financial...
The Hartford Estimates $140M in Charley Losses
Aug 31 2004 // Connecticut-based The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. announced that its losses resulting from Hurricane Charley are estimated to be $140 million (before-tax). This amount is net of applicable reinsurance sources...
Tropical Storm Hermine Heads for Northeastern U.S.
Aug 30 2004 // Although Tropical Storm Hermine is currently around 450 miles (720 kms.) off the coast of North Carolina, its projected path puts it on a course for the Northeastern U.S. by later this week. Hermine isn’t a...
Hurricane Frances Heading towards U.S.
Aug 30 2004 // The National Hurricane Center in Miami is currently tracking Frances, another powerful storm, which could strike the U.S. mainland by the end of the week. Frances is packing sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) with...
Typhoon Chaba Hits Southern Japan
Aug 30 2004 // Typhoon Chaba, packing 130 mph (210 km/h) winds, struck the Southern Japanese Island of Kyushu earlier today, knocking out electrical power to some 300,000 homes, and causing 6000 people to be evacuated to higher ground,...
S.C Hit by Tropical Storm Gaston
Aug 30 2004 // South Carolina residents steeled themselves for a battering early Sunday as Tropical Storm Gaston, just under hurricane strength, picked up speed as it spun toward the South Carolina coast. Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., who...
Zenith Estimates Losses Related to Hurricane Charley
Aug 27 2004 // Zenith National Insurance Corp. reported its initial estimate of losses in its assumed reinsurance business attributable to Hurricane Charley. Zenith currently expects that its net after tax loss from Hurricane Charley...
European Insurers Consider Certain Terrorist Risk Exclusions for Airlines
Aug 26 2004 // Europe’s leading insurers are reportedly considering several clauses in airline insurance contracts that would exclude coverage for attacks involving chemical, biological and nuclear materials. The effort, headed by...
Shasta County Declared Disaster after Wildfires
Aug 26 2004 // Shasta County, California was named a state disaster area Aug. 25 after wildfires swept through several communities there earlier this month. The fires burned 23,000 acres, destroying 106 homes and several historic...
CNA Announces Preliminary Loss Exposure Estimate Related to Hurricane Charley
Aug 26 2004 // CNA Financial Corporation reported its preliminary estimate of net losses related to Hurricane Charley. While it is too early to estimate precisely the financial impact on CNA of this catastrophe, based upon information...
