Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Actuary Paper: Active Wildfire Seasons Providing Lessons on Fire Risk
Feb 14 2022 // Destructive and costly wildfires in the western U.S. over the past several years are driving efforts to better understand wildfire risk, ways to more effectively prevent and mitigate wildfires, and approaches to insuring...
People Moves: Great American P&C Promotes Cohen, Kadnar; Markel Adds Hiscox’s Wakeham as U.S. Terrorism Underwriter
Feb 11 2022 // Great American Insurance Group has promoted Jason M. Cohen to senior vice president and Julie F. Kadnar to divisional group president within its Property & Casualty Group. In 2006, Cohen joined the company as...
People Moves: Liberty Specialty Mkts Names Beattie Head of War & Terrorism; New Dawn Risk Hires Aon’s Khan for Professional Risks, Lothbury’s Vernon for Healthcare/Life Sciences
Feb 10 2022 // This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Liberty Specialty Markets and broker New Dawn Risk. A summary of these new hires follows here. Liberty Specialty Markets Names Beattie as Global Head of...
Earthquakes in Texas Doubled in 2021. Scientists Cite Years of Oil Companies Injecting Sludgy Water Underground.
Feb 9 2022 // MIDLAND — One local said it sounded like a pickup truck had rammed into the side of their house. Another said it sounded like the air conditioner fell off the roof. A third compared the experience to getting off of a...
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...
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...
Only 38% of 2021’s Natural Disaster Losses of $343B Were Covered by Insurance: Aon
Jan 26 2022 // Natural disasters cost global economies a total of $343 billion in 2021, compared with $297 billion in 2020, according to Aon’s “2021 Weather, Climate and Catastrophe Insight” report. Insured losses from...
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,...
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...
