Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
California Does Not Have a Wildfire Insurance Crisis
May 29 2019 // It’s understandable that wildfire is on the top of mind for California lawmakers this session. Coming on the heels of the 2017 wildfire season that saw $13.2 billion in insured losses, the fires last November that...
8 Tornadoes, Hail Hit Colorado’s Northeastern Plains
May 29 2019 // Severe thunderstorms produced eight weak tornadoes over Colorado’s northeastern plains while snow fell in parts of the mountains on the unofficial start of summer. The National Weather Service says no damage was...
Insurers Face Minimal Losses from Peru and Ecuador Earthquake: A.M. Best
May 29 2019 // A.M. Best said it does not foresee a major impact to the domestic insurance markets in Peru or Ecuador following a significant earthquake centered in Peru that also affected several provinces in neighboring Ecuador. On May...
AAA Survey: Floridians Concerned for Upcoming Hurricane Season
May 29 2019 // Floridians are becoming more concerned about hurricane season, after enduring four major storms in the past three years, including a category five last year, according to a survey from AAA. The AAA survey, conducted online...
Weekend Tornadoes Rake Oklahoma, Killing 2, Injuring 29
May 28 2019 // A tornado leveled a motel and tore through a mobile home park near Oklahoma City overnight, killing two people and injuring at least 29 others before a second twister raked a suburb of Tulsa more than 100 miles (160...
Texas Windstorm Insurer Withdraws 10% Rate Increase Filing
May 28 2019 // Texas’ property insurer of last resort for wind and hail along the Texas coast voted at a May 24, 2019, meeting of its board of directors to withdraw a 10% rate increase filed last year that was subsequently put on...
Watchdog Report: North Carolina Delayed Spending Federal Hurricane Matthew Funds
May 24 2019 // Administrative mistakes and a lack of expertise caused delays in North Carolina’s spending of federal funds for Hurricane Matthew recovery, according to a report released Monday from the General Assembly’s...
Recovery Begins in Missouri’s Capital After Tornado Sweeps Area
May 24 2019 // A tornado tore apart buildings in Missouri’s capital city as part of an outbreak of severe weather across the state overnight that left at least three people dead and dozens injured. The National Weather Service...
Forecasters Say Hawaii May Have Busy Hurricane Season
May 24 2019 // Hawaii and the Central Pacific could experience more storms than normal during this year’s hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted Wednesday there will be five to eight named...
As Many as 8 Hurricanes Forecast for ‘Near Normal’ 2019 Hurricane Season
May 24 2019 // As many as 8 hurricanes may form in the Atlantic in 2019, a “near normal” season following two years of storms that have left a trail of death and destruction in the Caribbean and U.S. coast. Nine to 15 named...
Bankruptcy Judge Approves PG&E $105 Million Assistance Fund for Wildfire Victims
May 23 2019 // PG&E Corp. may set up a $105 million housing fund for victims of 2017 and 2018 wildfires in California, which set records for devastation and were blamed on the utility’s equipment, the judge overseeing the...
What Might Happen If Congress Fails to Renew Terrorism Reinsurance Program
May 22 2019 // The long-term viability of the U.S. property terrorism insurance market is back in the spotlight as Congress looks at renewing the federal reinsurance backstop, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act...
Wood-Panel Producer Norbord Halts Mill Production Following Alberta Wildfires
May 22 2019 // Norbord Inc said on Tuesday it suspended production at its oriented strand board (OSB) mill in High Level, Alberta, to comply with evacuation orders following nearby wildfires. More than 4,000 people from High Level and...
Nevada Reaches Tentative Settlement Homeowners and Insurers in Wildfire Suit
May 21 2019 // The state of Nevada has reached a tentative settlement with dozens of homeowners and insurance companies that filed an $80 million negligence lawsuit after a fire destroyed 24 homes when strong winds reignited a smoldering...
Tornadoes Rake Texas, Oklahoma, Plains
May 20 2019 // A spate of tornadoes raked across the Southern Plains, leaving damage and causing few injuries, and parts of the region were bracing for more severe thunderstorms and possible flooding. Twisters destroyed at least two...
Hurricane Florence 9th Most Destructive Storm, Caused $24B in Damage
May 20 2019 // Hurricane Florence killed 22 people across three Southeastern states, was the ninth most destructive storm in terms of property damage in U.S. history and spawned 44 tornadoes, according to a report from the National...
North Carolina Town Damaged by Tornado
May 17 2019 // Officials say that a tornado roared through Wake County, North Carolina for up to eight miles, uprooting trees and damaging houses and roads throughout the town of Zebulon. No injuries have been reported. Two rounds of...
Milliman: Hurricane Katrina Litigation Could Hike Mississippi Homeowners Rates
May 16 2019 // Mississippi homeowners could see premiums rise up to 25 percent thanks to Hurricane Katrina-related subrogation litigation being brought by the Mississippi attorney general, according to a recent report by Milliman. The...
Investigators Blame PG&E Lines for Deadliest Wildfire in California History
May 15 2019 // State fire investigators have determined that transmission lines owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Co caused the deadliest and most destructive wildfire on record in California, a blaze that killed 85 people last year,...
Hurricane-Force Winds Damage Buildings on Alabama Coast
May 15 2019 // The National Weather Service says hurricane-force winds left a trail of damage on the Alabama coast. An assessment from forecasters says winds blowing from 70 mph to 80 mph (113 kph to 129 kph) ripped metal roofing off...
