Disaster (Flood,Coastal,EQ,W-Fire,etc.) News

Georgia Couples Who Own Land in Florida Sue BP

Two Atlanta couples are suing BP PLC for damages as a result of the Gulf oil spill. The class-action lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia, seeks compensation for loss of income, property value and enjoyment by …

Argo Group Estimates Q2 Cat Losses at $20 to $25 Million

The Bermuda-based Argo Group International Holdings announced that it expects to report in its 2010 second quarter financial results “approximately $20 million to $25 million of estimated pre-tax loss provisions, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premium, related to spring storms …

House May Vote on Federal Flood Insurance Extension Today

Insurers are urging the House of Representatives to pass legislation today that would extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years. The measure, HR 5114, the “Flood Insurance Reform and Priorities Act of 2010”, sponsored by Representative Maxine …

Swiss Re: Pools & Parametric Covers, May Lessen Nat Cat Impact

The early appearance of Hurricane Alex, which hit Mexico and the Gulf coast of the U.S., was, according to experts at Swiss Re, “a relatively unusual occurrence in June and could signal a very active hurricane season.” Insured losses, caused …

BP Test of New Cap on Gulf Oil Well Could Be Turning Point

BP Plc prepared on Tuesday to test a new cap on its runaway well, arresting the flow of oil which has been gushing into the Gulf of Mexico for the last 12 weeks. [According to Reuters BP Plc will launch …

Munich Re Provides $96 Million Cat Bond to Mass. Property Association

Munich Re has provided the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MPIUA) with a $ 96 million catastrophe bond issuance that “transfers hurricane risk in Massachusetts to the capital markets,” said the reinsurer’s announcement. “Munich Re acted as joint lead manager …

Anadarko Balks at Reimbursing BP for Oil Cleanup Costs

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., which owns 25 percent of the ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico, has told BP Plc that, for now, it will not pay a $272 million bill from the British oil company to cover clean-up costs. …

BP to Attach New Cap on Leaking Oil Gusher

BP Plc said it expects to attach a new containment cap later Monday that should more than triple the amount of oil being collected from the energy giant’s leaking Gulf of Mexico wellhead. “We have the cap very close and …

Massachusetts Fair Plan Gets $96M Catastrophe Bond

The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MPIUA) has received a $96 million catastrophe bond issuance that transfers hurricane risk in Massachusetts to the capital markets, a number of reinsurers announced. Munich Re acted as joint lead manager in the transaction, …

Insurance Covers Repairs to Nashville Public Works Hit by Floods

Local taxpayers in Nashville will largely be off the hook for the costs of repairing public facilities damaged by severe flooding in May. The Tennessean quoted Metro Nashville Finance Director Rich Riebeling, who said the estimated cost of fixing public …