Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Texas Insurance Industry Could Face Cash Crunch if Major Hurricane Hit
Sep 1 2004 // The Texas insurance industry could find itself in a cash crunch if a storm like Hurricane Charley hit the coast, and insurers could be forced to pass on the costs to homeowners across the state, industry officials...
UPDATE: Category 3 Hurricane Frances Still Heading towards U.S.
Aug 31 2004 // The National Hurricane Center’s latest bulletin on Hurricane Frances, issued this morning, confirmed that the storm is a category 3 hurricane, packing winds near 125 mph (205 km/hr.) with higher gusts. The NHC said...
Tropical Storm Hermine Heads for Northeastern U.S.
Aug 30 2004 // Although Tropical Storm Hermine is currently around 450 miles (720 kms.) off the coast of North Carolina, its projected path puts it on a course for the Northeastern U.S. by later this week. Hermine isn’t a...
Hurricane Frances Heading towards U.S.
Aug 30 2004 // The National Hurricane Center in Miami is currently tracking Frances, another powerful storm, which could strike the U.S. mainland by the end of the week. Frances is packing sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) with...
Typhoon Chaba Hits Southern Japan
Aug 30 2004 // Typhoon Chaba, packing 130 mph (210 km/h) winds, struck the Southern Japanese Island of Kyushu earlier today, knocking out electrical power to some 300,000 homes, and causing 6000 people to be evacuated to higher ground,...
S.C Hit by Tropical Storm Gaston
Aug 30 2004 // South Carolina residents steeled themselves for a battering early Sunday as Tropical Storm Gaston, just under hurricane strength, picked up speed as it spun toward the South Carolina coast. Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., who...
Zenith Estimates Losses Related to Hurricane Charley
Aug 27 2004 // Zenith National Insurance Corp. reported its initial estimate of losses in its assumed reinsurance business attributable to Hurricane Charley. Zenith currently expects that its net after tax loss from Hurricane Charley...
European Insurers Consider Certain Terrorist Risk Exclusions for Airlines
Aug 26 2004 // Europe’s leading insurers are reportedly considering several clauses in airline insurance contracts that would exclude coverage for attacks involving chemical, biological and nuclear materials. The effort, headed by...
Shasta County Declared Disaster after Wildfires
Aug 26 2004 // Shasta County, California was named a state disaster area Aug. 25 after wildfires swept through several communities there earlier this month. The fires burned 23,000 acres, destroying 106 homes and several historic...
CNA Announces Preliminary Loss Exposure Estimate Related to Hurricane Charley
Aug 26 2004 // CNA Financial Corporation reported its preliminary estimate of net losses related to Hurricane Charley. While it is too early to estimate precisely the financial impact on CNA of this catastrophe, based upon information...
ProCentury Announces Limited Exposure to Hurricane Charley
Aug 26 2004 // Ohio-based ProCentury Corporation, a specialty property and casualty insurance holding company, announced it expects to have limited losses attributable to Hurricane Charley. Based on estimates generated from catastrophe...
Typhoon Aere Hits Taipei; South China on High Alert
Aug 25 2004 // Even as Typhoon Aere continued to ravage Northern Taiwan and the capital Taipei with 84 mph (140km/h) winds and heavy rains, authorities on the Chinese mainland were preparing for the storm’s arrival. Aere has...
Safeco Estimates Losses From Hurricane Charley
Aug 25 2004 // Seattle-based Safeco announced that claims stemming from Hurricane Charley are estimated at $45 million in pretax catastrophe losses. This figure represents the estimated losses both from claims received through Aug. 24,...
Strategic Planning is Key to Wildfire Recovery
Aug 25 2004 // As the anniversary of the 2003 wildfires approaches, fire survivors may face deadlines for replacing possessions and for the additional living expenses provided by their home insurance coverage. A careful review of their...
Platinum Estimates Net Impact From Hurricane Charley at $20 Million to $35 Million
Aug 24 2004 // Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. announced that on the basis of currently available information, it estimates that after-tax losses from Hurricane Charley, net of reinstatement premiums, will range from $20 million to...
Typhoon Aere Bearing Down on Taiwan
Aug 24 2004 // Typhoon Aere is reported to be on a collision course towards Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, after pelting the northern portion of the island with high winds and rain. According to forecasters’ estimates the storm is...
White Mountains, Montpelier Re Hurricane Charley Loss Estimates May Top $100 Million
Aug 24 2004 // In separate announcements Bermuda’s White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. and its insurance operation, Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd., released estimates of losses the companies may suffer as a result of claims from...
Starr Foundation to Donate $1 Million to Hurricane Charley Relief Efforts
Aug 24 2004 // An announcement from American International Group notes that the Starr Foundation will donate $1 million to the Hurricane Charley relief effort. “The donation, which will be managed by the Volunteer Florida...
Ohio Casualty Corp. Announces Loss Estimates from Hurricane Charley
Aug 24 2004 // Ohio Casualty Corporation announced that it expects net catastrophe losses in the range of $6 to $8 million before-tax from Hurricane Charley. The catastrophe loss impact for Hurricane Charley is expected to add...
Hurricane Spin-down
Aug 23 2004 // Nuts & Bolts: ACE USA introduced hurricane spin-down insurance that can be used by the chemical process industry to help reduce the financial costs of closing down plant operations in response to the threat of a...
