Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Catastrophe Bond Investors to Gain from Mild Hurricane Season
Nov 21 2006 // Investors who bet against the odds of another devastating Atlantic hurricane season now stand to cash in big-time on “catastrophe bonds.” Contrary to expert predictions, the season turned out to be the mildest...
At Least 3 Dead in N.C. Tornadoes That Swept Across South
Nov 17 2006 // Thunderstorms that tore up homes and buildings across the South hit North Carolina early Thursday, killing at least three people and leaving thousands without power. Another person died Wednesday as a tornado swept through...
Crescent City Harbor Suffers Up To $700K in Tsunami Damages
Nov 17 2006 // The National Weather Service lifted a tsunami advisory hours before powerful waves damaged docks and tore boats from their moorings in Northern California. Forecasters said they were wary of causing chaos along the...
Tsunami Waves Minimal after Undersea Japan Quake
Nov 16 2006 // A strong undersea earthquake south of the Kuril Islands off Japan’s northwest coast, which measured up to 8.1 on the Richter Scale, failed to produce any significant tsunami’s Following the quake, warnings went...
Texas Commissioner Agrees to Windstorm Rate Hikes
Nov 16 2006 // Although not as substantial as those sought by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin signed an order on Nov. 15 giving TWIA rate hikes of 3.7 percent for commercial property...
New Research Center in Miss. Aims for Better Hurricane Forecasts
Nov 15 2006 // Scientists at a new research institute are studying ways to improve hurricane forecasts and protect the U.S. Gulf Coast’s natural resources from storms, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...
SOUTHEAST TOPS TOP 10 HURRICANE-PRONE AREAS
Nov 6 2006 // Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, director of the International Hurricane Research Center at Florida International University, in Miami released the Top 10 List that nobody wants to be on: the 10 Most Vulnerable U.S. Mainland...
Hawaii’s earthquake losses, not earthquake policies, on the rise
Nov 6 2006 // Estimated damages from the two earthquakes that struck Hawaii on Oct. 15 have been rising. Yet the recent disaster has not spurred homeowners and businesses to purchase earthquake coverage, according the state’s...
Hawaii acknowledges tsunami warning deficiencies
Nov 6 2006 // Hawaii may have just suffered through two earthquakes, but the state says it has a potential flood problem. Hawaii’s tsunami warning system has serious deficiencies in reliability and coverage area, according to...
Southeast tops top 10 hurricane-prone areas
Nov 5 2006 // Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, director of the International Hurricane Research Center at Florida International University, in Miami released the Top 10 List that nobody wants to be on: the 10 Most Vulnerable U.S. Mainland...
Hawaii’s earthquake losses, not earthquake policies, on the rise
Nov 5 2006 // Estimated damages from the two earthquakes that struck Hawaii on Oct. 15 have been rising. Yet the recent disaster has not spurred homeowners and businesses to purchase earthquake coverage, according the state’s...
Hawaii Acknowledges Tsunami Warning Deficiencies
Nov 2 2006 // Hawaii’s tsunami warning system has serious deficiencies in reliability and coverage area, according to state emergency officials. About 100 of the tsunami sirens don’t have emergency backup power, meaning they...
Evacuees Return to Find Homes Destroyed by Calif. Wildfire
Nov 1 2006 // While crews made progress on a wildfire that killed four firefighters, evacuees began returning to their homes — often to find nothing left. Carol Hurley stood Saturday at the still-smoldering wreckage of a...
Fewer Hurricanes Allow St. Paul Travelers 3rd Quarter Profit to Soar
Oct 27 2006 // Minneapolis-based St. Paul Travelers Cos. Inc. reported a six-fold increase in earnings and raised its guidance for the full year after clearing the third quarter without significant hurricane losses. Insurers struggled...
Palm Springs Homes Evacuated as Wildfire Sweeps Through Dry Brush
Oct 27 2006 // A wildfire swept through dry brush near Palm Springs, Calif., early Thursday, threatening homes and businesses and forcing evacuations. The blaze had burned more than 800 acre (320 hectares) within its first six hours, and...
Hawaii Insurance Commissioner Issues Notice of Earthquake Coverage
Oct 27 2006 // The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division has issued a notice to residents that some relief for earthquake related losses may be available under homeowners’ policies. “As you...
AIR Sees Possible $50 Billion European Windstorm Insured Losses
Oct 26 2006 // Boston-based consultant and catastrophe risk modeler AIR Worldwide Corporation has released a new analysis of European extratropical cyclones, which confirms that Europe could experience a winter storm resulting in insured...
Hurricane risk reduces prospective profit of homeowners insurance
Oct 23 2006 // Increases in homeowners insurance rates have not been sufficient thus far to provide an adequate return on equity on homeowners insurance, making further increases necessary, according to an analysis by Aon Re. With...
Fla. Honors Retiring Hurricane Forecaster Mayfield
Oct 20 2006 // Governor Jeb Bush and members of the Florida Cabinet passed a resolution this week honoring Max Mayfield’s career in public service. As director of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)...
Oregon Hosts Wildfire Summit Workshops in November
Oct 20 2006 // The Oregon Department of Forestry and Office of the STate Fire Marshall, in partnership with Allstate Insurance Co., is offering workshops for insurance producers on wildfires. Sessions will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15...
