Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Insurance- ‘Green’ Coalition Opposes Expanding Government Catastrophe Bailouts
Apr 30 2008 // An unusual alliance of insurance and environmental groups is urging lawmakers to focus on policies that encourage property mitigation and environmental protection in catastrophe-prone areas, rather than expanding the...
Virginia Tornado Victims Cope with Injuries, Demolished Homes
Apr 30 2008 // Weary residents of the southern Virginia city of Suffolk, some awakening in emergency shelters, braced themselves to see what was left of their homes and livelihoods Tuesday after three tornadoes smashed houses, piled cars...
First Estimate on Virginia Tornado Property Damage: $18 Million
Apr 30 2008 // Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine visited the city of Suffolk to comfort storm victims and to survey the damage caused by severe weather that hit central and southeastern Virginia. The governor walked through neighborhoods where...
Historic Arkansas Museum Closing Because of Tornado Damage
Apr 30 2008 // Baxter County Heritage Museum in Gassville, Ark., damaged by a tornado while closed for its winter break, will not reopen in the historic building it has occupied for eight years. Officials say a new site will be sought in...
Report: Insurance-Related Securities Could Prompt Disaster Coverage
Apr 30 2008 // A new report released today says that by decreasing barriers in the emerging market of insurance-linked securities, insurance companies might be able to obtain the capital needed to cover more risks in disaster-prone areas...
9 Catastrophes to Cost P/C Insurers $3 Billion in 1st Quarter
Apr 29 2008 // U.S. property/casualty insurers are expected to pay homeowners and businesses an estimated $3.35 billion for first-quarter property losses resulting from nine catastrophes. The nine events identified as catastrophes by the...
Kentucky Residents Recovering from Tornadoes Unhappy with Feds
Apr 29 2008 // Allen County, Ky. Judge-Executive Bobby Young has a simple description of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “FEMA is a joke,” Young said. That sentiment – and variations on it – can be heard...
Virginia Gov. Kaine Declares Emergency After 3 Tornadoes Strike
Apr 29 2008 // Governor Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency in Virginia, directing state agencies to take all necessary actions to aid in the response to widespread damage from yesterday’s violent weather in the...
Nevada Residents Warned Bigger Earthquake Could be Coming
Apr 28 2008 // Scientists urged residents of northern Nevada’s largest city to prepare for a bigger event as the area continued rumbling Saturday after the largest earthquake in a two-month-long series of temblors. More than 100...
100 Homes Evacuated as Wildfire Burns Near Pasadena, Calif.
Apr 28 2008 // A wildfire that has scorched 270 acres and forced the evacuation of about 100 homes in neighborhoods near Pasadena might not be under control for days, officials said Sunday. Firefighters originally had hoped to have the...
Aftershocks of Midwest Earthquake Expected for Weeks to Come
Apr 28 2008 // Geologists who gathered a week after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook the Midwest said they expect mild aftershocks to rattle the region for several weeks. The latest aftershock, a 3.7 magnitude temblor, was felt in...
AIR Releases Mexico Storm Model
Apr 28 2008 // Boston-based AIR Worldwide announced the availability of its tropical cyclone model for Mexico. “The new probabilistic model will help the industry better manage hurricane and tropical cyclone risk in the growing...
Earthquakes Shake Reno, Nevada
Apr 25 2008 // Two moderate earthquakes shook the Mogul-Somerset area just west of Reno, Nev., on April 24, 2008, according to the Nevada Seismological Laboratory. While there were no immediate reports of damage, the Laboratory predicts...
Mississippi Attorney Wants Hurricane Katrina Litigator Sanctioned
Apr 25 2008 // An attorney wants sanctions against Mississippi tort lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs over alleged misconduct in a legal battle over millions of dollars in attorneys fees. Investigators have been looking into...
Earthquake Raises Questions about Coverage, Construction Codes
Apr 25 2008 // Two weeks after a 5.2 level earthquake rocked the Midwest from Cairo to Atlanta, geologists and the industry are still discussing the impact of the quake–such as increases in the purchase of earthquake...
West and North Texas Cleaning up After Violent Storms, Tornadoes
Apr 25 2008 // Violent thunderstorms produced tornadoes, large hail and heavy rains over west and north Texas on April 23 causing a considerable amount of damage. The worst losses appear to have occurred where the storm clouds began...
Fewer Tennessee Wildfires as Season Winds Down
Apr 25 2008 // As the wildfire season winds down in Tennessee, officials say it has been much less active than last year’s. Forestry Division assistant district forester Nathan Waters said by the week ending April 19, about 9,000...
Midwest Earthquake Spurs Renewed Interest in Purchasing Insurance
Apr 23 2008 // Eastern Missouri residents are scrambling to get earthquake insurance after last week’s 5.2 magnitude trembler rattled windows and shook houses. But they are finding out there’s a waiting period for coverage,...
Survey: Majority of October’s California Wildfire Claims Settled
Apr 23 2008 // A new survey of insurance companies estimates that nearly 90 percent of claims stemming from the devastating October 2007 fire and wind storms in California have been settled. A poll by the Insurance Information Network of...
Scientists Say Midwest Earthquakes Poorly Understood
Apr 22 2008 // Scientists say they know far too little about Midwestern seismic zones like the one that rumbled to life under southern Illinois Friday (April 18) morning, but some of what they do know is unnerving. The fault zones...
