damage News

With Back-to-Back Storms, Florida Now Facing Delays in Claims Adjusting

With Hurricane Milton now expected to produce several hundred thousand wind-damage claims and with the storm coming so soon on the heels of Hurricane Helene, industry leaders are bracing for significant delays in claims adjusting. “We’re competing with Helene,” said …

Hurricane Milton Could Cost Insurers $60B, Raise Reinsurance Rates, RBC Says

Hurricane Milton could result in a $60 billion loss for the global insurance industry, creating a surge in 2025 reinsurance prices which could boost some insurance companies’ shares, analysts at RBC Capital said. The Category 5 hurricane is due to …

As Milton Nears, Flood-Proof Fences Will Face a Major Test in Tampa

For the second time in two weeks, Tampa General Hospital is getting ready to keep water at bay. Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall Wednesday and will test the hospital’s flood barrier. It takes dozens of facilities workers to …

Hurricane Milton Is About to End Tampa’s Century of Good Luck

Milton is on track to deal a devastating blow to Florida’s vibrant Tampa Bay region, potentially delivering the first direct hit from a hurricane in a century just as residents and businesses were beginning to pick up the pieces from …

Claims Analysis: Roofs Define Luxury Homes’ Insurability

The insurance industry is facing a significant rise in roof-related claims. The combination of increasingly severe weather events, inflation-driven repair costs and the growing issue of roofing scams has created a perfect storm—one that is straining insurer portfolios and impacting …

Utilities’ Extreme Plan to Stop Wildfires: Shut Off the Power

A growing number of utilities are resorting to an extreme measure to prevent their equipment from sparking catastrophic wildfires: turning off the power. Electric companies serving about 24 million homes and businesses across the fire-prone US West now have plans …

GM Halts Vehicle Production at Two US Plants Due to Hurricane Helene

General Motors has temporarily halted truck and SUV production at two assembly plants in Texas and Michigan because of impacts to its suppliers due to Hurricane Helene, the automaker said Friday. The Detroit automaker said production at Flint Assembly and …

CoreLogic Increases Total Insured Loss Estimate From Hurricane Helene to $10.5B-$17.5B

Total insured loss from Hurricane Helene is now estimated at between $10.5 billion and $17.5 billion—a figure that continues to grow as more damages are assessed, pushing catastrophe modelers to continually revise estimates upward. The estimate out from CoreLogic on …

The US’s Flood Insurance Program Is Making More Repeat Payouts

When Hurricane Helene barreled ashore last week, it caused devastating flooding across the southeastern U.S., including in the Shore Acres area of St. Petersburg, Florida. The neighborhood saw 6 feet of storm surge, which flooded roads and homes. It was …

AccuWeather Increases Total Damage and Economic Loss Estimate From Helene to Between $225B-$250B

AccuWeather has increased its estimate of the total damage and economic loss from Hurricane Helene in the U.S. to between $225 billion and $250 billion. The update accounts for new verified information, including the loss of life, the immediate and …