Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
News Briefs
Nov 6 2005 // P/C Insurers Post Record Results in 2005: The U.S. property/casualty industry recorded an underwriting profit of $13.2 billion, with a net income of $32.1 billion during the first six months of 2005, a substantial gain...
Professional liability ripples
Nov 6 2005 // urricane Katrina has long gone, but the aftereffects of the mighty storm are likely to linger for a very long time. Rita and Wilma have compounded the mess. The direct losses are staggering. The latest preliminary figures...
Fitch Downgrades Montpelier Re’s IFS Rating to ‘BBB’; Remains on Watch/Negative
Nov 4 2005 // Fitch Ratings announced that it has downgraded the long-term and senior debt ratings of Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. to “BB” from “BBB-” and the insurer financial strength (IFS) rating of Montpelier...
Best Downgrades RenRe Ratings; Keeps Under Review/Negative
Nov 4 2005 // A.M. Best Co. followed Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings (See IJ Web site Nov. 3) in downgrading the financial strength ratings (FSR) and debt ratings of the operating subsidiaries of Bermuda-based...
Swiss Re Estimates Rita/Wilma Claims at App. $750 Million
Nov 4 2005 // Swiss Re announced that based on current estimates, it expects its aggregate claims for hurricanes Rita and Wilma to be approximately $750 million. CEO John Coomber commented: “This year’s hurricane season...
Best Affirms Munich Re, American Re FSR; Removes from Review; Assigns Negative Outlook
Nov 4 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced rating actions on Germany’s Muenchener Rueckversicherungs (Munich Re) and its U.S. subsidiary American Re Corporation Group. Best affirmed its financial strength ratings on the companies,...
Frustration Grows in La., Miss., as Hurricane Survivors Wait for Insurers
Nov 4 2005 // Once a proud businessman, William Dwyer sits in a New Orleans-area parking lot these days begging his insurer for money. The 57-year-old retiree said he was quick to file claims after Hurricane Katrina severely damaged his...
Insurance Spokespersons to Discuss ‘Aftermath of Hurricane Wilma’ on Saturday S. Fla. Radio Talk Show
Nov 4 2005 // The aftermath of Hurricane Wilma and insurance issues will be discussed on Saturday morning by an on-the-air panel of insurance industry experts, including the president of the Latin American Insurance Agencies, Coral...
Mercury Insurance Group Partners with Employees, Helps Hurricane Victims
Nov 3 2005 // California-based Mercury Insurance Group has donated $110,000 to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund, it was announced by the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Gabriel Tirador. Matching its...
Wilma Damaged a Record Number of Vehicles in South Florida
Nov 2 2005 // State Farm and Progressive spokespersons indicate they received more auto damage claims from Hurricane Wilma than any of last year’s hurricanes. The two firms are Florida’s largest auto insurers. Wind is to...
Hispanics in Naples Cite Lack of Spanish Information About Wilma
Nov 2 2005 // Hispanics in areas of Florida hit by Hurricane Wilma report a lack of directions and information in Spanish to assist them in preparing for a hurricane, telling them what to do and where to go when a hurricane is...
LDI Says Time Extension for Paying Premiums Still in Effect
Nov 2 2005 // The Louisiana Department of Insurance issued a reminder that the department’s Emergency Rules required insurance companies to give policyholders affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita an automatic extension...
Majority of Hurricane Rita’s $4.7 Billion in Losses Sustained in La., Texas
Nov 2 2005 // The Insurance Council of Texas reported that property and casualty losses from Hurricane Rita are expected to hit $4.7 billion with the majority of losses sustained in Texas and Louisiana. According to the Insurance...
Fla. Attorney General: Price Gouging Complaints Rise for Repairs, Cleanup
Nov 2 2005 // With Floridians beginning the rebuilding process in the wake of Hurricane Wilma’s assault one week ago, Attorney General Charlie Crist said his office’s Price Gouging Hotline has seen a spike in repair and...
Horace Mann Reports Q3 Results
Nov 2 2005 // Horace Mann Educators Corporation today reported net income of $1.0 million (2 cents per share) and $61.2 million ($1.32 per share), respectively, for the three and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2005, compared to a net loss...
Montpelier Re: Net Loss in Q3 of $875M
Nov 2 2005 // Bermuda-based Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. reported a net loss of $875.1 million, or $12.16 loss per share, for the three months to Sept. 30, 2005 and a net loss of $691.9 million, or $10.49 loss per share, for the first...
Two OIR Orders Protect Florida Victims of Hurricane Wilma
Nov 1 2005 // Two protective orders, one protecting consumers from being dropped by their insurers while repair work is being done, and a second prohibiting insurance companies from canceling of non-renewing any insurance policy until...
J.D. Power: Hurricanes Play Major Role in Homeowners Customer Satisfaction
Nov 1 2005 // Major hurricanes, such as the ones that have ravaged the Gulf Coast states in the past two years, have had a significant negative impact on homeowners insurance customer satisfaction in those states, according to the J.D....
White Mountains Notes Book Value Per Share of $345
Nov 1 2005 // Bermuda-based White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. ended the third quarter of 2005 with a fully converted tangible book value per share of $345, down $14 from the second quarter of 2005 primarily due to the Gulf Coast...
Carriers Flooded With Auto Damage Claims from Hurricane Wilma
Nov 1 2005 // The “Insurance Village” established in Plantation, Fla. near Fort Lauderdale by the Department of Financial Services, had a lot of damaged vehicles in the lot, and many auto policyholders were seen in the...
