Latest Catastrophe Headlines

All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Feb. 1-4 Windstorm Conference Agenda: Hurricane Lessons, Preparing for Summer

Jan 27 2005 // The four major hurricanes that severely impacted Florida and other states and preparing for the 2005 hurricane season will be discussed by Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, during the Feb. 1 to 4...

PartnerRe Believes Claims from European Windstorm Erwin to be Between $50-$60 Million

Jan 26 2005 // Bermuda-based PartnerRe Ltd. announced that claims relating to its exposure to Windstorm Erwin, which hit Northern Europe in early January, are expected to be between $50-$60 million. Windstorm Erwin battered Northern...

280,000 Latest Tsunami Death Toll

Jan 25 2005 // A month after the devastating tsunamis struck Southeast Asia the death toll continues to rise. The latest figures from Indonesia’s Health Minister Fadilah Supari, as reported by the BBC, now estimate that at least...

TDI to Hold Hearing on Proposed Increases to Texas Windstorm Liability Limits

Jan 25 2005 // On Jan. 26, 2005, the Texas Department of Insurance will hold a public hearing on proposed additional increases to the limits of liability for certain Texas Windstorm Insurance Association windstorm and hail insurance...

Can it Happen Here’ Tsunamis a Possible Threat to West Coast

Jan 24 2005 // Southeast Asia’s devastating tsunami has left many wondering if the threat could hit close to home. The reality is that tsunamis, in fact, have already made their mark on the West Coast, and the threat still remains...

Back to the Basics

Jan 24 2005 // E&S Industry Returns to Familiar Ground Neither wind, nor rain nor the dark cloud of standard carriers returning to the marketplace will keep excess and surplus insurance writers from maintaining profitability. From...

The Asian Catastrophe: An Unprecedented Event Evokes a Global Response

Jan 24 2005 // Certain events mark each generation, but as the scope of the disaster that struck 12 countries around the Indian Ocean on Dec. 26 emerges, it has become evident that it will haunt not just the present generation, but many...

Insurance Industry Can’t Paper Over Its Faults, Lloyd’s Chairman Advises

Jan 24 2005 // There are a number of things about the insurance industry that drive Lord Levene crazy but nothing more than all the paper. “The paperwork is nuts,” the Lloyd’s of London chairman exclaims. He tells the...

Insurance Industry Can’t Paper Over Its Faults, Lloyd’s Chairman Advises

Jan 24 2005 // There are a number of things about the insurance industry that drive Lord Levene crazy but nothing more than all the paper. “The paperwork is nuts,” the Lloyd’s of London chairman exclaims. He tells the...

XL Capital Notes Estimate of Revised Losses from Tsunami, 2004 Hurricanes

Jan 20 2005 // Bermuda-based XL Capital Ltd. announced that, based on initial loss reports and preliminary estimates, it expects pre-tax net losses arising from the tsunami that struck South Asia on Dec. 26, 2004, of approximately $75...

Fla. Hurricane Property Losses Now Top $21.6 Billion

Jan 19 2005 // Total property losses from the four major hurricanes that struck Florida in 2004 now top $21.6 billion according to data presented to members of a Select Joint Committee on Hurricane Insurance. The latest estimate,...

CIWA Donates to ARC Following Tsunami Disaster

Jan 19 2005 // The California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA) recently agreed to donate $600 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in the wake of the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. Incoming CIWA President Mark...

Crawford & Co., GAB Robins Adjusters See Tsunami Destruction Up Close

Jan 17 2005 // While the official death toll may never be known, the reaction to last month’s killer earthquake and tsunamis in Southeast Asia continues. Insurance Journal recently spoke with several individuals whose companies...

AIR White Paper Analyzes Multiple Catastrophes

Jan 14 2005 // Boston-based AIR Worldwide Corporation has released a white paper entitled “Analyzing and Preparing for Multiple Event Seasons,” which it said demonstrates how the industry can “prepare for multiple...

Munich Re Analyzes “Megacities” Vulnerability

Jan 14 2005 // Munich Re presented its views at the UN’s World Conference on Disaster Reduction on the special problems faced by Megacities, defined as “conurbations with ten million or more inhabitants.” These large...

SCOR to Help Tsunami Victims

Jan 14 2005 // France’s SCOR Group announced that it has mobilized to help the Indian Ocean victims of the Tsunami, initially contributing 150,000 euros ($197,000) to the aid campaign. The amount “represents one per thousand...

PCS to Provide CAT Designations, Loss Estimates for Terrorist Acts and Outsized Workers’ Comp Events

Jan 14 2005 // ISO’s Property Claim Services (PCS) unit has expanded its services to include loss estimates for potential catastrophic terrorism losses. PCS this week announced it will assign catastrophe serial numbers to potential...

PCI Asks Fla. Committee: Give Hurricane Reforms Time Before Making Changes

Jan 14 2005 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America urged Florida lawmakers meeting today in Tallahassee to allow the reforms made to hurricane insurance deductibles during the special legislative session to have time to...

Lloyd’s Chairman Warns Insurers 2005 Will Be Critical For Rebuilding Industry’s Reputation

Jan 13 2005 // A record year of natural disaster losses and Eliot Spitzer’s investigations into payment practices highlighted the urgent need for the insurance industry to tackle its reputation and practices during 2005, Lord...

Southeast Asia Tsunami Caused Havoc on Marine Fisheries, Aquaculture Infrastructure

Jan 13 2005 // The tsunami waves have had a devastating impact on the fisheries sector in many countries of the Indian Ocean, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said Thursday. In Sri Lanka, more than 7,500...