Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Fatalities From Maui Wildfire Reach 100 After Death of Woman
Nov 17 2023 // The death toll from the wildfire that devastated the historic Maui town of Lahaina last summer has risen to 100 after a 78-year-old woman injured in the disaster died last month, officials said. The victim was among those...
Magnitude 3.6 Earthquake Rattles Parts of Northern Illinois, Parts of 3 Other States
Nov 16 2023 // STANDARD, Ill. (AP) __ A magnitude 3.6 earthquake rattled northern Illinois and parts of three other states early Wednesday, awakening some residents and spurring reports to 911 about homes shaking, the U.S. Geological...
Low-Intensity Fires Reduce Wildfire Risk by 60%, Study Finds
Nov 16 2023 // There is no longer any question of how to prevent high-intensity, often catastrophic, wildfires that have become increasingly frequent across the Western U.S., according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University...
Hurricane Otis’ Insured Losses Estimated at $2.5B-$6B: Moody’s RMS, Verisk
Nov 15 2023 // Moody’s RMS, the risk modeling and solutions company, estimates private market insured losses from Hurricane Otis to range between US$2.5 billion and US$4.5 billion. On the other hand, Verisk puts insured losses at...
5.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Remote Area of West Texas
Nov 14 2023 // MENTONE, Texas (AP) – An earthquake struck a sparsely populated and remote area of West Texas last Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, and the temblor could be felt hundreds of miles away. The USGS reports...
Federal Court Splits North Carolina Hurricane Insurance Claims
Nov 14 2023 // A North Carolina investment firm and its property insurer have each won partial victories in a dispute over hurricane insurance claims that has been in court since 2019. A federal district court judge for Eastern North...
Hawaii Wildfire Burning in Rainforest on Oahu
Nov 13 2023 // A wildfire burning in a remote Hawaii rainforest is underscoring a new reality for the normally lush island state just a few months after a devastating blaze on a neighboring island leveled an entire town and killed at...
The Value of Combining Models in Wildfire Risk Management
Nov 9 2023 // This post is part of a series sponsored by CoreLogic. Welcome to the final installment of our four-part series on wildfire hazard and risk management where we will explore the optimal use of CoreLogic’s wildfire risk...
Virginia Governor Declares State of Emergency Over Wildfires
Nov 8 2023 // Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency to assist firefighter response efforts on two wildfires around the state due to dry conditions and high winds. Two fires—the Quaker Run Fire in Madison...
Deadline for More Enhanced Hurricane Idalia Claims Data is Nov. 16
Nov 7 2023 // The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation wants property insurers to remember that another deadline for enhanced catastrophe reporting on Hurricane Idalia claims is Nov. 16. The OIR is required by law to collect a range...
As Acapulco Rebuilds After Hurricane Otis, Other Mexico Resorts Urged to Heed Lessons
Nov 6 2023 // Hurricane Otis not only devastated Acapulco, but also exposed fatal weaknesses in aging infrastructure, teaching hard lessons that coastal cities throughout Mexico must draw on. As Acapulco rebuilds after the deadly...
More SE Houses Being Built to Withstand Hurricanes – and Cut Emissions
Nov 6 2023 // When Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle five years ago, it left boats, cars and trucks piled up to the windows of Bonny Paulson`s home in the tiny coastal community of Mexico Beach, Florida, even though the house...
Southern California Wildfire That Prompted Evacuation Order Now 20% Contained
Nov 2 2023 // A wildfire fueled by Santa Ana winds that in southeast of Los Angeles, forcing about 4,000 people from their homes, has grown to 2,4897 acres and is now 20% contained. The Highland Fire started Monday afternoon in...
Hurricane Otis’ Impact on Mexico Insurance Industry Expected to Be ‘Controlled’: Fitch
Nov 2 2023 // Fitch Ratings expects Hurricane Otis’ effects on Mexico’s insurance industry to be controlled and within its current ratings expectations, the agency said in a statement on Wednesday. “Fitch Ratings...
Feeling the Strain of a Hurricane? Emergency Adjuster Licensing Can Help
Nov 2 2023 // This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync. Hurricane season is upon us once again, and while The Band of Heathens isn’t worried, the rest of us are preparing. So as homeowners brace for unprecedented winds...
Southern California Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Order for Thousands as Winds Fuel Flames
Nov 1 2023 // A wildfire fueled by Santa Ana winds ripped through rural land southeast of Los Angeles, forcing about 4,000 people from their homes, fire authorities said. The Highland Fire erupted at about 12:45 p.m. Monday in dry,...
Western Europe Braces for Worst Storm of Season With Hurricane-Strength Wind Gusts
Oct 31 2023 // Western Europe is bracing for the worst storm so far this season with hurricane-strength wind gusts and rain potentially disrupting travel and causing damage to buildings. Storm Ciaran will bring heavy rain and intense...
Magnitude 3.7 Earthquake Struck San Francisco Region
Oct 30 2023 // A magnitude 3.7 earthquake with its center at San Francisco`s international airport rattled the Bay Area Friday evening but there were no reports of damage. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the minor quake struck about...
Otis Likely to Be One of Costliest Hurricanes for Mexico Insurance Market: Gallagher Re
Oct 30 2023 // Hurricane Otis is expected to be one of the costliest natural catastrophe events in Mexico’s history with initial economic losses expected to top US$10 billion, according to Gallagher Re. Further, insured losses are...
Sentry in Wisconsin Contributes Another $350K to Support Maui Wildfire Recovery
Oct 27 2023 // Sentry Insurance in Wisconsin announced additional donations of $350,000 to bolster the ongoing Maui wildfire recovery efforts. The contribution brings the company’s total giving to Maui non-profits for direct...
