Latest Catastrophe Headlines

All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.

TWIA Invites Public Comment For Catastrophe Modeling Services Vendor Recommendation

Jan 25 2022 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is inviting the public to comment on its vendor for catastrophe modeling services ahead of a Feb. 2 meeting where the TWIA Board of Directors will meet to consider a recommended...

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 of...

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...

Secondary Perils Are Increasing Share of U.S. Catastrophe Losses

Jan 24 2022 // Secondary peril events such as wildfires, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are becoming more impactful and generating an increasingly larger amount of insured losses, affecting the bottom lines of personal and commercial...

Colorado Wildfire Caused $513M in Damage, Officials Say

Jan 24 2022 // The Colorado wildfire caused at least $513 million in damage and destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and structures, officials as they updated the toll of property lost in the most destructive wildfire in state history.Boulder...

Woman Missing in Colorado Wildfire Was Last Seen Trying to Save Dogs

Jan 21 2022 // As a fast-moving wildfire spread in suburban Denver, an emergency responder warned Edna Nadine Turnbull to evacuate. But the 91-year-old went back inside her home to rescue her dogs.Turnbull and her pets were never seen...

Texas Rolling Pines Wildfire 70% Contained, Some Evacuations Lifted

Jan 20 2022 // A wildfire in a central Texas state park is no longer growing and no injuries were reported after the blaze, suspected to have been caused by a prescribed burn, charred 1.2 square miles (3.2 square kilometers), officials...

Controlled Burn Likely Source for Bastrop County, Texas Wildfire

Jan 19 2022 // A wildfire burning east of Austin, Texas was likely the resulted of a planned burn, officials said.The Rolling Pines Fire in Bastrop County had burned through more than 780 acres and was 30% contained as of the morning of...

Report: Louisiana Seafood Industry Saw $580M in Losses From 2020-21 Hurricanes

Jan 19 2022 // Louisiana’s fisheries and seafood businesses experienced approximately $580 million in total losses resulting from four hurricane between August 2020 to August 2021, according to a new report by the Louisiana Sea...

Tornado Victim’s Family Sues Amazon Over Illinois Warehouse Collapse

Jan 19 2022 // The family of a delivery driver who died last month when a tornado collapsed the central Illinois Amazon facility where he worked filed a wrongful deathlawsuitMonday in Madison County.The action on behalf of Austin McEwen,...

Biden Administration Unveils ‘Wildfire Crisis Strategy’ for Western States

Jan 19 2022 // The Biden administration on Tuesday unveiled a 10-year plan to treat and maintain millions of additional acres of forests in the western United States to reduce the severity of seasonal wildfires.“We’re not...

Major Airlines Warn of ‘Catastrophic’ Aviation Crisis With Tomorrow’s 5G Deployment

Jan 18 2022 // The chief executives of major U.S. passenger and cargo carriers on Monday warned of an impending “catastrophic” aviation crisis in less than 36 hours, when AT&T and Verizon are set to deploy new 5G...

Canada’s Insured Catastrophe Losses Exceed C$2 Billion in 2021: CatIQ

Jan 14 2022 // Canada’s total insured catastrophe losses were C$2.04 billion (US$1.63 billion) to date, landing the year in the top five loss years for the country, according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc....

Disaster Declared for December Missouri Tornadoes

Jan 13 2022 // President Joe Biden has approved Missouri’s request for a federal disaster declaration after deadly tornadoes and strong winds hit the state last month.The designation allows seven southern Missouri counties to...

California Budget Aims to Tackle Climate Change, Wildfires, Crime

Jan 12 2022 // California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $286.4 billion budget that sets off months of budget talks with his fellow Democrats, who control the state Legislature, before the new fiscal year begins July 1.Newsom focused much...

AM Best Says Demand Surge and Inflation to Amplify Colorado Wildfire Losses

Jan 12 2022 // AM Best expects demand surge and rising inflationary pressures on building costs to add to overall loss estimates in the recent wildfires in Colorado.In a commentary AM Best notes that early industry estimates place losses...

LDI Affirmed in State Farm Hurricane Barry Deductible Case

Jan 11 2022 // A Louisiana administrative hearings panel has ruled that Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon was justified in preventing State Farm from enforcing a hurricane deductible for certain losses caused by Hurricane Barry in July...

Pandemic Adding Cost to Rebuild After Colorado Wildfire

Jan 11 2022 // Rex and Barba Hickman’s home of 23 years near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains has been reduced to a blackened heap by the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history.Before the Dec. 30 blaze, which ripped...

Kentucky Lawmakers Plan to Move Quickly on Tornado Recovery Package

Jan 11 2022 // Kentucky lawmakers, back in session, are planning to take up tornado-recovery legislation this week, with the goal of quickly distributing an initial round of assistance, House Speaker David Osborne said.The newly...

Tornadoes Reported in Houston, Northwest Louisiana

Jan 11 2022 // At least two tornadoes touched down in the Houston area over the weekend as storms brought high winds and heavy rains, damaging homes and businesses and causing flooding.Most of the damage from the storms that came through...