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

Gulf Oil Spill May Reach North Carolina Islands, Miami Beach

Crude from the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill could eventually slosh ashore on Miami Beach or North Carolina’s barrier islands, if it connects with a powerful sea current, an oceanographer said Tuesday. Robert Weisberg, a physical oceanographer at the …

Transocean Moves to Cap Oil Spill Damages to Preserve Insurance

Transocean Ltd, owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded and sank last month killing 11 people, wants to limit its liability for the accident to about $27 million, according to a U.S. court filing Thursday. With analysts anticipating many …

Libyan Jet Crash Kills 103; Dutch Boy Sole Survivor

A Libyan Airbus jet crashed early on Wednesday as it tried to land at Tripoli airport, killing 103 people on board and leaving a Dutch boy the sole survivor, Libyan officials said. The Airbus A330-200, only in service since September, …

Lawsuits Over Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Expected to Increase Dramatically

Companies linked to the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill are facing a flood of lawsuits, as legal actions from the disaster spread faster than the crude gushing from BP Plc’s blown-out undersea well. Nearly 100 lawsuits have already been …

Willis Research Warns of Costly Consequences of Volcanic Eruptions

The world’s attention has been focused on the plumes of ash that continue to rise into the sky from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland. The microscopic grit in the ash cloud poses an ongoing threat to aircraft, and has caused …

Florida Hurricane Funds Seeks $693 Million for Reopened 2005 Claims

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund is to begin selling $693 million in tax-exempt bonds to help repay insurers for new and reopened claims from 2005 storms. The bonds are secured in part by emergency assessments levied on property/ casualty insurance …

5 Thought Dead in Oklahoma, Dozens Injured as Tornadoes Hit Plains

Violent storms that tore through the southern Plains on May 10 killed five people and injured dozens more, leaving behind flattened homes, toppled semitrailers and downed power lines. Several tornadoes were reported in Oklahoma and Kansas as the storms moved …

Oklahoma’s Price Gouging Statute in Effect Following Storms

Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said the state’s price gouging law is in effect in 56 Oklahoma counties following Gov. Brad Henry’ declared a state of emergency for those areas devastated by severe storms on May 10. Oklahoma’s Emergency Price …

Europe’s Travel Firms Count Costs of Volcanic Ash Disruptions

Europe’s travel industry is counting the cost of air traffic disruption caused by a volcanic ash cloud which forced thousands of flights to be cancelled and is braced for more stoppages this month. British travel company TUI Travel and low-cost …

North Carolina Wind Pool Gets Extra Protection with $305M Cat Bond

North Carolina’s insurance pool for coastal properties now has an extra financial cushion in case a major hurricane strikes. Risk specialist Guy Carpenter & Co., LLC, and GC Securities, announced the completion of a $305 million, two-class note issuance from …