Latest Flood Headlines
All the headlines from our Flood Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Tallying Losses from October’s Global Catastrophes
Nov 8 2018 // October was a deadly and costly month due to natural catastrophes, with the the U.S. and Europe being hit particularly hard, according to Aon’s Impact Forecasting. Total U.S. economic losses from October’s...
FEMA Seeking to Renew Its Private Reinsurance for Flood Insurance Program
Nov 7 2018 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has begun the process of renewing its private market reinsurance for the National Flood Insurance Program for 2019, a purchase that could encompass $2 billion of...
Storms, Torrential Floods Lash Sicily, Killing at Least 12 People
Nov 5 2018 // Storms lashing Sicily have killed at least 12 people with torrential floods, Italian authorities said as the country’s leader headed Sunday to the stricken Mediterranean island. Divers pulled out nine of those...
States Urge Insurers to ‘Spread the Word’ on Flood Insurance to Boost Sales
Nov 5 2018 // It might be time for carriers and agents to encourage their clients to buy flood coverage even if they’re not living and working inside a flood zone. Such an action is long overdue, according to insurance...
Critics Say Bond Rating Agencies Ignore Municipalities’ Climate Risk
Nov 5 2018 // Last fall, after a trio of deadly hurricanes, ratings companies warned vulnerable coastal cities to get ready for climate change — or face higher borrowing costs on the $3.9 trillion municipal bond market. Climate...
South Carolina Residents Sue Company Over Toxins Flooded Into Homes by Florence
Nov 5 2018 // Residents of a South Carolina town are suing one of the area’s major employers alleging it allowed toxins to flood onto their property and into their home during Hurricane Florence. The State reports Cheraw residents...
Flood Damage to Central Mississippi Won’t Qualify as Federal Disaster
Nov 5 2018 // Victims of a flash flood that damaged more than 150 structures in central Mississippi are unlikely to qualify for federal disaster aid. WLBT-TV reports the Mississippi Emergency Management completed its assessment Oct. 1...
North Carolina Approves $400M in Florence Recovery Funds
Nov 5 2018 // North Carolina legislators approved spending $400 million to quickly help people and communities reeling from flooding left by Hurricane Florence and setting aside another $450 million for upcoming needs. The emergency...
Helping Americans Bridge the Insurance Gap
Nov 5 2018 // Consumers seldom think about auto and homeowners insurance until the unthinkable happens and they need to file a claim. However, with increasing frequency, Mother Nature is bringing widespread devastation to the U.S. So...
Officials Propose Texas Coastal Protection Plan
Nov 5 2018 // State and federal officials on Oct. 26 recommended a plan to protect the Texas coast from hurricanes — particularly the Houston area — with a barrier system made up of floodwalls, floodgates and seawall...
Texas Governor Seeks Federal Disaster Declaration After Severe Weather, Flooding
Nov 1 2018 // Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked President Donald Trump for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Texas counties heavily impacted by recent severe weather and flooding that caused widespread damage across the state....
Update: Typhoon Yutu Pummels Philippines; Death Toll Rises from Landslides, Floods
Oct 31 2018 // At least 10 people were killed and about 20 are missing in a trail of landslides in the mountainous region of northern Philippines after the devastation caused by Typhoon Yutu, according to government authorities. Rescuers...
Climate Change Impact Assessment Looks at Risk, Readiness Around U.S.
Oct 25 2018 // Low risk, but low readiness. That’s the assessment for Long Beach, Calif., a city that’s close to my heart. For those who love numbers, the city has a risk score of 49.48, and a readiness score of 47.01. Not...
Austin’s Flood-Induced Boil-Water Decree Could Last Weeks, Official Says
Oct 24 2018 // Nearly 900,000 people in Texas’ capital may have to boil their tap water for two weeks, an official said Tuesday, as authorities struggled to treat a water supply filled with silt, mud and debris after recent heavy...
Verisk Product Scores Properties on Flood Risk; Could Replace Outdated Flood Maps
Oct 23 2018 // Data analytics firm Verisk is touting the launch of WaterLine, an underwriting tool that scores flood risk for all properties in the contiguous United States, helping identify homes and businesses vulnerable to flood. The...
After Catastrophic Flooding, Austin Issues First Ever City-Wide Boil Water Notice
Oct 22 2018 // Early Monday morning, Austin Water issued a boil water notice for all of its customers due to elevated levels of silt from last week’s flooding. The water system is “the most recent infrastructure to struggle...
With Central, South Texas Awash in Water Governor Issues Disaster Declaration
Oct 19 2018 // Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a State Disaster Declaration for 18 Texas counties impacted by recent severe weather and flooding that has caused widespread property damage and threatened loss of life. The...
JBA Risk Management Releases High-Resolution Flood Maps for Florida
Oct 19 2018 // Flood specialist JBA Risk Management has rolled out its high-resolution flood maps and associated pricing data for the continental United States starting with the State of Florida. These new maps are designed to enable...
Waccamaw River in South Carolina Finally Below Flood Stage After Florence
Oct 18 2018 // The Waccamaw River near the South Carolina coast has finally gone back into its banks after 29 days of flooding following Hurricane Florence. The National Weather Service says the river level at Conway dipped below the...
Floodwaters in Central Texas Destroy Bridge, Force Evacuations
Oct 17 2018 // Fast-moving floodwaters destroyed a bridge, forced the evacuation of riverside homes and led to numerous water rescues in Central Texas on Tuesday after more than a foot of rain fell in recent days. The bridge crumbled as...
