June 2, 2009
Search planes scoured the dark waters of the Atlantic Ocean early Tuesday, looking for the remains of an Air France jetliner that disappeared in a severe storm with 228 people on board. The Airbus A330 went missing on a flight …
June 1, 2009
An Air France plane with 228 people on board disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean on its way from Brazil to Paris on Monday after hitting strong turbulence and French officials said they feared a disaster. The Brazilian air force said …
June 1, 2009
As the 2009 hurricane season arrives, many homeowners are finding insurance is either more expensive, or harder to get. Homeowners from New York to Florida and in the Gulf Coast region are again seeing premiums rise and coverage change. And …
June 1, 2009
Florida property/catastrophe reinsurance rates increased by 15 percent at the June 1, 2009, renewal, compared to a decline of 15 percent a year ago, according to reinsurance specialist Guy Carpenter & Co. In a new briefing on Florda reinsurance trends, …
June 1, 2009
The Texas House approved a conference committee report on Saturday to hammer out windstorm insurance reform legislation with senators. House lawmakers sent the measure — which could cause lawmakers to be called back for a special session if it is …
June 1, 2009
On the first day of the official hurricane season for 2009, and on the last day of the Texas legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed a bill that would recapitalize the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). Legislators voted 31-0 on HB …
May 31, 2009
Time is running out on the Texas Legislature. Several big issues — including restoring the state’s windstorm insurance fund — were in final negotiations as the last weekend of the 140-day session turned into a mad scramble of attempts to …
May 29, 2009
According to catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide, a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Honduras early Thursday morning. AIR said “the earthquake hit at 3:24 a.m. local time (08:24 UTC) 39 miles (64 km) northeast of …
May 29, 2009
Private weather forecaster Planalytics predicted Wednesday that the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season will produce 10 tropical storms, of which six will become hurricanes. The company said one or two of the storms were likely to become major hurricanes of Category …
May 29, 2009
Mike Manikchand points toward his neighbors in Lehigh Acres — a half-dozen empty, foreclosed-upon homes, sitting on weed-strewn yards — and he wonders: What will happen if a hurricane slams into southwest Florida this year? His simple answer: “A lot …