Asia’s heavy monsoons, a record heatwave in Russia and severe droughts in Africa show the need for new yardsticks to rate extreme weather to guide everybody from road builders to insurance companies, a U.N. expert said on Friday. Scales exist …
The federal government’s flood insurance program that had mostly been concerned with protecting homes and businesses must now protect salmon and killer whales. Federal fisheries experts have told the Federal Emergency Management Agency that — by underwriting thousands of flood …
Hallmark Financial Services Inc., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, announced that its subsidiary, Hallmark Insurance Co., will acquire State Auto National Insurance Co. from Ohio-based State Auto Financial Corp. (STFC). The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and other customary …
Devastating floods in Pakistan and Russia’s heatwave match predictions of extremes caused by global warming even though it is impossible to blame mankind for single severe weather events, scientists say. This year is on track to be the warmest since …
Meteorologists say a small tornado caused minor damage in Boca Raton. Robert Molleda, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the tornado formed Saturday with winds likely reaching an estimated 70 miles per hour. The wind caused some damage …
Farmington, N.M., city councilors have passed an ordinance that will keep residents eligible for flood insurance coverage backed by the federal government. The vote came less than a week after the northwestern New Mexico community was hit by heavy rain …
American International Group Inc. reported a $2.7 billion quarterly loss compared to a net profit of $1.8 billion for the same quarter a year earlier. The second quarter 2010 loss was primarily due to a $3.3 billion non-cash goodwill impairment …
The U.S. Department of Commerce is providing Waterloo, Iowa, with a $7 million grant for flood control efforts. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, D-Iowa, announced the Economic Development Administration grant on Aug. 3. It’s designed to assist Waterloo’s continuing flood recovery …
A new study from Lloyd’s shows that East London has experienced a tenfold increase in extreme daily rainfall since 1960 and warns that the closing of meteorological stations is resulting in incomplete data and impairing future analysis. Research by the …
State Auto Financial Corp. has reported a second quarter 2010 net loss of $26.2 million versus a net loss of $3.2 million for the second quarter of 2009. State Auto’s combined ratio for the quarter was 115.2 versus 110.6 for …
