Latest Natural Disasters Headlines

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

Terrorist Activity Boosts Interest in Travel Insurance

Nov 25 2015 // There has been a rise in demand for travel insurance due to recent terrorist attacks, according to an online seller of the coverage. Travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip said that since the attacks occurred in...

State-Backed Terrorism Reinsurance Fund Likely to Aid Paris Firms in Recovery

Nov 24 2015 // Parisian businesses struggling after the Nov. 13 attacks are likely to be able to make successful insurance claims, helped by a state-backed fund set up in the wake of the Sept. 11 2001 attacks in New York. The carnage in...

Tornadoes, Heavy Rain Cause Damage in 10 Mississippi Counties

Nov 20 2015 // At least two tornadoes and heavy rainstorms in Mississippi destroyed a mobile home, partially tore a roof off a house, and left a truck driver injured after he drove into a downed tree, state officials said...

Tornadoes in North Texas Damage Homes, Businesses

Nov 18 2015 // Multiple tornadoes hit North Texas late on Nov. 16 and early on Nov. 17, causing property damage. The National Weather Service says at least five tornadoes touched down in the Pampa, Texas, area Monday night. Forecasters...

UK’s Chancellor of Exchequer to Double Budget to Fight Cyber Terrorism

Nov 17 2015 // Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced he’ll double funding to strengthen the U.K.’s cyber defenses, while refusing to confirm that budget cuts to be announced next week would spare...

Global Acts of Terrorism Cost $52.9 Billion in 2014 – Highest Price Since 9/11

Nov 17 2015 // In the wake of Friday’s massacre in Paris, a new report says the world is paying the highest price for terrorism since the 2001 attack on New York’s Twin Towers. In 2014, acts of terror cost the world $52.9...

History Shows Economies Are Resilient After Terrorist Attacks

Nov 16 2015 // The French economy has history on its side. From the attacks of September 11 to those on Spain in March 2004 and London in July 2005, industrial economies have proven more resilient to terrorism than first feared,...

Wildfires, and Now El Niño, May Boost Californians’ Appetites for Surplus Lines

Nov 16 2015 // There’s little question that the drought and the recent wildfire season that it unleashed pushed more California homeowners into the surplus lines market. Now with what appears to be a strong El Niño on the horizon...

Paper Fingers Climate Change for California Wildfires

Nov 12 2015 // There was a bit of hesitation from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist Stephanie C. Herring when she was asked questions about the increased risk and the implications of that risk for the insurance...

Kate Becomes 4th Atlantic Hurricane of 2015

Nov 11 2015 // Hurricane Kate became the fourth Atlantic hurricane of 2015 early Wednesday morning, passing well north of Bermuda, according to a report from Weather Underground. “Kate is racing northeast, caught up in the jet...

Many Have Died in ‘Subpar’ Atlantic Hurricane Season

Nov 10 2015 // The 2015 Atlantic hurricane season may end up being remembered for a subpar number of storms, even though the total still beat early forecasts and more than 50 people died. The season, which also lags behind in terms of...

Cyclone-Heavy Hurricane Season Not Over Yet

Nov 9 2015 // For a few minutes last Wednesday, there weren’t any hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons or tropical storms anywhere in the world. The respite didn’t last long. Thursday morning, the U.S. Navy and Air Force’s...

ACE Appoints Brown as Political Violence & Terrorism Underwriter at AOG Unit

Nov 6 2015 // ACE Group has appointed Cara Brown as political violence & terrorism underwriter, ACE Overseas General, with immediate effect. Brown is responsible for assisting in the development of global business within both...

Mexico Catastrophe Bond Likely to Pay on Hurricane Patricia’s Losses: S&P

Nov 5 2015 // Bonds sold by Mexico to shield it from the cost of repairing hurricane damage are closer to paying out after the biggest storm ever measured in the Americas struck the country last month, Standard & Poor’s...

Wildfires, and Now El Niño May Boost Californian’s Appetites for Surplus Lines

Nov 3 2015 // There’s little question that the drought and the recent wildfire season that it unleashed pushed more California homeowners into the surplus lines market. Now with the onset of what appears to be a strong El Niño...

Oklahoma Commissioner to Insurers: Clarify Earthquake Coverage

Nov 2 2015 // In response to questions from consumers about earthquake coverage, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak is requiring property insurers in the state to issue a clarifying notice of earthquake coverage. In announcing...

99.9 Percent Probability of L.A.-Area Earthquake: Study

Nov 2 2015 // There is a 99.9 percent chance of a magnitude-5 or greater earthquake striking within three years in the greater Los Angeles area, where a similar sized temblor caused more the $12 million in damage last year, according to...

Guy Carpenter Says Wildfire Losses May Exceed $1.75B

Nov 2 2015 // A briefing from Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC in late October shows more than 9 million acres were burned by wildfires so far this year, most of that occurring in the Western U.S, and that insured losses from wildfires...

Superstorm Sandy: Ohio’s 6th Costliest Natural Disaster

Oct 30 2015 // Superstorm Sandy in late October 2013 was Ohio’s sixth costliest natural disaster in recent history from an insured loss standpoint, an insurance trade group says. Moving inland after devastating parts of the East...

Wildfires Threat in Texas Increased Over Past 15 Years

Oct 30 2015 // Larger, more threatening wildfires are occurring at greater rates as Texas faces lingering drought, consistent development — driven by millions of new residents and the spread of outlying suburbs — and changes in how...