Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Houston Courts Still Dealing With Backlog Due to Hurricane Harvey Damage
Feb 9 2022 // Efforts to reduce a backlog of tens of thousands of cases in Texas’ busiest court system got a boost Feb. 7 with the reopening of a newly restored building for jury selection. Officials and attorneys say bringing...
People Moves: BHSI Promotes McGriskin to Lead UK FI; Former Enstar Exec Rocke Heads RiverStone Int’l in Bermuda; Tysers Hires Aon’s Lucas for Political Violence & Terrorism Team
Feb 9 2022 // This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), RiverStone International and broker Tysers. A summary of these new hires follows here. BHSI Promotes...
Connecticut’s Hurricane Ida Disaster Aid Extended to Additional Counties
Feb 8 2022 // A federal disaster declaration approved last year after remnants of Hurricane Ida hit Connecticut has been amended to include certain damage that occurred in Fairfield and Litchfield counties, Gov. Ned Lamont announced...
5th Circuit: Windstorm Coverage Doesn’t Include Flood Damage
Feb 7 2022 // An insurance policy that lists named windstorms among the covered perils doesn’t cover flood damages caused by Hurricane Harvey even though flooding wasn’t specifically excluded, a panel of the 5th Circuit...
Researcher Seeks Answers to Question: How Does A Town Rebuild After a Wildfire?
Feb 7 2022 // Three months after the most destructive fire in California’s history, the residents of Paradise were sifting through the rubble of their houses, moving out of shelters and into less temporary but not permanent...
Natural Disasters Cost Insurers $116B in 2021, or 63% Higher Than Average: Gallagher Re
Feb 4 2022 // Insured losses from major natural catastrophes in 2021 – excluding COVID-related losses – have so far reached an estimated US$116 billion, the third largest total since 2011, and about 63% higher than the average loss...
Colorado Lawmakers Make First Pass on Wildfire Bill
Feb 3 2022 // Colorado lawmakers passed a bill to increase wildfire mitigation efforts, just a month since a devastating fire tore through suburbs north of Denver, destroying more than 1,000 homes and businesses and killing at least one...
TWIA Board Chooses Aon For Catastrophe Modeling
Feb 3 2022 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Board voted Feb. 2 to select Aon to perform catastrophe modeling analysis to satisfy the Board’s statutorily required determination of the Association’s 1-in-100-year...
Insurers Grapple With Uncertainty Around Catastrophic Cyber Risk
Feb 2 2022 // Powered by InsuranceJournal.tv Much uncertainty exists around catastrophic cyber threats, and for an industry so focused on analyzing risk, that’s a big challenge, experts say. Some of the recent cyber attacks on...
4.5 Earthquake Hits Northern Oklahoma
Feb 1 2022 // A 4.5 magnitude earthquake struck northern Oklahoma at 11:10 a.m. CST Jan. 31 about seven kilometers northwest of Medford, the United States Geological Survey confirmed. A USGS Community Internet Intensity Map reported...
MyShake Earthquake Warning App Available in Washington
Feb 1 2022 // A new earthquake-warning app is available for Washington state. The state said there are already two warning systems in place, but the MyShake app provides a third and possibly quicker option, The Seattle Times...
Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake Confirmed in California
Feb 1 2022 // A magnitude 4.1 earthquake rattled an inland region of San Diego County on Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. The quake hit at 9:46 a.m. near Palomar Observatory, about 65 miles northeast of downtown San...
FEMA Extends Hurricane Housing in Louisiana
Jan 31 2022 // Nearly 2,000 households that survived Hurricanes Laura and Delta in Louisiana are getting more time in FEMA-provided housing as they complete the final steps of their recovery. The original end for the temporary housing...
Evacuations Lifted for Wildfire on California Coast
Jan 27 2022 // Evacuation orders were lifted Wednesday as firefighters strengthened control lines and mopped up hot spots at a wildfire along California’s Big Sur coast, authorities said. Fire activity was minimal overnight, with...
Wildfire on California Coast Now 45% Contained
Jan 25 2022 // Shifting winds and increased humidity helped firefighters make progress against a blaze burning in rugged mountains near California’s Big Sur coast, authorities said. The Colorado Fire was 45% contained on Tuesday,...
TWIA Invites Public Comment For Catastrophe Modeling Services Vendor Recommendation
Jan 25 2022 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is inviting the public to comment on its vendor for catastrophe modeling services ahead of a Feb. 2 meeting where the TWIA Board of Directors will meet to consider a recommended...
Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake Confirmed in Southern Alaska
Jan 25 2022 // A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck southern Alaska, and people reported shaking in Anchorage and surrounding areas, according to officials. The epicenter of Thursday’s quake was 49 kilometers, or 30 miles, northwest...
Hundreds Evacuated as Crews Battle California Wildfire
Jan 24 2022 // Hundreds of residents remained evacuated Sunday as crews battled a wildfire in rugged mountains along the California coast that forced the closure of the main roadway near Big Sur. One structure, a yurt, was destroyed by...
Secondary Perils Are Increasing Share of U.S. Catastrophe Losses
Jan 24 2022 // Secondary peril events such as wildfires, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are becoming more impactful and generating an increasingly larger amount of insured losses, affecting the bottom lines of personal and commercial...
Colorado Wildfire Caused $513M in Damage, Officials Say
Jan 24 2022 // The Colorado wildfire caused at least $513 million in damage and destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and structures, officials as they updated the toll of property lost in the most destructive wildfire in state history. Boulder...
