Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Small Earthquake Strikes Near San Diego; No Damages Reported
Oct 19 2005 // A small earthquake occurred in the ocean off San Diego early Wednesday. The magnitude 4.1 quake hit at 1:51 a.m., 54 miles west of San Diego, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Institute of...
Mold a Threat After Hurricane Rita
Oct 19 2005 // Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by Hurricane Rita need to know that failure to remove mold and mildew properly can result in serious, long-term health problems, including asthma and other respiratory...
Wilma Forms into Hurricane, Rotating off Coast of Honduras
Oct 18 2005 // Wilma, the 21st named storm of the current season, strenthened to hurricane force today with sustained winds in excess of 75 mph (120 km/hr). The storm is still slowly rotating off the coast of Honduras, and hurricane...
Safeco Unveils Q3 Report; Hurricanes Play Major Role
Oct 18 2005 // Seattle-based Safeco reported solid third-quarter results, with net income of $101.1 million, or $0.80 per diluted share. This figure includes estimated after-tax net catastrophe losses of $115.8 million, or $0.91 per...
UPDATE: Wilma Gains Hurricane Status; U.S. Gulf Keeps Watch
Oct 18 2005 // Gaining a better defined center, Tropical Storm Wilma strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday on a path that could pose a threat to Florida by the weekend. At 11 a.m. EDT, Wilma had top sustained winds of near 75...
Continuing Battle against Wildfires Fuels Need for Insurance
Oct 17 2005 // As firefighters battled into last week trying to contain one of a number of brush fires in the Los Angeles area, residents throughout California are keeping a close eye on weather conditions and their insurance policies,...
PIA of Fla. Answers Hurricane Planning Questions
Oct 17 2005 // Forty key catastrophic planning questions and answers were presented by Ron Silverman, a Professional Insurance Agents of Florida instructor and owner of Silverman Insurance Agency in Deltona Beach, Fla., during...
Natural Disasters Are Just Part of Commissioners’ Concerns
Oct 17 2005 // In addition to natural disasters, health care coverage, federal oversight, uniformity and fraud were among issues of concern to the insurance commissioners of three states who comprised the Commis-sioners’ Panel at...
Dual Hurricanes Blew in Big Problems for Agribusiness in Louisiana,Texas
Oct 17 2005 // In addition to the immense destruction in heavily populated urban centers and coastal communities caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which hit the Gulf Coast region in August and September 2005, agricultural interests...
Continuing Battle against Wildfires Fuels Need for Insurance
Oct 17 2005 // As firefighters battled into last week trying to contain one of a number of brush fires in the Los Angeles area, residents throughout California are keeping a close eye on weather conditions and their insurance policies,...
Hurricane Katrina to Cost $40-$55 Billion for Privately Insured Losses
Oct 17 2005 // Hurricane Katrina is expected to result in $40 to $55 billion in private insurance payments, according to a new white paper developed by the Tillinghast and Reinsurance businesses of Towers Perrin. “Hurricane...
Hurricane Watch Issued for Cayman Islands; Storm May Impact U.S.
Oct 16 2005 // After a slight lull in the Atlantic hurricane season, things may be heating up again. A hurricane watch was in effect for the Cayman Islands as a tropical depression churned through the Atlantic on a path that may threaten...
La.’s Hibernia Corp. Warns of Hurricane-Related Costs
Oct 14 2005 // Hibernia Corp., a Louisiana-based banking company trying to complete its $5 billion acquisition by Capital One Financial Corp., warned it faces substantial costs and financial uncertainties stemming from Hurricane...
Jobless Claims in La. Reach Historic Levels After Hurricanes
Oct 14 2005 // The Louisiana Department of Labor reported it has paid out more than $3 million in Unemployment Insurance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits to victims of Hurricane Rita, while Katrina claims have topped $181...
Hurricanes Slow Aviation Premium Cuts, Report Says
Oct 14 2005 // The decline in airline insurance premium rates will slow during the October to December renewal season, despite a good industry safety record in 2005, according to the “Airline Insurance Market Review,” a new...
TDI Says Repairs After Rita May Need Windstorm Inspection
Oct 13 2005 // The Texas Department of Insurance issued a reminder to all homeowners along the Gulf Coast that damage to their dwellings by Hurricane Rita must be repaired in accordance with the Texas Windstorm Building Code (TWBC) if...
Horace Mann Estimates Hurricane Loss
Oct 13 2005 // Illinois-based Horace Mann Educators Corporation estimates its financial impact from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will total approximately $29 million to $33 million pretax, net of anticipated reinsurance...
Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance: No Expected Losses from Hurricanes
Oct 13 2005 // Chicago-based Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc. reported that it does not expect any losses related to the recent hurricane activity. SUA President and Chief Executive Officer Courtney Smith stated, “Our...
CNA Takes $280M Hit from Hurricanes
Oct 12 2005 // CNA Financial Corporation announced that its preliminary estimate of losses relating to Hurricane Katrina is approximately $280 million, after-tax. This estimate includes pretax gross commercial losses and loss expenses of...
RMS Creates Online Terrorism and Security Risk Manager
Oct 12 2005 // Risk Management Solutions (RMS), Newark, Calif., has announced the launch of a Terrorism and Security Risk Manager online service, a new information source for insurers writing global terrorism risk. The service is...
