Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Tornado-Hit States Rank High in Uninsured
Jun 6 2011 // Many of the states hammered by what’s already the deadliest year for tornadoes in more than half a century have among the nation’s highest rates of homes without hazard insurance despite being among the most...
Tornado Damages Philly Business
Jun 6 2011 // Weather officials have confirmed that a tornado descended on a northeast Philadelphia block late last month – tearing part of the roof off a beer distributor and bar and restaurant and demolishing a car repair...
Hurricanes and Floods
Jun 6 2011 // In light of the hurricane season that began June 1 and ongoing Mississippi and Atchafalaya flooding, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is imploring consumers to protect themselves and their property against...
States Hit Hardest by Recent Tornadoes Among Least Insured
Jun 6 2011 // Many of the states hammered by what’s already the deadliest year for tornadoes in more than half a century have among the nation’s highest rates of homes without hazard insurance despite being among the most...
2011 on Pace to Be Deadliest U.S. Tornado Year
Jun 6 2011 // The tornado that raked Joplin, Mo., was the deadliest single twister in the United States since 1953, putting 2011 on pace for a possible record year for tornado fatalities, U.S. weather experts said. As of May 25, this is...
Obama Consoles Tornado-Ravaged Missouri City
Jun 6 2011 // Exactly a week after the Missouri city of Joplin was nearly leveled by the deadliest tornado to strike the United States in decades, President Barack Obama visited the area to offer hope to survivors and promises of...
Eight Wildfires Burn in Arizona, Evacuations Ordered
Jun 3 2011 // Arizona is currently ablaze with eight wildfires burning thousands of acres of land and property and causing evacuations from some areas, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center. While most of the fires...
Massachusetts Digs out After Deadly Tornadoes
Jun 3 2011 // Residents of 19 small communities in central and western Massachusetts were left to deal with widespread damage this week, after at least two late-afternoon tornadoes shocked emergency officials and residents more...
Alabama City Faces Equipment Replacement Costs After Tornado
Jun 3 2011 // Officials in Tuscaloosa, Alabama say it will cost about $1.3 million to replace 47 vehicles and other pieces of equipment that were destroyed or damaged in the April 27 tornado. They say city taxpayers will be responsible...
May 24 Oklahoma Tornado Upgraded to EF-5
Jun 3 2011 // The National Weather Service has upgraded a tornado that tore through central Oklahoma on May 24 to EF-5, the highest rating given to tornadoes. The weather service in Norman said the tornado that started in Binger and...
Insurer Groups Say Windstorm Issue Must be Addressed in Texas
Jun 2 2011 // The Texas Legislature, which adjourned its regular session on May 30, passed a number of bills of interest to the property and casualty insurance industry, including tort reform legislation and a measure requiring that...
Above Average Number of Tornadoes in Oklahoma This Year
Jun 2 2011 // A meteorologist with the federal government’s Storm Prediction Center said on May 31 that Oklahoma has seen a greater than average number of tornadoes so far in 2011. Preliminary data from the agency show 63 reports...
9 Days After Tornado, Rebuilding Begins in Joplin, Missouri
Jun 2 2011 // Electrical crews hoisted power poles, small businesses opened in tents and residents snatched up construction supplies as rebuilding got underway nine days after a tornado tore through the southwest Missouri town of...
Hawaii Gov. Authorizes Raid of Hurricane Relief Fund
Jun 1 2011 // Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed legislation appropriating $42 million from the state’s Hurricane Reserve Trust Fund to the General Fund to help balance the state budget for fiscal year 2011, which ends June...
Northern Calif. Tornadoes Destroy Almond Crops
May 31 2011 // Officials say tornadoes that touched down in a rural area of Northern California destroyed hundreds of acres of almond orchards. The twisters hit Butte and Glenn counties on May 25. Colleen Cecil with the Butte County Farm...
President Obama Consoles Tornado-Ravaged Missouri City
May 31 2011 // Exactly a week after the Missouri city of Joplin was nearly leveled by the deadliest tornado to strike the U.S in decades, President Barack Obama visited to offer hope to survivors and promises of help. On May 29, Obama...
Demise of Windstorm Agency Overhaul Prompts Special Session in Texas
May 31 2011 // Texas lawmakers were unable to come to terms on an overhaul of the state-backed insurer of last resort for wind and hail along the Texas coast, so they’ll be returning to Austin in July to try again. Their failure to...
Storm Scientists Assess Year’s Series of Deadly Tornadoes
May 31 2011 // Storm science has greatly improved tornado warnings in recent years. But if that’s led anyone into a sense of security, that feeling has taken a beating in recent weeks. Super Outbreak 2011, on April 25-28, killed...
Florida Wildfire Danger High Heading Into Memorial Day Weekend
May 27 2011 // The danger of wildfire is very high throughout Florida due to lack of rain, low humidity and windy conditions. Jim Karels, director of the Florida Division of Forestry at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer...
Joplin Tornado Death Toll Rises; Engineers Assess Hospital Damage
May 27 2011 // Rescue and recovery work in Joplin, Missouri was shadowed by uncertainty as crews still hoping to find survivors combed areas that had already been searched several times and engineers entered the battered Joplin hospital...
