Latest Natural Disasters Headlines

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

PCI Claims Hurricane Ivan Proves Need for Tougher Fla. Building Code

Sep 20 2004 // Last month’s decision by the Florida Building Commission to add more stringent wind provisions to the Florida Building Code was reportedly especially perceptive in the wake of three – and possibly four –...

IAIABC Panel Takes Fresh Look at Terrorism

Sep 20 2004 // In a code orange New York, the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) took a fresh look at terrorism and its relation to workers’ compensation at its recent 90th Annual...

Ivan Not Finished With U.S.; I.I.I. Reports on Florida Hurricane Damage

Sep 18 2004 // While he lost his hurricane designation several days ago, what was Hurricane Ivan continued to bring misery to the United States, spawning more tornadoes and drenching areas from Georgia up through Pennsylvania in the last...

RMS: Potential Losses for Hurricane Ivan, $2 to $7 Billion

Sep 17 2004 // Risk Management Solutions (RMS), reported that insured losses from Hurricane Ivan in the U.S. are likely to range from $2 to $7 billion, based on updated information on landfall location and wind speeds. Additional insured...

Fitch Estimates Ivan May Become Second Costliest Hurricane For U.S. P/C Insurers

Sep 17 2004 // Chicago-based Fitch Ratings has issued some preliminary comments on the extent of the losses from Hurricane Ivan’s destructive rampage through Alabama, Florida and other Gulf Coast States. Fitch noted that...

Florida CFO Reports Progress in Emergency Response Efforts in Wake of Hurricane Ivan

Sep 17 2004 // Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, who also serves as the State Fire Marshal, on Friday offered an update on search and rescue efforts and thanked emergency responders for their crucial, life-saving...

Lessons Learned From Hurricanes Passed on to Owners Set to Rebuild

Sep 16 2004 // State and federal disaster recovery officials are urging owners who are rebuilding after hurricanes Charley and Frances to consider taking steps now to minimize damage in future storms. “There is no better time than...

Safeco Team Deployed for Hurricane Ivan

Sep 16 2004 // Seattle-based Safeco’s National Catastrophe Team is deploying additional claims professionals to Alabama and surrounding states to aide customers recovering from Hurricane Ivan. Safeco claims professionals are...

Hurricanes Have Travelers Flocking to Insurance Hotline

Sep 15 2004 // As Hurricane Ivan approaches the southeastern U.S. from the Caribbean, anxious travelers have the phones ringing at Travel Guard International. “As the hurricane approaches, causing evacuations and cancelled flights,...

The Allstate Foundation Extends Portion of Fund to Help Hurricane Victims

Sep 14 2004 // The Allstate Foundation will extend $200,000 from the $1 million fund established at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation to reportedly aid in the rebuilding and recovery of victims of the recent hurricanes. The...

S&P Concerned by Hurricane Ivan; “Challenges Insurers’ Predictive Models”

Sep 13 2004 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a bulletin indicating that it “views the approach of Hurricane Ivan, which is projected to be moving toward Florida, with concern.” Reinstatement...

Disaster Assistance Option for Insured Property Owners Following Hurricanes

Sep 13 2004 // People who have applied for assistance for hurricanes Charley or Frances may still be able to get help even if they got a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) telling them they are not eligible at...

Fla. Storm Victims Facing Double Deductibles from Hurricanes Charley, Frances

Sep 10 2004 // Florida CFO Tom Gallagher released a statement this week as the Sunshine State took a hit from Hurricane Frances, meantime keeping a watchful eye out for Hurricane Ivan, which was possibly headed for the Florida Keys by...

PCI: Hurricanes Prove Commercial Insurance Value

Sep 9 2004 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America has issued a bulletin, which notes: “Business owners who debate the need for insurance coverage can learn a valuable lesson from Hurricanes Charley and...

S&P Analyzes Potential Impact of Q3 Hurricanes; Questions Catastrophe Models

Sep 8 2004 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a prelimlinary report on the series of hurricanes, notably Frances and Charley, which have struck the U.S. S&P indicated: “Although it’s still too...

Swiss Re Estimates Aggregate Claims for Hurricanes Charley and Frances to be Under $300 million

Sep 8 2004 // Swiss Re announced that based on current estimates, it expects that its aggregate claims related to the hurricanes Charley and Frances will be under $300 million before tax. The reinsurer’s estimate on Hurricane...

Hard-Hit Floridians Can Turn to FEMA Grants, SBA Loans to Recover From Hurricanes

Sep 8 2004 // While insurance payments will reportedly help most Floridians recover from the financial losses inflicted by Hurricanes Charley and Frances, government grants and low interest loans will be available to help pay for the...

Powerful Hurricane Ivan Ravages Caribbean Islands; Could Strike U.S.

Sep 8 2004 // Hurricane Ivan continued its destructive path through the Southeastern Caribbean yesterday, pummeling Grenada, Barbados and Tobago with 120 mph (195km/hr) winds before moving back over open water. No deaths have so far...

Hurricane Ivan Threatens Caribbean Islands

Sep 7 2004 // Miami’s National Hurricane Center warned that Ivan is a “dangerous hurricane,” and is becoming “better organized as it rapidly approaches the Windward Islands,” triggering hurricane...

COLORADO HAILSTORMS CAUSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE:

Sep 6 2004 // A Colorado hailstorm left farmers and residents with damage amounting to millions of dollars, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. The insurance industry estimated that the hailstorms that...