Latest Catastrophe Headlines
All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Woman Missing in Colorado Wildfire Was Last Seen Trying to Save Dogs
Jan 21 2022 // As a fast-moving wildfire spread in suburban Denver, an emergency responder warned Edna Nadine Turnbull to evacuate. But the 91-year-old went back inside her home to rescue her dogs. Turnbull and her pets were never seen...
Texas Rolling Pines Wildfire 70% Contained, Some Evacuations Lifted
Jan 20 2022 // A wildfire in a central Texas state park is no longer growing and no injuries were reported after the blaze, suspected to have been caused by a prescribed burn, charred 1.2 square miles (3.2 square kilometers), officials...
Controlled Burn Likely Source for Bastrop County, Texas Wildfire
Jan 19 2022 // A wildfire burning east of Austin, Texas was likely the resulted of a planned burn, officials said. The Rolling Pines Fire in Bastrop County had burned through more than 780 acres and was 30% contained as of the morning of...
Report: Louisiana Seafood Industry Saw $580M in Losses From 2020-21 Hurricanes
Jan 19 2022 // Louisiana’s fisheries and seafood businesses experienced approximately $580 million in total losses resulting from four hurricane between August 2020 to August 2021, according to a new report by the Louisiana Sea...
Tornado Victim’s Family Sues Amazon Over Illinois Warehouse Collapse
Jan 19 2022 // The family of a delivery driver who died last month when a tornado collapsed the central Illinois Amazon facility where he worked filed a wrongful deathlawsuitMonday in Madison County. The action on behalf of Austin...
Biden Administration Unveils ‘Wildfire Crisis Strategy’ for Western States
Jan 19 2022 // The Biden administration on Tuesday unveiled a 10-year plan to treat and maintain millions of additional acres of forests in the western United States to reduce the severity of seasonal wildfires. “We’re not...
Major Airlines Warn of ‘Catastrophic’ Aviation Crisis With Tomorrow’s 5G Deployment
Jan 18 2022 // The chief executives of major U.S. passenger and cargo carriers on Monday warned of an impending “catastrophic” aviation crisis in less than 36 hours, when AT&T and Verizon are set to deploy new 5G...
Canada’s Insured Catastrophe Losses Exceed C$2 Billion in 2021: CatIQ
Jan 14 2022 // Canada’s total insured catastrophe losses were C$2.04 billion (US$1.63 billion) to date, landing the year in the top five loss years for the country, according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc....
Disaster Declared for December Missouri Tornadoes
Jan 13 2022 // President Joe Biden has approved Missouri’s request for a federal disaster declaration after deadly tornadoes and strong winds hit the state last month. The designation allows seven southern Missouri counties to...
California Budget Aims to Tackle Climate Change, Wildfires, Crime
Jan 12 2022 // California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $286.4 billion budget that sets off months of budget talks with his fellow Democrats, who control the state Legislature, before the new fiscal year begins July 1. Newsom focused much...
AM Best Says Demand Surge and Inflation to Amplify Colorado Wildfire Losses
Jan 12 2022 // AM Best expects demand surge and rising inflationary pressures on building costs to add to overall loss estimates in the recent wildfires in Colorado. In a commentary AM Best notes that early industry estimates place...
LDI Affirmed in State Farm Hurricane Barry Deductible Case
Jan 11 2022 // A Louisiana administrative hearings panel has ruled that Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon was justified in preventing State Farm from enforcing a hurricane deductible for certain losses caused by Hurricane Barry in July...
Pandemic Adding Cost to Rebuild After Colorado Wildfire
Jan 11 2022 // Rex and Barba Hickman’s home of 23 years near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains has been reduced to a blackened heap by the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history. Before the Dec. 30 blaze, which ripped...
Kentucky Lawmakers Plan to Move Quickly on Tornado Recovery Package
Jan 11 2022 // Kentucky lawmakers, back in session, are planning to take up tornado-recovery legislation this week, with the goal of quickly distributing an initial round of assistance, House Speaker David Osborne said. The newly...
Tornadoes Reported in Houston, Northwest Louisiana
Jan 11 2022 // At least two tornadoes touched down in the Houston area over the weekend as storms brought high winds and heavy rains, damaging homes and businesses and causing flooding. Most of the damage from the storms that came...
HUD Suspends Funding for Hurricane Harvey Assistance
Jan 10 2022 // The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development has halted the distribution of $1.95 billion that was approved for flood mitigation projects in Texas following Hurricane Harvey. A news release from HUD said the Texas...
Colorado Wildfire Caused $513M in Damage, Officials Say
Jan 10 2022 // Last week’s 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...
More South Carolina Earthquakes Leave Experts Puzzled
Jan 7 2022 // After more earthquakes have struck near South Carolina’s capital city, the ninth and tenth in a series of rumblings, geologists are asking how long the convulsions might last, or if they could possibly portend more...
Modeler Estimates Insured Losses From Colorado Wildfire at $1B
Jan 6 2022 // The Colorado wildfire that destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in late December will result in roughly $1 billion in losses, according to a report from catastrophe modeler Karen Clark & Co. On Dec. 30, a devastating...
Premium Finance Companies Can Extend Payment Deadlines After Kentucky Tornadoes
Jan 5 2022 // Premium finance companies are permitted to extend due dates for premiums and other charges in the wake of tornadoes that ripped through the state in December, the Kentucky insurance commissioner announced. Finance...
