Latest Hurricane Headlines

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

Weather Experts Predict More Active Hurricane Seasons

Dec 3 2004 // National Hurricane Center forecasters warn that a trend toward greater numbers of storms and stronger storms may last for years. If they’re right, the southeast United States could suffer through many more vicious...

Senate Banking, Insurance Committee Hears Fla. Insurance Perspectives

Dec 2 2004 // The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee heard state insurance regulators and insurance industry perspectives on eliminating hurricane deductibles and reforming the state’s Hurricane Catastrophe Fund during...

Gov. Bush Urges Fla. Legislators to Discuss Multiple Deductibles, Repair Work

Dec 1 2004 // Florida Gov. Jeb Bush vowed to urge the Florida Legislature, during upcoming sessions before Christmas, to solve citizens concerns about multiple insurance deductibles, repair work and property taxes. The governor visited...

Floridians Can Anticipate State-wide Premium Hikes

Nov 30 2004 // Florida homeowners can expect an 8.3 percent statewide increase in the cost of homeowner’s insurance, Bob Lotane, spokesman for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation told the Bonita News. He said worst-hit areas...

FEMA Notes Record Aid for 2004 Hurricane Season

Nov 30 2004 // The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported this week that a record $4.27 billion in FEMA disaster funds have been expended to date to aid people and communities...

Fla. Legislature to Consider Changing Multiple Deductible Rule in December

Nov 29 2004 // In December the Florida Legislature will consider changing the state’s multiple-deductible rule during future hurricane seasons. The legislature is considering eliminating multiple deductibles for future hurricane...

FEMA Paid $28M Bogus Claims in Dade County, Fla.

Nov 24 2004 // The Florida Legislature has asked for an investigation on $28 million in illicit insurance claims paid for damage done by Hurricane Frances in Miami and Dade County, an area barely touched by the hurricane. U.S. Rep. Clay...

Swiss Re Hurricane Report Stresses Risk Analysis

Nov 23 2004 // Swiss Re’s recently issued report on the 2004 hurricane season stresses that, although the number of storms may have been extraordinary, “the impact on insurers has been controllable through a process of...

Information Institute Data Shows 2004 Hurricanes Broke All Records

Nov 22 2004 // Newly released information ranks all four of this season’s hurricanes among the top 10 costliest U.S. hurricanes in the past 25 years. And, taken together, the cost of this season’s storms edges out the cost of...

Claims Mediation Meetings Begin in Four Fla. Cities

Nov 22 2004 // Mediation meetings began Monday in Punta Gorda, Orlando, Jupiter and Pensacola to provide Floridians with a process to quickly and fairly settle disputes with insurance companies, at no cost to them. To date, more than...

Hurricane Spitzer to Take London by Storm

Nov 22 2004 // QUOTE:This will impact every underwriter in Lloyd’s and most in London, given the distribution chain they inhabit. There’s still some sense of disbelief here in London at the moment. Hurricane Spitzer seems to...

2004 HURRICANE SEASON NOT SO UNUSUAL AFTER ALL:

Nov 22 2004 // According to an analysis conducted by AIR Worldwide (AIR), a risk modeling company, the 2004 hurricane season should not be considered rare. The analysis, based on the AIR hurricane model, revealed that insurers should...

Six N.C. Homeowners Dispute Denial of Hurricane Ivan Damage Claims

Nov 19 2004 // Six residents in Peeks Creek, N.C. where four people died in a Hurricane Ivan-triggered landslide have hired lawyers to represent them after being denied insurance claims. Fifteen houses were damaged or destroyed in Peeks...

Zurich Posts 35% Increase in Nine Month Net Income

Nov 17 2004 // Zurich Financial Services reported a 35 percent increase in its net income for the first nine months of 2004 to $1.902 billion, compared to $1.41 billion in the same period of 2003, despite the impact of the Florida...

La. DOI Final Estimate of Hurricane Ivan Damages Totals Nearly $7.9 Million

Nov 17 2004 // Commissioner of Insurance Robert Wooley announced that the Louisiana Department of Insurance’s final estimate of Hurricane Ivan damage in Louisiana is $7,868,750.00. That figure is based on a reported 3,760 claims...

Nationwide Estimates Florida Hurricane Losses at $850 Million Pre-Tax

Nov 15 2004 // Ohio-based Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and its P/C affiliates have issued an estimate of the losses and loss adjustment expenses from Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne of approximately $850 million on a...

CFO Gives Hurricane Response Status Report; Fla. Mediation Begins Nov. 22

Nov 12 2004 // Following a recent emergency rule setting deadlines for processing claims there have been almost 17 percent fewer calls from consumers experiencing delays when dealing with an adjuster, according to the Florida Department...

Allstate Holding Off On New Homeowner Policies in Florida

Nov 11 2004 // Allstate Corp., the largest property casualty insurer in Florida, has announced it will cease writing new homeowners’ policies in Florida until the state Legislature meets in December and decides what to do about...

21st Century Holding Co. Unveils Q3 Report

Nov 11 2004 // Florida-based 21st Century Holding Co. reported results for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2004. For the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2004, the company reported net loss of $13,754,082, or $2.32 per share on 5,925,952 undiluted...

Benfield Report Looks at 2004 Hurricane/Typhoon Season and Destruction Left Behind

Nov 10 2004 // Between Atlantic hurricanes and Pacific typhoons, the 2004 storm season has already generated record catastrophe (CAT) losses which will reportedly encourage many insurers to rethink their CAT reinsurance coverage. The...