Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Global Catastrophe Economic Losses Largely Unaddressed by Insurance
Feb 8 2021 // There were 416 natural catastrophe events globally in 2020 that resulted in economic losses of $268 billion – 8% more than the average annual losses for this century, according to insurance broker Aon’s latest...
Northern Oklahoma Rattled by Small Earthquakes
Feb 7 2021 // A series of small earthquakes believed by seismologists to be caused by the underground injection of wastewater from oil and gas production continued to rattle northern Oklahoma on Feb. 6. Four quakes occurred Saturday...
Australian Insurers Declare Catastrophe for Perth Hills Bushfires
Feb 5 2021 // The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has declared a catastrophe for the Perth Hills bushfires which continue to burn north-east of Perth. Insurers have received more than 270 claims and estimated loss value is over...
Property Catastrophe Bond Placement Reaches Record in 2020 and Q4: Aon
Feb 4 2021 // Approximately $11 billion of property catastrophe bond limit was placed in 2020, the highest on record, according to a new Aon report that projects the growth momentum will continue in 2021. While the year was a record for...
National Fire Protection Association, State Farm Funding Wildfire Preparedness
Feb 4 2021 // The National Fire Protection Association and State Farm have kicked off a funding awards application period for the eighth national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 1, which helps communities prepare...
Drought, Wildfire Threat Lead to Disaster Declaration in Texas
Feb 3 2021 // Saying exceptional drought conditions pose a wildfire threat in a large swath of West and Southwest Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for counties in those areas of the state. Abbott said drought...
Croatian Residents Rush to Buy Earthquake Cover After Destructive Quakes in 2020
Feb 3 2021 // Croatian insurers are reaping a windfall as residents rush to sign up for protection after two destructive earthquakes last year left them to rebuild without private coverage, the head of the country’s industry...
Colonial Claims Acquires Premier Adjusting and Catastrophe Services of Florida
Feb 3 2021 // Colonial Claims LLC, a nationwide independent insurance claims service companies, has acquired Tampa area business Premier Adjusting and Catastrophe Services, Inc., a first and third-party claims handler for residential...
Over $115M in Federal Flood Insurance Paid in Louisiana for 2020 Hurricanes
Feb 2 2021 // As of Feb. 1, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has paid out more than $115 million in flood claims in Louisiana in response to the 2020 hurricane season. That figure is up from the $110 million in NFIP payments...
Tornado Hits Florida’s Capital City; Damages, Closes Airport
Jan 29 2021 // A tornado touched down near the airport in Florida’s capital city Wednesday, flipping at least one small plane over and knocking out weather radar before moving east into residential neighborhoods, the National...
Governor Promises Help After Killer Tornado Devastates Alabama Town
Jan 28 2021 // James Scott has never lived anywhere other than a two-story house on hilly Darlene Drive north of Birmingham. Home will never be the same after a tornado smashed the structure into pieces, killed another teen and left the...
Louisiana Governor Seeking $3B in Hurricane Aid From White House
Jan 27 2021 // Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is asking President Joe Biden for $3 billion to help Louisiana with its ongoing recovery from the 2020 hurricanes, saying that he’s filed a request with the new White House similar to...
FEMA OKs More than $1B for Hurricanes Delta, Laura Recovery in Louisiana
Jan 26 2021 // FEMA has approved more than $1 billion in federal disaster assistance, long-term disaster loans and flood insurance claims since Hurricanes Laura and Delta hit the state in 2020. Laura made landfall in Louisiana in late...
Nearly Two-Thirds of Global Catastrophe Economic Losses Unaddressed by Insurance
Jan 25 2021 // There were 416 natural catastrophe events globally in 2020 that resulted in economic losses of $268 billion – 8% above the average annual losses for this century, according to insurance broker Aon’s latest...
Louisiana Citizens Opens Search for Catastrophe Service Vendors
Jan 25 2021 // Request for Proposals Announcement Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. (“LCPIC”), has released a new request for proposals for vendors to service insurance claims after a catastrophe, such as in...
Flood Lessons Learned from the 2020 Hurricane Season
Jan 25 2021 // The grim statistical tally of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season highlighted a dramatic year, one that saw the most active such season in recorded history. Last year, there were 30 named storms and 13 hurricanes, of which...
Texas Windstorm Insurer’s Rate Hike Request Denied
Jan 25 2021 // Texas regulators in early January rejected a request for a 5% rate increase by the state’s insurer of last resort for wind and hail for properties along the Texas coast. The Texas Department of Insurance denied the...
If the Nashville Bombing is Considered a “Terrorist” Act, Does that Trigger the Terrorism Exclusion?
Jan 22 2021 // A Christmas Day explosion rocked Nashville, Tennessee. Officials believe 63-year-old Anthony Q. Warner is responsible for the blast that damaged several buildings, injured three people and reportedly killed Warner. Various...
Jumpstart Parametric Earthquake Firm on Move in West
Jan 22 2021 // Jumpstart Insurance Solutions Inc. is on the move in the earthquake-prone West – and the company is now working with insurance agents. Jumpstart, a licensed surplus lines insurance broker using Lloyd’s capacity,...
Corps Could Pay $2.1B Louisiana for Hurricane Protection System
Jan 20 2021 // The Army Corps of Engineers is getting nearly $12.5 million to help build a Louisiana hurricane protection system and could pay $2.1 billion of the expected cost, officials said. Three Republicans in Louisiana’s...
