Latest Natural Disasters Headlines

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

Central Florida Clean Up Continues in Wake of Deadly, Costly Tornados

Feb 5 2007 // Officials in central Florida resumed search and rescue operations amid more thunderstorms Saturday, a day after powerful tornados killed at least 20 people and left a swath of central Florida in shambles. Violent...

Carvill Issues 2006 Hurricane Report

Jan 31 2007 // ReAdvisory, the analytical arm of specialty reinsurance intermediary Carvill, has released a white paper titled: “2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season in Review,” which examines recent weather patterns in the...

BRACING FOR THE “BIG ONE:” EARTHQUAKES JUST AS RISKY”

Jan 29 2007 // Although hurricanes have received wide attention in the media, earthquake exposure also should be a significant concern. Forecasts of potential damages indicate that earthquake destruction could be just as massive as that...

Windstorm expected to be major insurance issue for Texas lawmakers

Jan 29 2007 // Funding for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Asso-ciation (TWIA) may not be the only insurance issue on lawmakers’ plates during the 2007 session of the Texas Legislature, but it will likely be the most high profile...

Eqecat Analysis Predicts Risk for Insured Losses from U.S. Hurricanes Higher

Jan 29 2007 // Oakland, Calif.-based Eqecat Inc. is predicting that in the next decade, the risk for insured losses from hurricanes in the United States will be higher than the long-term average derived from 100 years of data, according...

CALIF. HOSPITALS MAY NOT MEET EARTHQUAKE SAFETY STANDARDS

Jan 29 2007 // Nearly half of California hospital buildings in danger of collapsing during a major earthquake will not meet a state deadline for safety improvements, according to a new study. Standards passed after the deadly 1994...

Windstorm expected to be major insurance issue for Texas lawmakers

Jan 28 2007 // Funding for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Asso-ciation (TWIA) may not be the only insurance issue on lawmakers’ plates during the 2007 session of the Texas Legislature, but it will likely be the most high profile...

Calif. hospitals may not meet earthquake safety standards

Jan 28 2007 // Nearly half of California hospital buildings in danger of collapsing during a major earthquake will not meet a state deadline for safety improvements, according to a new study. Standards passed after the deadly 1994...

Building Codes Worked During Hurricane Rita, Study Shows

Jan 26 2007 // A study of 9,835 reported claims on residential dwellings damaged in Hurricane Rita conducted by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) shows that building codes work, the association announced. TWIA is the...

La. Gov. Criticizes Bush for No Mention of Hurricane Recovery in Speech

Jan 25 2007 // Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco angrily criticized President George W. Bush on Jan. 24 for leaving out of his State of the Union speech any mention of the hurricanes that devastated Louisiana in 2005 and complained that her...

Earthquake Rattles Indonesia, But No Major Destruction

Jan 23 2007 // A 7.3-magnitude earthquake rattled buildings in northeastern Indonesia Sunday, causing panicked residents to flee homes, churches and shopping malls in fear of a tsunami that never came, officials and witnesses said. A...

Study: Many California Hospitals Will Not Meet Deadline for Earthquake Safety Measures

Jan 22 2007 // Nearly half of California hospital buildings in danger of collapsing during a major earthquake will not meet a state deadline for safety improvements, according to a new study. Tough standards passed after the deadly 1994...

AAIS Files Terrorism Loss Costs in Commercial Properties

Jan 19 2007 // The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) is introducing loss costs for pricing terrorism coverage in its Commercial Properties Program. A countrywide manual supplement filing, now underway, will substitute the...

Report: U.S. Rails with Hazardous Materials Vulnerable to Terrorists

Jan 18 2007 // Train lines that carry hazardous shipments have little or no police presence and shoddy security that makes them easy targets for terrorists, according to a newspaper investigation. During a several-month, nationwide...

La. Resident Pleads Guilty to Hurricane-Related Federal Fraud Charge

Jan 18 2007 // A Louisiana resident pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on a charge of fraud related to hurricane disaster relief programs, U.S. Attorney David R. Dugas of the Middle District of...

Fla. Session Day 1: Expanding State’s Hurricane Cat Fund Tops the Agenda

Jan 17 2007 // When Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio and State Senate President Ken Pruitt slammed their gavels in opposite sides of the Florida Capitol Tuesday signaling commencement of a special legislative session, the hopes and...

Burns & Wilcox To Offer Commercial Earthquake Coverage

Jan 16 2007 // Burns & Wilcox, a Farmington Hills, Mich.-based national specialty insurance wholesaler, underwriter and managing general agent, is offering of a new commercial “all risks” property program that includes...

P/C Execs Expect Terrorism Insurance Renewal, Win in Katrina Suits

Jan 11 2007 // Leaders of the property/casualty insurance industry expect Congress to extend the Terrorism Risk and Insurance Act in 2007, according to a survey conducted by the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) at its 11th annual...

Earthquake Rattles Two Southeastern Oklahoma Towns

Jan 11 2007 // Oklahoma’s first earthquake of 2007 rattles two small southeastern towns, authorities said. No damage or injuries were reported when the 2.5 temblor hit the western Coal County communities of Tupelo and Clarita about...

Citation Re Offers Stand-Alone Terrorism Coverage

Jan 9 2007 // Citation Re, a New York- based reinsurance company, is making available terrorism coverage for suburban risks. This stand-alone terrorism coverage has limits up to $65 million. Citation Re also announced the promotion of...