Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
10 Catastrophe Bonds Closed Before Hurricane Season Opening
Jun 1 2010 // Reinsurers transferred $2.35 billion in catastrophe risk to capital markets before the U.S. hurricane season that began Tuesday, higher than the $1.4 billion last year, as the catastrophe bond sector starts to resume...
Florida Officials Worry About Complacency Over Hurricanes
May 28 2010 // It’s been more than 1,600 days since Florida was hit by a hurricane, and that one — Wilma — walloped Natalie Premock’s home. But since then, nothing. And time has faded memories. The 31-year-old...
Hurricanes May Snap Gulf of Mexico Pipelines, Study Says
May 28 2010 // Hurricanes could rupture underwater oil and natural gas pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico, which is already struggling with the worst oil spill in U.S. history, according to a new study by researchers at the U.S. Naval...
Recent Patterns Heighten Threat of Active Atlantic Hurricane Season
May 27 2010 // The threat of an above-average 2010 Atlantic hurricane season has heightened over the past month and it now promises to be “a hell of a year,” a leading U.S. forecaster said Wednesday. William Gray, the...
NOAA Cites Factors Supporting Forecast of Busy Hurricane Season
May 27 2010 // An “active to extremely active” hurricane season is expected for the Atlantic Basin this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the...
U.S. Hurricane Center Director Says Haiti is ‘Biggest Concern’
May 26 2010 // U.S. National Hurricane Center director Bill Read said Tuesday that earthquake-ravaged Haiti was his biggest concern as another Atlantic hurricane season gets under way. He also acknowledged that a powerful storm could...
Insurers Paid $768 Million in Losses from 2009 Colorado Windstorm
May 25 2010 // An insurance organization says a windstorm that brought two weak tornadoes, rain and hail to the western Denver suburbs last July caused $768 million in insured losses to vehicles and homes. The Rocky Mountain Insurance...
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Urges Flood, Hurricane Preparedness
May 25 2010 // Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon kicked off his summer storm tour to raise awareness for hurricane and flood preparedness by urging consumers to protect themselves and their property against Louisiana’s...
Tropical Storm Risk Forecasts Active 2010 Hurricane Season
May 25 2010 // Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) provides “real-time mapping and prediction of tropical cyclone wind fields worldwide.” The firm is co-sponsored by Aon Benfield, with RSA and Crawford & Company. It has just...
First System Forms Before Atlantic Hurricane Season Officially Opens
May 25 2010 // The U.S. National Hurricane Center started tracking the first low pressure system of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season late Sunday, reminding energy and commodities traders of the coming storm season, which officially...
Munich Re Securitizes $80 Million for Europe Windstorm, U.S. Hurricanes
May 21 2010 // Munich Re has obtained cover for US hurricane and European windstorm risks amounting to US$ 80 million from special-purpose vehicle EOS Wind Ltd, which placed a catastrophe bond in the market. “MEAG, Munich...
Federal Aid for Mississippi Tornado Victims Tops $2.4 Million
May 21 2010 // Nearly one month after the April 23-24 tornadoes, federal disaster assistance provided to tornado survivors reached more than $2.4 million, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency...
Forecasters Expect Below Average Hurricane Season for Central Pacific
May 21 2010 // Weather forecasters said this week that a below-average total of two to three hurricanes are likely to pass through Central Pacific waters this year as ocean surface temperatures cool. But only one hurricane needs to hit...
Aon Benfield Broadens Academic, Industry Research Collaboration
May 20 2010 // Aon Benfield announced that it is “broadening its capabilities and bringing together its academic and industry research relationships under one banner – Aon Benfield Research.” Aon said the team will...
Florida Hurricane Fund Has $17 Billion in Cash for Claims
May 20 2010 // The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund is as healthy as ever heading into the 2010 storm season. An advisory council to the fund reported Tuesday that it has enough cash and bonding ability to pay off more than $25 billion...
RMS Announces New Parametric Loss Index for Japan Quake Risks
May 19 2010 // Risk Management Solutions announced the addition of Japan earthquake to its existing suite of parametric industry loss indices covering U.S. hurricane, U.S. earthquake, and Europe windstorm. RMS said: “Paradex Japan...
Lloyd’s CEO Calls for ‘Underwriting Discipline’ In Face of a ‘Tough Year’
May 19 2010 // Lloyd’s CEO Richard Ward issued a warning to insurance chiefs to prepare for a tough year ahead with the fall-out from large scale catastrophes, such as the Chilean earthquake and Transocean oil spill, likely to be...
Chartis Expands Hurricane Services to Cape Cod
May 19 2010 // Chartis has expanded access of the advanced disaster preparedness and post-hurricane resources of its Private Client Group’s Hurricane Protection Unit to homeowners in the Massachusetts counties of Barnstable, Dukes...
Key Facts, Common Myths About Protecting Homes from Hurricanes
May 19 2010 // With weather forecasters calling for a worse-than-average 2010 Atlantic basin hurricane season, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is advising property owners on the most effective ways to protect their...
South Carolina Had Small Earthquake
May 18 2010 // Federal experts say a small earthquake struck near the South Carolina coast last week. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake occurred about 6 miles south southeast of Summerville shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday. It...
