Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Fla. Property Owners to Pay 1% Insurance Charge for Hurricanes
Jun 2 2006 // Floridians will pay a 1 percent assessment on property and casualty insurance policies for a decade to repay a bond sale of up to $1.5 billion that was approved Wednesday to replenish the state’s Hurricane Insurance...
Losses from April Hailstorms in Central Texas Reach $160M
Jun 2 2006 // The hailstorms that pounded central Texas in April were costly, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. The final tally for insured losses from storms on April 20 and 21 reached $160 million. The city of San Marcos...
Hurricane Alberto Will Be 2006’s First Named Cyclone
Jun 1 2006 // The National Hurricane Center in Miami has announced the names of hurricanes to be used during the 2006 hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Named hurricanes will be: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Nay Deen,...
Texas Watch Launches Insurer Accountability Network
Jun 1 2006 // On May 31, the eve of the 2006 hurricane season, Texas Watch, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization active on insurance issues, announced the launch of its Hurricane Insurance Company Accountability Network (ICAN) in...
Fla. Spanish-Language Website Launched to Help Hispanics Prepare for Hurricanes
Jun 1 2006 // A Spanish-language version of the Department of Financial Services’ consumer website has been launched to better serve Florida’s growing Hispanic population. “Nearly three million Hispanics call Florida...
Geller, McCarty to Collaborate on Joint National Catastrophe Plan
Jun 1 2006 // The officers of two national insurance policymaking groups have announced a collaboration to create a joint national catastrophe plan. State Senator Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, and Florida Insurance Commissioner...
U.S. and Insurers Can Withstand Hurricanes Without Taxpayer Funds, Says Lloyd’s U.S.
Jun 1 2006 // Residents of the Northeast coast “ignore the hurricane threat at their peril,” a leading insurer is warning. At the same time, Wendy Baker, president of Lloyd’s America, says she is confident that the...
Class Action Suit Filed in New Orleans Against 15 Homeowners Insurers
Jun 1 2006 // A class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on May 24, 2006, on behalf of Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area homeowners insurance policyholders who have...
A.M. Best: A ‘Mega-Cat’ Hurricane Would Be Fatal to Some Insurers
Jun 1 2006 // A new Special Report from the A.M. Best Company on the impact of a possible “mega-cat” hurricane — $100 billion or more in insured losses — finds that the financial consequences would be serious and...
Colorado State University Team Predicts Fewer Hurricanes Will Make Landfall
May 31 2006 // The U.S. Atlantic basin is likely to experience another active hurricane season, but coastal regions may face fewer land-falling major hurricanes than last year, according to Prof. William Gray and the Colorado State...
R.I. Adopts Hurricane Plan
May 31 2006 // Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri has approved the state’s first hurricane plan in time for the June 1 start of the hurricane season. Under the plan, the state and other agencies will start emergency preparations 72...
Attorney General Encourages Floridians to Prepare for Hurricane Season’s Start
May 31 2006 // Crist: Prepare Yourself – Hurricane Season Starts Tomorrow Floridians have been encouraged to be prepared for hurricane season, that begins June 1, by Attorney General Charlie Crist. The attorney general cautioned...
N.C. Commissioner Gives Hurricane Preparation Tips
May 31 2006 // Spring storm season is upon us and with hurricane season beginning June 1, Insurance Commissioner Jim Long urges North Carolinians to be prepared for any storms that may come toward his state. “No matter where in...
Texans Urged to Conduct Home Inventory at Start of Hurricane Season
May 31 2006 // Recognizing the June 1 start of hurricane season, the Texas Department of Insurance issued a reminder to homeowners and renters in Texas to conduct a home inventory of their personal possessions. “After a devastating...
Aon Corp. Responds to U.S. Treasury’s Request for Comment on Future of Terrorism Act
May 31 2006 // Chicago-based Aon Corp. has responded to the U.S. Treasury’s request for comment on the state of the U.S. terrorism insurance marketplace, warning of the danger of allowing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002...
Hurricane-Resistant House Dedicated in Fort Lauderdale
May 30 2006 // Florida’s newest hurricane house was dedicated during ceremonies in Fort Lauderdale last week attended by Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and other government officials. The 3,000 square-foot house,...
Texas Windstorm Association to Increase Rates
May 30 2006 // Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin on May 26 signed a Commissioner’s Order allowing the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) to increase rates for residential homeowners’ wind coverage by 3.1...
Colorado Prepares for Hail, Expects Three to Four Catastrophic Storms
May 30 2006 // Colorado can expect three to four catastrophic hailstorms every year, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. According to the group, the damaging hail season is considered to be from mid-April...
RMS Releases “Fundamentally New” European Windstorm Model
May 30 2006 // Newark, Calif.-based Risk Management Solutions has launched “a fundamentally new platform for quantifying wind-related risk in 12 European countries,” said the announcement. “Meteorological modeling has...
Fla. Democrats Renew Calls to Fix Hurricane Insurance
May 26 2006 // Saying Floridians are “storming mad” about rising property insurance premiums, Democrats have renewed a call for lawmakers to do more on the issue, and warned that if they don’t, angry voters could take...
