Latest Hurricane Headlines

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

Dual Hurricanes Will Challenge Claims Handling Process

Sep 3 2004 // The historic one-two punch of Hurricanes Frances and Charley will make the claims handling process in Florida more difficult, but still manageable, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) The I.I.I....

A.M. Best Comments on Potential Rating Implications from Hurricane Frances

Sep 3 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has recently taken rating actions on several Florida insurance companies in response to their reduced risk-adjusted capitalization due to losses from Hurricane Charley, as well as potential exposure to...

RMS Estimates Potential Losses Ranging from $2 to $20 Billion for Hurricane Frances

Sep 3 2004 // Risk Management Solutions (RMS) has announced that potential insured losses could range from $2 to $20 billion based on the latest forecasts for Hurricane Frances. Uncertainty in the storm’s track and intensity...

NHC Issues Hurricane Watch as Frances’ Threat to Florida Grows

Sep 2 2004 // The latest bulletin from the National Hurricane Center in Miami confirms that a “Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the Florida East Coast from Florida City Northward to Flagler Beach, including Lake...

Progressive Offers Tips to Keep Drivers and Vehicles Safe as Hurricane Frances Approaches

Sep 2 2004 // After Charley’s passage the Progressive Group of insurance companies, the third largest auto insurer in the U.S. and insurer of about one in 10 Florida drivers, has had a lot of experience with storm related...

Floridians: Prepare for Different Scenarios from Hurricane Frances

Sep 2 2004 // Hurricane Frances will likely affect the state of Florida in a variety of ways. While some areas will see high wind, others might be deluged with rain, while still more could have a mix of both. The Institute for Business...

A.M. Best Places Allstate Floridian Under Review

Sep 2 2004 // A.M. Best Co. placed the financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) of Allstate Floridian Group under review with negative implications. All companies listed are affiliates of The Allstate Corporation and...

Allstate Estimates Charley Losses at $425 Million

Sep 1 2004 // The Allstate Corporation, the second largest U.S. writer of homeowners’ policies, announced that its pre-tax catastrophe losses related to Hurricane Charley are preliminarily estimated to be approximately $425...

Frances Now a Category 4 Hurricane; Aims Directly at East Coast of Florida

Sep 1 2004 // Hurricane Frances has strengthened substantially as it continues on a northwestern path over the open waters of the Northern Caribbean. Maximum sustained winds remain near 140 mph (220 km/hr) with higher gusts, making the...

Protecting People First Foundation to Study Impact Resistant Glass in Florida

Sep 1 2004 // The Protecting People First Foundation announced it is returning to Southwest Florida to continue an on-site study to document the contribution of impact resistant glass, safety film, hurricane shutters and other...

PCI: Proposed Fla. Building Code Changes Could Weaken Building Standards

Sep 1 2004 // By changing the wind provisions in the Florida Building Code from the current form to the International Residential Code, regulars could be putting many consumers, especially those in inland counties, at risk by weakening...

Texas Insurance Industry Could Face Cash Crunch if Major Hurricane Hit

Sep 1 2004 // The Texas insurance industry could find itself in a cash crunch if a storm like Hurricane Charley hit the coast, and insurers could be forced to pass on the costs to homeowners across the state, industry officials...

UPDATE: Category 3 Hurricane Frances Still Heading towards U.S.

Aug 31 2004 // The National Hurricane Center’s latest bulletin on Hurricane Frances, issued this morning, confirmed that the storm is a category 3 hurricane, packing winds near 125 mph (205 km/hr.) with higher gusts. The NHC said...

3 More Midwest Insurers Issue Charley Loss Estimates

Aug 31 2004 // Three more insurers issued their loss estimates related to Hurricane Charley, which hit the Southeastern United States three weeks ago. Springfield, Ill.-based insurer Horace Mann Educators Corp. estimates its financial...

The Hartford Estimates $140M in Charley Losses

Aug 31 2004 // Connecticut-based The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. announced that its losses resulting from Hurricane Charley are estimated to be $140 million (before-tax). This amount is net of applicable reinsurance sources...

Hurricane Frances Heading towards U.S.

Aug 30 2004 // The National Hurricane Center in Miami is currently tracking Frances, another powerful storm, which could strike the U.S. mainland by the end of the week. Frances is packing sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) with...

S.C Hit by Tropical Storm Gaston

Aug 30 2004 // South Carolina residents steeled themselves for a battering early Sunday as Tropical Storm Gaston, just under hurricane strength, picked up speed as it spun toward the South Carolina coast. Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., who...

Insurers to Coastal Residents in Texas: Be Prepared

Aug 30 2004 // Residents along the Gulf Coast of Texas can learn a lot from the experiences of those people in Florida who were victims of Hurricane Charley, according to Jerry Johns, president of Southwestern Insurance Information...

PCI: Mobile Homes Bear Brunt of Charley’s Wrath in Florida

Aug 27 2004 // Despite improvements in construction and safety standards since Hurricane Andrew, damage to mobile homes in the path of Hurricane Charley was significant according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America...

Zenith Estimates Losses Related to Hurricane Charley

Aug 27 2004 // Zenith National Insurance Corp. reported its initial estimate of losses in its assumed reinsurance business attributable to Hurricane Charley. Zenith currently expects that its net after tax loss from Hurricane Charley...