Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
10 Years After Disaster, Tsunami Warning System ‘Weaknesses Remain’
Dec 22 2014 // In April 2012, Indonesia’s , the city worst hit by the tsunami that killed at least 226,000 people on Boxing Day ten years ago, received a terrifying reminder of how unprepared it was for the next disaster. As an...
Risk Modelers Aim to Gauge Risks of ‘Cyber Hurricane’
Dec 22 2014 // Even as the Sony Corp. cyber attack laid bare the kinds of vulnerabilities that typically drive companies to buy insurance policies, the lack of a risk model for insurers means such protection is not always easy to...
Fireman’s Fund Timeline: Through Earthquake, Amex and More
Dec 19 2014 // The sale of a Fireman’s Fund unit from Allianz SE to Ace Ltd. stands to further diminish an iconic U.S. insurance brand that dates to the 1800s. The buyer said Thursday that it will integrate the operation, which...
Senate Fails to Renew Terrorism Insurance
Dec 17 2014 // A U.S. program that backstops insurance companies’ losses from acts of terrorism is set to end after the Senate didn’t extend it. Efforts to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act for six years fell apart...
EF0 Tornado Reported in Oklahoma
Dec 16 2014 // A small tornado that touched ground briefly in Arcadia, Okla., has been rated an EF0 by the National Weather Service in Norman. Weather service meteorologist Marc Austin said that the tornado caused no damage and appeared...
Terrorism Insurance Bill Tagged with Community Bank Provision
Dec 16 2014 // When the U.S. House of Representatives approved a terrorism insurance bill last week, it contained a little-noticed provision that would require at least one member of the Federal Reserve’s board to have community...
Senate Expected to Follow House, Approve Terrorism Insurance Renewal
Dec 15 2014 // Supporters of renewing the federal terrorism reinsurance program are optimistic that the Senate will follow the House and approve it, however the exact day and time of the Senate vote this week remains unclear. In addition...
Weather Service to Deem Tornado-Torn Arkansas County ‘Storm Ready’
Dec 12 2014 // The National Weather Service says it will recognize Faulkner County in Arkansas as a “StormReady” community next week. Forecasters said that with the deaths in last April’s tornado at Mayflower and...
Senator Criticizes ‘Unclean’ Terrorism Insurance Bill Passed by House
Dec 12 2014 // Democratic U.S. Senator Charles Schumer on Thursday called for the U.S. House of Representatives to extend a federal terrorism insurance program by passing a “clean” bill with no controversial extra...
FEMA Provides $3.9M Funds for Tornado Debris Removal in Mississippi
Dec 11 2014 // The city of Louisville and Winston County in Mississippi are being given $3.9 million in federal funds to assist with removal of debris from an April tornado. The money has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management...
House Releases Terrorism Insurance Bill But Senate Uncertain
Dec 9 2014 // House leaders released a proposed six-year extension of a federal program to insure property against the risk of terrorism, including a Republican proposal to revise a bank regulatory law. The measure will be brought to...
Congress Weighs Adding Terrorism Insurance to Spending Plan
Dec 9 2014 // Congressional negotiators plan today to release a bipartisan U.S. government spending proposal, just days before current funding ends, after resolving disputes over Republican policy proposals. The House and Senate intend...
Update: Tropical Storm Hagupit Hits Central Philippines; 21 People Killed
Dec 8 2014 // More than 21 people were killed as heavy rain and winds lashed the central Philippines, while a weakened storm Hagupit headed toward Manila. The government shut state offices and trading of stocks, bonds and currencies was...
UPDATE: Super Typhoon Hagupit Threatens Philippines, Haiyan Hit Areas
Dec 5 2014 // AccuWeather Global Weather reports a very dangerous situation is evolving for the Philippines as Super Typhoon Hagupit, locally known as Ruby, will bear down on the nation this weekend. More than 30 million people will be...
Congress Said Close to Deal to Renew Terrorism Insurance
Dec 4 2014 // Lawmakers are close to extending a federal program that covers a portion of corporations’ losses from acts of terrorism, according to three congressional aides. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb...
Philippines on Alert as Typhoon Hagupit Strengthens
Dec 4 2014 // AccuWeather Global Weather Center reports that a strengthening Typhoon Hagupit is bringing life-threatening dangers to the Philippines. Hagupit strengthened into a typhoon early Tuesday night PHT (Tuesday morning EST) and...
Insurance Council: No Hurricanes, but Bad Weather Plagued Texas
Dec 3 2014 // As 2014 hurricane season ends the people of Texas can count themselves lucky to have dodged hurricanes for the past six years, which has been particularly good news for coastal residents. Despite the lack of hurricanes,...
Update: Hartford Unit Accused of Using Fudged Hurricane Sandy Report
Dec 3 2014 // A Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. unit was accused by a lawyer representing Hurricane Sandy victims of using a falsified damage report to dodge paying homeowner claims, the second insurer blamed in the last month...
XL’s New Standalone Terrorism Policy Addresses TRIPRA Gaps
Dec 3 2014 // XL Group’s U.S. Crisis Management business has introduced a new standalone terrorism insurance policy intended to help U.S. businesses address potential gaps in coverage provided by the Terrorism Risk Insurance...
Willis Re Unveils New Japan Tsunami Model
Dec 3 2014 // Willis Re, the reinsurance division of Willis Group Holdings, the risk adviser, insurance and reinsurance broker, has released a new Japan Tsunami Model to advance the industry’s understanding of catastrophic tsunami...
