Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake Jolts Hawaii’s Big Island
Aug 15 2007 // An earthquake on Monday jolted the Big Island of Hawaii, which is already under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning. The magnitude 5.3 temblor struck at 7:38 p.m. local time, about 25 miles south of Hilo,...
Hurricane Modeling Pioneer Clark Forms Consulting Company
Aug 14 2007 // Catastrophe modeling pioneer and founder of the firm AIR, Karen Clark, has formed a new firm—Karen Clark & Co.—to help companies better use catastrophe models in important risk management decisions. The Boston...
Category 4 Hurricane Flossie Keeps to Its Path Toward Hawaii
Aug 14 2007 // Hurricane Flossie roared toward Hawaii on Monday with its sustained wind increased to 140 mph, though forecasters said the Category 4 storm would weaken before passing by the islands. The hurricane was expected to pass...
Aggressive Wildfire Puts Firefighters on Defense in Idaho
Aug 14 2007 // Two cabins and a large outbuilding burned as wind-whipped flames flared 200 feet high Sunday on the Zena/Loon wildfire in north-central Idaho. No injuries were reported, but firefighters struggled to protect buildings in...
Fla. Cities can Apply for Hurricane Wilma Assistance
Aug 13 2007 // Additional federal money is being made available for home repairs in Florida communities affected by Hurricane Wilma almost two years ago, state officials said. The federal government is releasing a new $100 million...
Government Forecasters Join in Lowering Atlantic Hurricane Estimate… Slightly
Aug 10 2007 // Government forecasters have minimally reduced their prediction for the Atlantic hurricane season, but say that up to nine hurricanes and up to 16 tropical storms are expected to form, still a busier-than-average...
Lawmakers: Former Hurricane Center Head Should Get Old Job
Aug 9 2007 // If the ousted director of the National Hurricane Center is not allowed to return to his job, he should at least be assigned to his previous weather-related position, two lawmakers said Monday. U.S. Reps. Brad Miller,...
S&P Report Analyzes U.S. Insurers Hurricane Readiness
Aug 8 2007 // So far the U.S. hurricane season has been remarkable for its absence, but Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services questions whether that trend will continue. In a report, entitled “Are U.S. Insurers Ready If...
Former National Hurricane Center Director Asks for Job Back
Aug 3 2007 // The ousted director of the National Hurricane Center has asked for his job back, saying his removal was improper. Lawyers for Bill Proenza wrote in an 11-page letter that the manner and timing of his removal in July was...
House Committee Advances Bill to Extend Terrorism Reinsurance Backstop for 15 Years
Aug 2 2007 // The House Financial Services Committee voted yesterday to extend and expand the federal terrorism reinsurance law, going against the wishes of the Bush Administration. The panel voted by 49 to 20 in favor of H.R. 2761, the...
Senate Banking Panel to Hear Natural Disaster Commission Bill Today
Aug 1 2007 // A Senate Banking committee is scheduled to mark-up a bill today to establish a natural catastrophe commission to examine how best to mitigate disaster risks and deal with the after-effects of these events. The Senate...
Mich. Forest Wildfire Damages Homes, Forces Evacuations
Jul 31 2007 // A wildfire that started in eastern Michigan’s Huron National Forest and spread across 500 acres forced the evacuation of 100 residents and damaged at least three homes, police said July 30. State police Sgt. Tim...
Fla. Gov. Opens State Response Center for Disaster Preparedness
Jul 30 2007 // Florida Gov. Charlie Crist proclaimed July 26 “Get a Plan Day” by announcing the grand opening of Florida’s State Response Center in Orlando. Crist stressed the importance of disaster preparedness by...
Va. Evacuation Plan Adds 300 Hurricane Gates to Highways
Jul 24 2007 // Nearly 300 new hurricane gates are being installed between Richmond and Norfolk to make it easier to evacuate people fleeing the Hampton Roads area in case of a major storm. The $5.8 million project will add the gates to...
Calif. workers’ comp earthquake losses could exceed $150 million annually
Jul 23 2007 // California workers’ compensation insurers will need $180 million annually to pay for workers’ compensation losses induced by earthquakes, according to a recently released study by the Workers’...
Calif. Earthquake Authority pushes for industry assessments
Jul 23 2007 // Southbound Highway 880 traffic was routed around a damaged section of Highway 580 in Oakland, Calif., Monday, April 30, 2007. Crews sifted Monday through the wreckage of a collapsed freeway overpass, and emergency response...
Big California Wildfire Still a Potential Threat to Rural Homes
Jul 20 2007 // California firefighters have been working to stop a 28,346-acre wildfire from spreading in rugged Central Coast wilderness and posing a threat to rural homes, while rain aided the battle against an 8,250-acre forest fire...
Steam Explosion Causes Scare in NYC; Not Believed to Be Terrorism
Jul 20 2007 // New York City fire and emergency crews responded to the scene of a suspected steam explosion near Grand Central Station in Manhattan on Wednesday during the evening rush hour, officials said. The New York Police Department...
Strong Earthquake in Japan Takes 7 Lives, Destroys Hundreds of Homes
Jul 17 2007 // A strong earthquake struck northwestern Japan on Monday, destroying hundreds of homes, buckling seaside bridges and causing a fire at one of the world’s most powerful nuclear power plants. At least seven people were...
Group Seeks Site for Hurricane Center in Southwest La.
Jul 13 2007 // Though unsure exactly where it would be built or when, backers of a proposed National Hurricane Museum and Science Center in southwest Louisiana say they’re confident the $100 million project will become reality. The...
