News

FEMA Insurance Chief Says Harvey NFIP Losses Could Reach $11B

The head of the National Flood Insurance Program said Wednesday early estimates show Hurricane Harvey will result in about $11 billion in payouts to insured homeowners, mostly in southeast Texas. That would likely put Harvey as the second costliest storm …

Irma Spawned Unusual Storm Surges on Both Florida Coasts

Hurricane Irma’s devastating storm surge came with weird twists that scientists attribute to the storm’s girth, path and some geographic quirks. A combination of storm surge, heavy rains and swollen rivers sent some of the worst flooding into Jacksonville, Florida, …

Business News: State Auto, Aon, Travelers

State Auto Insurance Group Announces Review of Strategic Alternatives for Its E&S Business The State Auto Insurance Group (State Auto) announced it is undertaking a review of strategic alternatives for its Excess and Surplus (E&S) Lines business, including a possible …

Industry Offers Donations, Free Tools to Victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma

Nearly three weeks after Hurricane Harvey caused massive flooding in Texas and a week after Irma began taking aim at Florida, insurers and vendors are offering aid to hurricane victims in various ways. Recent reports estimate flood damage resulting from …

University Driving Simulator Aids in Wyoming I-80 Connected Car Research

The Interstate 80 corridor cutting across Wyoming is a major thoroughfare for tractor-trailers transporting freight across the country. It can also be deadly during the long Wyoming winter, when blowing snow, ice and decreased visibility make travel dangerous. Ongoing research …

States Directed to Use More Aggressive Measures to Prevent Wildfires

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Tuesday directed all land managers and park superintendents to be more aggressive in cutting down small trees and underbrush to prevent wildfires as the smoke-choked West faces one of the worst fire seasons in a …

OSHA Fines Related to Nevada Workplace Deaths Reduced 50% of the Time

Companies that contested Nevada workplace safety citations after an employee died on the job received reduced fines about half the time. An analysis of state and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration fatality records by the Las Vegas Review-Journal showed …

Munich Re Enlists Mobileye for Data on Commercial Autonomous Fleets

Auto insurers, faced with rising accident rates and the emergence of autonomous vehicles that could make them obsolete by removing human error, have reason to love and hate driverless technology. Munich Re, the world’s biggest reinsurer, has decided to embrace …

Feds Plan to Update Self-Driving Car Guidelines

The Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled updated safety guidelines for self-driving cars in an attempt to clear barriers for automakers and tech companies wanting to get test vehicles on the road. U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced the new voluntary …

FEMA Estimates 25% of Florida Keys Homes Destroyed by Irma

Search-and-rescue teams made their way into the Florida Keys’ farthest reaches Tuesday, while crews labored to repair the single washed-out highway connecting the islands and rush aid to Hurricane Irma‘s victims. Federal officials estimated one-quarter of all homes in the …

News Archives by Month