Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Massachusetts Tornado Claims Surpass $140 Million
Jul 4 2011 // The financial toll from tornadoes that ravaged several Massachusetts communities has risen dramatically. The state’s Division of Insurance estimated that residents have filed 8,200 insurance claims totaling $140...
Report: SoCal Quake Would Rattle Economy
Jul 4 2011 // A new study says a big Southern California earthquake would rattle the region’s economy and its buildings. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said a magnitude-7.8 quake in the southern segment of the San Andreas...
Totals: U.S. Spring Tornado Losses for P/C Carriers
Jul 1 2011 // Record-breaking tornadoes devastated parts of the United States in April and May, generating substantial losses for insurance companies. Following is a list of maximum losses reported by some insurers and reinsurers for...
Analysis: Reinsurers at Risk If Hurricane Season Is Big
Jul 1 2011 // A major hurricane landfall in Florida could strain leading global reinsurers that have already been buffeted by brutal tornadoes in the United States and earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand. The biggest reinsurers,...
Many South Texas Windstorm Inspections Turn Out to Be Bogus
Jun 30 2011 // Owners of more than 400 homes and businesses in South Texas will be notified that their windstorm insurance reviews were done by a bogus inspector. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association says coverage for the Corpus...
TS Arlene Lashes Central Mexico with Heavy Rains
Jun 30 2011 // Large swathes of central Mexico were hit by torrential rains as Arlene, the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, touched down near coastal sand barrier Cabo Rojo Thursday. Mexican officials advised...
Willis Re Sees Reinsurers Reacting as $48 Billion Losses Take Their Toll
Jun 30 2011 // The Willis Re’s 1st View Renewals Report for June/July 2011, entitled – “Mixed Messages“- estimates that “a string of natural catastrophes in the first quarter of 2011 has cost reinsurers in...
Wildfire Still Threatens Los Alamos Nuclear Facility
Jun 30 2011 // Wildfire is threatening Los Alamos National Laboratory in northern New Mexico, and has burned more than 10,000 acres, local officials report. Although an increase in humidity early Tuesday was a short-term benefit, rounds...
$400M Impact Seen From East Texas Wildfires
Jun 30 2011 // Wildfires that devastated East and Southeast Texas last week not only destroyed homes but also millions of cubic feet of forest timber, authorities said. According to the Texas Forest Service, a fire in Grimes County that...
North Carolina Wildfire Threatens Homes
Jun 30 2011 // North Carolina officials said a wildfire in Pender County has grown to nearly 30,000 acres and poses a danger to more than 2,000 homes. On Wednesday forecasters said they expected wind shifts to push smoke from the fire...
Mass. Now Estimates Tornado Claims at $175 Million
Jun 30 2011 // Massachusetts insurance officials have updated estimates on insurance claims resulting from this month’s Western and Central Massachusetts tornadoes, with 9,500 claims totaling an estimated $175 million having been...
Eqecat Set to Release 3 Revised Catastrophe Models
Jun 29 2011 // Catastrophe risk modeler Eqecat has scheduled July 15 as the date to release three significant revisions to its Worldcatenterprise 3.16 platform. The updates cover Eqecat’s North Atlantic hurricane model, its Canada...
Texas Windstorm Reform Bill Passes; Sent to Governor
Jun 29 2011 // The Texas Legislature finally worked out a compromise bill of reforms to the state’s insurance provider of last resort for wind and hail for properties along the Texas coast. The House and Senate reached agreement on...
Insurers’ Ratings Won’t Be Penalized for Catastrophe Losses: Demotech
Jun 28 2011 // The fact that U.S. property/casualty insurers’ earnings have taken a hit due to recent catastrophe losses should not by itself mean insurer ratings will change, according to one rating firm. As long as the insurers...
The Aftershocks of Vulnerable Supply Chains
Jun 27 2011 // The massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March has led to supply chain disruptions around the world, sending a wakeup call to companies that do not have viable business continuity plans in place for themselves...
Oklahoma Wildfire That Destroyed 13 Homes Under Control, Residents Return
Jun 27 2011 // A massive wildfire that destroyed 13 homes the Medicine Park, Okla., area was contained on June 25, allowing residents to return to their homes. Firefighters from a few local agencies remained on the scene to mop up hot...
Alabama Ranks First in Severe Tornadoes
Jun 27 2011 // The upgrade of one of the April 27 tornadoes to an EF5 ranking puts Alabama at No. 1 in the nation for the most severe tornadoes. The tornado that hit Fyffe, Rainsville and Sylvania in DeKalb County at about 6 p.m. that...
Alabama, FEMA Leaders Meet to Plan State’s Tornado Recovery
Jun 24 2011 // More than 60 representatives of private, public and nonprofit groups are discussing ways to help Alabama recover from an outbreak of deadly tornadoes that struck April 27. This week’s meeting was the first meeting of...
Kentucky’s Churchill Downs Assessing Tornado Damage
Jun 24 2011 // A possible tornado damaged several horse barns at Churchill Downs, prompting track officials to temporarily halt races Thursday at the famed Kentucky Derby horse track. Some horses have been moved to private farms,...
North Carolina Residents Near Wildfire Urged to Evacuate
Jun 24 2011 // Residents near the Onslow and Pender county line in North Carolina are being evacuated on a voluntary basis as a wildfire spreads. As of Thursday, the fire has burned 20,000 acres. Fire officials said the wildfire started...
