Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Texas Sunset Board: Legislature Needs to Decide Nature of Windstorm Insurer
Jan 23 2019 // To be the insurer of last resort for wind and hail insurance along the Texas coast, without state support and reliant on premium dollars and debt financing for funding, or to be a true insurance company that derives...
California’s Massive Wildfires Push Travelers to Seek Higher Premiums
Jan 22 2019 // California’s deadly wildfires are raising the specter of higher insurance premiums for homeowners in the state. After “two significant years in a row of losses, I think the discussion and the debate about the...
Travelers Grew Q4 Profit Despite California Wildfire, Hurricane Michael Losses
Jan 22 2019 // Travelers Cos. reported that despite catastrophe losses from the California wildfires and Hurricane Michael, it boosted its profit in the fourth quarter of 2018 thanks to growth in premiums and investment income. Net...
Insurance Covered $90B of Natural Disaster Losses in 2018, Leaving 60% Protection Gap
Jan 22 2019 // The economic costs of last year’s 394 natural catastrophe events came to US$225 billion with insurance covering US$90 billion of the overall total, creating the fourth costliest year on record of insured losses,...
Tornadoes Cause Damage in Alabama, Florida Panhandle
Jan 22 2019 // Homes, businesses, government offices and churches were among the buildings badly damaged or demolished when tornadoes struck central Alabama over the weekend. The severe weather hit Saturday and another tornado was...
Researchers Looking into How Drones Can Predict Wildfire Spread
Jan 21 2019 // A University of Missouri researcher is teaming up with scholars in Kansas and Georgia to develop drone technology to monitor and potentially predict the spread of wildfires. The $1.2 million research project that began...
California Wildfires, Hurricane Michael Top List of 2018’s Costliest Natural Disasters: Munich Re
Jan 21 2019 // The costliest natural catastrophes occurred in the United States in 2018 with one of California’s devastating wildfires and Hurricane Michael topping the list, according to Munich Re. A report from Munich Re on last...
Wildfires, Dynamex Dominate California Wholesaler Conference
Jan 21 2019 // Wildfires and the Dynamex decision dominated discussions at an insurance wholesaler conference in early January. The California Wholesaler Association conference in La Jolla, Calif., from Jan. 6 to Jan. 8 featured numerous...
For New Governors, Natural Disasters Will Be Necessary Priority
Jan 21 2019 // Even Governors Skeptical of Climate Change Can’t Avoid Need to Plan for Future Storms, Fires Governors have a range of priorities they want to tackle in the coming year, from tax reform to education. Yet, one topic...
3.7M Earthquake Hits Northern California
Jan 17 2019 // The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed a 3.7 preliminary magnitude earthquake rattled the small city of Piedmont in northern California. The USGS says the tremor occurred on Wednesday at 4:42 a.m. The impacts of the...
4.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Oklahoma
Jan 16 2019 // Officials say there are no reports of damage after a 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck northern Oklahoma on Tuesday morning. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake was centered near Hayward, or about 50 miles north of...
Multiple Smaller Natural Disasters in 2018 Created ‘Unusual’ Insured Loss Picture: Willis
Jan 16 2019 // Insured loss estimates from major natural catastrophes in 2018 totaled roughly $71.5 billion, the highest since 2011’s annual market losses of $120 billion, according to Willis Re. However, the insured losses in 2018...
Magnitude 3.6 Earthquake Shakes Part of Northern Oklahoma
Jan 15 2019 // The U.S. Geological Survey says an earthquake shook parts of northern Oklahoma early in the morning on Jan. 14. Geologists say the 3.6 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 2:20 a.m. Monday near Waukomis, about 80 miles...
‘Goat Fund Me’ Campaign Launched by California Town to Prevent Wildfires
Jan 14 2019 // The threat of catastrophic wildfires has driven a California town to launch a “Goat Fund Me” campaign to bring herds of goats to city-owned land to help clear brush. Nevada City in the Sierra Nevada began the...
PG&E Bankruptcy Looms With $30B in Potential Liabilities from California Wildfires; CEO to Exit
Jan 14 2019 // PG&E Corp. said it will file for bankruptcy in California after the cost of wildfires left it with potential liabilities of $30 billion or more, gutting its share price and prompting the departure of its chief...
Trump, California in Battle Over Wildfire Relief Funds
Jan 11 2019 // President Donald Trump threatened this week to withhold money to help California cope with wildfires after Gov. Gavin Newsom asked him to double the federal investment in forest management. Trump again suggested poor...
Judge Wants PG&E Power Restrictions for Next California Wildfire Season
Jan 10 2019 // A U.S. judge has proposed restricting utility PG&E Corp from using power lines deemed to be unsafe during high winds in the 2019 California fire season, adding another complication for the California utility as it...
California Governor Proposes $150M in Wildfire Investments, 911 Fee
Jan 10 2019 // California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged fresh investments to prevent, fight and escape wildfires, including millions to help local governments improve their communication during emergencies and a fee to fund an update for...
Texas Regulators Urge Flexibility in Claim/Dispute Deadlines for Windstorm Insurer
Jan 10 2019 // The Texas Department of Insurance in its 2018 Biennial Report to the legislature has recommended amending state law to permit more flexibility in time limits for handling and resolving claims and disputes brought to the...
Northern Oklahoma Shaken by 3.4 Magnitude Earthquake
Jan 9 2019 // The U.S. Geological Survey says a 3.4 magnitude earthquake has shaken parts of northern Oklahoma. Geologists say the temblor was recorded at 10:43 a.m. Monday less than 1 mile (1 kilometer) northeast of Medford near the...
