Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Hawaii, Central Pacific Could See Handful of Hurricanes This Season
May 25 2018 // The Central Pacific could see anywhere from three to six hurricanes over the next six months, forecasters predicted Wednesday. That would be an increase over the two named storms last year. Storm activity is likely to be...
Harvey-Arkema Lesson: Chemical Plants Must Plan for Natural Disasters
May 25 2018 // The U.S. Chemical Safety Board on Thursday urged chemical plants to weigh the risks of natural disasters just as they would the integrity of pipes and production equipment. “Such facilities should perform an analysis...
What NOAA Forecasts for 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season
May 25 2018 // On the heels of the costliest hurricane year on record, the Atlantic is expected to produce five to nine of the mighty storms during the six-month season that starts June 1, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric...
Florida Hurricane Fund in Good Shape for Storm Season
May 25 2018 // The Florida fund that helps private insurers pay out claims after a hurricane remains in good shape heading into a storm season. Despite losses from Hurricane Irma, estimates show the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund...
North Carolina Storm Recovery Chief Accedes Frustrations Over Hurricane Matthew Recovery
May 23 2018 // North Carolina’s emergency management chief acknowledged a laborious process for homeowners seeking federal funds for repairs due to Hurricane Matthew and is looking for improvements looking to the next storm. While...
Weather Service: Possible Tornado Touched Down in North-Central Oklahoma
May 22 2018 // The National Weather Service in Tulsa says a possible tornado touched down in north-central Oklahoma. Meteorologist Joe Sellars says the potential twister was only on the ground briefly Saturday afternoon between the towns...
New Jersey Reminds Residents, Insurance Companies to Prepare for Hurricane Season
May 22 2018 // The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance is urging the insurance and banking companies it regulates, as well as New Jersey residents, to prepare now for hurricane season, which officially begins June 1. All...
XL Catlin Adds Nieves to War, Terrorism, Political Violence Team in Atlanta
May 21 2018 // XL Catlin has promoted Lindsey Nieves to AVP, underwriting manager in its regional US War, Terrorism & Political Violence insurance team for the South and Central zone, which is headquartered in Atlanta. According to...
Insurers’ Worst Fear: Cyber Hurricane or Silent Cyber?
May 21 2018 // Insurers in the cyber insurance segment have enjoyed exponential growth in the market over the last 10 years, and that is expected to continue as the world becomes even more connected via the internet. But while the growth...
More Texans Exposed to Tornadoes Amid Urban Sprawl
May 18 2018 // Mark Fox cringes every time he relives the day his worst weather nightmare came true. April 3, 2012, was a hot and humid day in North Texas, and the unstable atmosphere spawned 17 tornadoes in five hours in the Dallas-Fort...
Central Oklahoma Shaken by Magnitude 3.9 Earthquake
May 17 2018 // An earthquake has rattled parts of central Oklahoma that were shaken a day earlier by a series of earthquakes. The U.S. Geological Survey says a 3.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday about 8 miles...
How to Improve Terrorism Insurance to Meet Threat Landscape: JLT Re
May 14 2018 // Although there has been progress, the terrorism insurance market needs to do more to improve coverage at a time when “businesses and (re)insurers are confronted with an increasingly complex and multi-dimensional...
Wildfire Damage to Oklahoma Farms, Ranches Estimated at $26M
May 14 2018 // A report from Oklahoma State University says wildfires that scorched western and northwestern parts of the state and killed two in April caused an estimated $26 million in damage to livestock, pastures, fences and...
Puerto Rico Readies for Upcoming Hurricane Season with Lessons from Maria
May 14 2018 // Federal and local officials said that they are stockpiling radios, food, water and generators in Puerto Rico and demanding rigorous emergency training to prepare the U.S. territory for dealing with any catastrophic storm...
Alaskans Hear False Tsunami Warning on TV, Radio
May 14 2018 // Many Alaska residents were mistakenly warned on TV and on the radio Friday morning of a tsunami threat along the West Coast of the United States, from San Diego to Alaska’s Aleutian islands. The alert said at the end...
Weather Service: Damage in SW Wisconsin Likely Caused by Tornado
May 11 2018 // The National Weather Service says a preliminary investigation indicates a small tornado caused damage in southwestern Wisconsin. A barn and machine shed were destroyed near Fennimore Wednesday afternoon. Several other...
Disaster Declaration Approved for North Carolina Tornado
May 11 2018 // President Donald Trump has approved a request from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper for a federal disaster declaration for tornado damage in Guilford and Rockingham counties. Cooper declared a state of emergency for Guilford...
Targeting Earthquakes, Oklahoma Limiting Wastewater Well Volumes
May 10 2018 // Oklahoma oil and natural gas regulators have instructed the operators of 23 wastewater disposal wells to reduce their disposal volumes due to recent earthquakes in Garfield County. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission...
Texas Windstorm Association Seeking $175M Assessment for Harvey Losses
May 9 2018 // The board of directors of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association has authorized staff to seek regulatory approval for a $175 million assessment to TWIA’s insurance company members for losses associated with...
Hawaiian Volcano Slopes Offer Affordable Paradise, Risks
May 8 2018 // As lava crawled down Leilani Road in a hissing, popping mass, Cheryl Griffith stood in its path and placed a plant in a crack in the ground as an offering to the Native Hawaiian volcano goddess, Pele. Griffith lives in...
