Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Hurricane Irma Brings Fierce Winds, Surf and Rain to Caribbean Islands
Sep 6 2017 // Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a century, churned across northern Caribbean islands on Wednesday with a potentially catastrophic mix of fierce winds, surf and rain, en route to a possible...
Florida’s Private Flood Insurers Could Face Big Test from Hurricane Irma
Sep 6 2017 // Hurricane Irma could test a nascent private flood insurance market in Florida that some advocates say is a model for making U.S. flood coverage more affordable and commonplace in high-risk areas. Florida’s private...
Powerful Hurricane Irma, on Path to Slam Caribbean Then Florida, Could Surpass Katrina
Sep 5 2017 // Hurricane Irma, the most powerful storm to form in the open Atlantic Ocean, made landfall in the Caribbean early Wednesday and barreled toward Puerto Rico on a path that may bring it ashore in Florida and destroy so much...
Earthquakes Rattle Southeast Idaho: USGS
Sep 5 2017 // The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed a moderate magnitude 5.3 earthquake has rumbled through southeast Idaho. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The epicenter of the quake was located 11 miles east of...
Western U.S. Wildfires Force Evacuations of Thousands
Sep 5 2017 // Wildfires forced thousands to flee their homes across the U.S. West during a sweltering, smoke-shrouded holiday weekend of record heat. The fires caused evacuations in Glacier National Park in Montana and many other parts...
Florida in State of Emergency as Category 5 Hurricane Irma Threatens
Sep 5 2017 // Florida declared a state of emergency before a possible hurricane strike after Irma strengthened to become a Category 5 storm on its approach to the Caribbean. Irma’s maximum winds rose as high as 175 miles an hour...
Hurricane Harvey Puts Pressure on Regional Insurers in Texas, Says A.M. Best
Sep 5 2017 // Losses anticipated from Hurricane Harvey are unlikely to exceed the top reinsurance limits of insurers writing business in Texas, according to new Best’s Special Report, titled, “Texas Insurers Expected to...
AGCS Expands Terrorism, Political Violence Coverage for U.S. Businesses
Sep 5 2017 // Allianz Group’s specialist corporate insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has launched coverage for U.S. businesses when faced with loss related to terrorism and political violence both at home and...
Remnants of Harvey Spawn Tornadoes, Floods Across Deep South
Sep 5 2017 // Wayne Doss surveys the damage to his cousin Danny Doss’ mobile home, which was completely destroyed by a tornado in Pickens County, Ala., after a tornado struck Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. The tornado damaged several...
Southern U.S., Caribbean Islands Brace for Hurricane Irma
Sep 4 2017 // Hurricane Irma, barreling toward the Caribbean and the southern United States, was upgraded to a powerful Category 4 storm on Monday as islands in its path braced for a possible onslaught. Hurricane advisories were issued...
Official Blames Humans for Utah’s Wildfire Cost Doubling
Sep 4 2017 // Utah State Forester Brian Cottam said “stupid human tricks” have led to the states’ wildfire bill being double what it usually is. Cottam says the cost to Utah for this year’s wildfires is projected...
Lessons Learned from Hurricane Andrew
Sep 4 2017 // How the Insurance Industry Can Mitigate the Next Big Natural Disaster As an industry, we knew there could be large and costly hurricanes. We witnessed the destruction that Category 5 Hugo wrought on the Carolinas in 1989....
25 Years Later: How Florida’s Insurance Industry Has Changed Since Hurricane Andrew
Sep 4 2017 // Aug. 24, 1992 was anything but a typical Monday for Robert Reynolds as he drove through debris-filled roads and devastation on the way to his family-run agency then located just north of Homestead, Fla. Hurricane Andrew...
Failed Communications Impacted Tennessee Wildfire Response
Sep 4 2017 // Records show failed communication systems hampered the response to last fall’s deadly Tennessee fires. Records that Sevier County began to release in August show that wind and fire on Nov. 28 combined to disable cell...
As Harvey Winds Down, Hurricane Irma Waiting in Wings
Sep 1 2017 // Hurricane Harvey has left major devastation in Texas, but there is another hurricane called Irma out in the Atlantic that could take aim at the United States within the next week or so. Irma became a hurricane early on...
4,500 Evacuated as Oregon Wildfires Burn
Aug 31 2017 // Wildfires in Oregon are burning an area roughly equivalent to half the state of Rhode Island, affecting air quality throughout the state and forcing the evacuations of more than 4,500 people, fire authorities said on Aug....
Small Earthquake Hits Near Subdivision on Hawaii’s Big Island
Aug 31 2017 // A magnitude 3.8 earthquake has struck the island of Hawaii. The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake hit at 3:52 p.m. Tuesday. Its epicenter was about 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) northeast of Hawaii Ocean View Estates,...
Montana Town Threatened by Wildfire; Hundreds Evacuate
Aug 31 2017 // Authorities in Montana ordered the evacuation of nearly 600 homes after a fire burning on a mountain ridge suddenly changed direction and threatened a popular destination for boaters, anglers and hikers. The fire near...
Climate Change and Hurricanes – The Worst Is Yet to Come
Aug 31 2017 // How powerful would Hurricane Harvey have been in 1880? How much stronger might it be in 2100? A single Hurricane Harvey has been more than anyone can bear. But to better prepare cities for future storms, researchers are...
Oregon Wildfires Have Cost Taxpayers More Than $100M in 2017
Aug 30 2017 // Oregon wildfires already have burned nearly 500 square miles this year, as one of the state’s many multimillion-dollar forest fires this season smolders and flares away. The Register-Guard reported the blaze, started...
