Latest Natural Disasters Headlines

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

RMS Revises Hurricane Katrina Loss Estimate to $20-$35 Billion

Sep 4 2005 // Risk Management Solutions (RMS) increased its estimated insured losses forecast for Hurricane Katrina’s direct impact to $20-$35 billion late last week. When Katrina’s landfall, RMS released a preliminary...

The Allstate Foundation Earmarks $1M for Hurricane Katrina Recovery

Sep 2 2005 // The Allstate Foundation is establishing a $1 million “Hurricane Recovery Fund” to aid the thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims. Foundation funds will be administered by organizations in the affected...

Fireman’s Fund Declares Moratorium On Policy Cancellations for Hurricane Katrina Victims

Sep 2 2005 // Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. based in Novato, Calif., has declared a temporary moratorium on canceling or non-renewing personal and commercial insurance policies in areas severely affected by Hurricane...

Industry Reaches Out to Lead Hurricane Katrina Recovery Efforts

Sep 2 2005 // Join the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (www.iicf.org) and Insurance Journal for a nationwide campaign to raise funds on behalf of the insurance industry in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. President...

Miss. Insurers Directed to Grant Grace Periods in Hurricane-Impacted Areas

Sep 2 2005 // Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale has requested all insurance companies doing business in Mississippi to grant a 60-day grace period for collection of insurance policy premiums owed by residents of the state...

IIAT Spearheads Aid Drive for Hurricane Katrina Victims

Sep 2 2005 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas is spearheading a relief effort of agent donations by contributing $25,000 to assist independent agents in Louisiana, Mississippi and other states who are victims of Hurricane...

‘Casual Friday’ Kicks Off NAMIC ‘Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund’ to Aid the American Red Cross

Sep 2 2005 // A Hurricane Katrina relief fund has been established by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies with contributions going directly to the American Red Cross, according to Chuck Chamness, NAMIC president. The...

WellPoint Pledges $500,000 in Hurricane Katrina Relief

Sep 1 2005 // WellPoint Inc. announced that the WellPoint foundations will immediately contribute $500,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to support relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The company has also...

Homeowners Insurance ‘Additional Living Expenses’ Coverage Can Help People Displaced By Hurricane Katrina

Sep 1 2005 // Many residents forced from their homes by Hurricane Katrina have insurance coverage under their homeowners insurance policies to pay for food and housing and other essentials of daily life, termed additional living expense...

Congress Considers Emergency Session Regarding Hurricane Aid; Economy Takes Hit

Sep 1 2005 // Several media outlets reported Thursday afternoon that Congress is considering a special meeting later today or Friday to debate and get passed an emergency aid package for the Hurricane Katrina victims House Speaker...

Best: Most Insurers Will Meet Hurricane Katrina’s Financial Commitments

Sep 1 2005 // In response to Hurricane Katrina, A.M. Best Co. has begun to aggregate public and private information in order to assess the financial impact it will have on the global property/casualty insurance and reinsurance...

InsurBanc Offering Short Term Loans To Agencies Hurt by Hurricane

Sep 1 2005 // InsurBanc, a financial services provider for independent insurance agencies, has put together a special loan program for qualifying agency principals affected by Hurricane Katrina. Realizing that independent agency owners...

The Midland Co. Assessing Hurricane Katrina Losses

Sep 1 2005 // Ohio-based The Midland Company is currently assessing the anticipated losses from Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall along the borders of Louisiana and Mississippi earlier this week. “Access to some of the most...

Insurer Pays $11 Million in Wisc. Tornado Claims

Aug 31 2005 // American Family Insurance of Madison has paid out $11 million in damage claims so far as a result of the Aug. 18 tornadoes that hit central Wisconsin. The insurer provided an update Wednesday on damage claims stemming from...

NBIS – ProBuilders Offering Assistance to Contractors in Several Hurricane-Stricken States

Aug 31 2005 // In an effort to alleviate some of the pain that Hurricane Katrina has brought to the southeastern part of the United States, ProBuilders is offering reduced premiums to those contractors licensed and domiciled in the...

Web Site Provides List of Hurricane Katrina Survivors, Those Unknown

Aug 31 2005 // A list of survivors and those whose fate is unknown following Hurricane Katrina is up and running at www.gulfcoastnews.com. The site has a survivor list with the person’s hometown address and the latest updates on...

Tropical Storm Katrina to Bring Rain, High Winds Into Tennessee Valley

Aug 30 2005 // Tropical storm Katrina was 35 miles south of Clarksville, Tenn. on Tuesday morning, moving north-northeast at 18 mph. Predictions by the National Hurricane Center indicate it should take a turn toward the northeast, gain...

Katrina Now a Tropical Storm; High Winds, Flooding, Possible Tornadoes Still a Threat

Aug 29 2005 // The National Hurricane Center has downgraded Katrina to a tropical storm in the last few hours and issued warnings from Lake Ponchartrain and the mouth of the Pearl River, eastward to the Alabama/Florida border. All other...

Fitch: Katrina Likely to be Largest Insured Loss Since 9/11, 1992’s Hurricane Andrew

Aug 29 2005 // Hurricane Katrina likely will be the largest insured loss from a single event since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and the largest U.S. hurricane loss since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Fitch Ratings said...

UPDATE: Emergency Aid Authorized for Hurricane Katrina Emergency Response in Louisiana

Aug 28 2005 // Michael Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced that Federal resources are being allocated to support emergency protective response efforts response efforts in the...