Latest Natural Disasters Headlines

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

Hurricane Ophelia Lashes Cape Lookout, N.C.; Serious Flooding, 11-foot Storm Surge Predicted

Sep 15 2005 // Hurricane warnings are up over a 220 mile stretch of North Carolina’s coast, from Surf City, north of Wilmington to the Virginia line as officials fear serious flooding and a possible 11-foot storm surge. Early...

Meadowbrook Insurance Group Expects No Big Hits from Hurricane Katrina

Sep 15 2005 // Meadowbrook Insurance Group Inc. on Thursday reported that, although potential claims information is very preliminary, it does not expect its net losses to be significant from Hurricane Katrina. Meadowbrook President and...

AXA RE Estimates Impact of Hurricane Katrina Losses at $200 Million

Sep 15 2005 // AXA RE, the active reinsurer of France’s AXA Group, said the impact from Hurricane Katrina will probably result in total net losses of approximately $200 million before tax. “This estimate is net of reinsurance...

Crawford & Co. Adjusting Claims in Unusual Circumstances Following Hurricane Katrina

Sep 15 2005 // The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which looks to be the worst natural disaster the United States has ever experienced, has created unusual circumstances that even the most seasoned of Crawford & Company’s...

Industry Opens Hurricane Insurance Information Center

Sep 15 2005 // In the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. insurance industry has established the Hurricane Insurance Information Center (HIIC) in Jackson, Mississippi. Additional centers will be opened in other Gulf Coast...

Hurricane Ophelia Packs 85 mph Winds, Pounds the Coast 40 Miles East of Wilmington, N.C.

Sep 14 2005 // Hurricane Ophelia, a Category One hurricane packing 85 mph sustained winds, is raking the North Carolina coast with strong winds and blowing rain. The center of Ophelia is 40 miles east of Wilmington, N.C. and about 50...

Congress Eyes Tax Changes to Aid Hurricane Victims

Sep 14 2005 // Lawmakers in the nation’s capital have proposed tax changes to encourage charitable giving and help victims of Hurricane Katrina get back on their feet. The Senate’s top tax writers offered a package of tax aid...

Republic Reports on Losses from Hurricane Katrina

Sep 14 2005 // Republic Companies Group Inc., headquartered in Dallas, released information regarding its response to Hurricane Katrina and the financial effects of this Category 4 hurricane on the third quarter results of Republic. In...

IIAH to Help With Agency Buddy System for Agents Displaced by Hurricane

Sep 12 2005 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Houston announced that IIAH has been contacted by IIABA about the possibility of setting up an “agency buddy system” with the three state associations hit by Hurricane...

Colo. Residents Settle Wildfire Lawsuit with Energy Provider

Sep 12 2005 // Jamestown, Colo. residents who sued Xcel Energy after losing homes or property in a wildfire in 2003 have settled their lawsuit against the company. The 49 plaintiffs agreed not to disclose financial terms of the...

S&P Analyzes Earthquake Threat for Japan’s Property/Casualty Companies

Sep 12 2005 // “The one-two punch of insurance payouts and share price losses following a major earthquake in Tokyo would not immediately jeopardize insurance companies’ ability to pay claims, but could have a negative impact...

Hurricane Ophelia Taunts 250-Mile Stretch of S.C., N.C.

Sep 12 2005 // Hurricane Ophelia circled in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South and North Carolina on Sunday and will continue to do so today. More than 250 miles of coastline has been placed under a tropical storm watch from...

AXIS Says Hurricane Katrina Losses ‘Within Current Expectations’

Sep 12 2005 // Bermuda-based AXIS Capital Holdings Limited gave no figures for its estimated net losses from Hurricane Katrina, but indicated that they “are estimated to be within its current expectations of consolidated operating...

Lethal Typhoon Khanun Hits Northeast China; Nine Deaths Reported

Sep 12 2005 // At least nine people have lost their lives, many more are injured or missing, and more than one million have been evacuated as Typhoon Khanun lashed China’s Zheijang province with high winds and torrential rains. The...

Big ‘I’ CEO Panel Addresses Disaster Preparedness, Future of TRIA

Sep 12 2005 // The insurance industry is hoping that a federal case will be made out of disaster preparedness and response following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. As their claims adjusters and agents scurried to handle the record...

LDI Web Site a Primary Source for Hurricane Katrina Recovery Information

Sep 12 2005 // The Louisiana Department of Insurance is updating daily important information regarding recovery from Hurricane Katrina, including company contact information, on the department’s Web site at...

Hurricane Ophelia Hits 85 mph, Stationary Off S.C., N.C.

Sep 10 2005 // Hurricane Ophelia has gained strength, with hurricane-force winds of 85 mph with higher gusts and is expected to make landfall along the southeast Atlantic coast Sunday evening or Monday–but the National Hurricane...

New Orleans Flood Adds $15-$25B in Hurricane Katrina Insured Losses; Total Estimated Losses Rises to $40-$60B

Sep 9 2005 // Risk Management Solutions now estimates that insured losses from Hurricane Katrina are expected to be $40-$60 billion, of which $15-$25 billion are related to the Great New Orleans Flood. Total economic losses may now...

FEMA’s Brown Being Taken Off Hurricane Katrina Operations

Sep 9 2005 // With much discussion over just how quickly and effectively the federal government responded to Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown may be the fall guy. Brown was...

PIA of Georgia Collecting Donations for Hurricane Katrina Victims

Sep 8 2005 // The Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia are collecting donations for victims of Hurricane Katrina, which will be donated to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. According to Jerry W. Duke, executive vice...