Tornado News

Allstate Posts 9% Decline in Profit for 2008; Combined Ratio at 99.4%

Allstate reported consolidated revenues were $6.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008 and $29.4 billion for the 2008 year, a 9 percent drop from the previous year. The decrease in revenue of $2.4 billion and $7.4 billion for the …

Lloyd’s Web Site Summarizes Current Opinions on Climate Change

“The string of natural catastrophes that wreaked havoc in 2008, costing the global economy $225 billion and leaving insurers with their second costliest year in history, graphically highlights the increasing risks to businesses of extreme weather events,” begins an article …

Insurance Claims for 2008 U.S. Catastrophes to Top $25 Billion

U.S. property/casualty insurers are expected to pay homeowners and businesses $25.2 billion for 2008 property losses from 37 catastrophes — the fourth highest cost in a decade and the highest frequency in a decade, according to preliminary analysis by ISO’s …

Minnesota Family Blames Poor Construction, Not Tornado, for Death

The family of a 10-year-old girl who died in a 2006 tornado in Rogers is blaming a homebuilder for the girl’s death. In a wrongful death lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court, the family of Jaymi Wendt claims poor construction, …

Iowa Lawmakers to Focus on Flood Recovery Despite Economic Concerns

Despite a state budget crisis and a crumbling national economy, Iowa legislators will nonetheless take on one of the most expensive problems in state history–flood recovery. No one is sure of the price tag, but all agree it’s enormous. And …

2008: Top Stories of the Year

2008 can be described as a year like no other in the property/casualty insurance world. This year we saw the near death of the world’s largest and most successful insurance company, AIG. The soft market continued to hamper revenues in …

Climate Change Raises 2008 Cat Losses to $200 Billion Says Munich Re

Munich Re has released its annual report on the natural catastrophes that occurred in 2008, which it describes as “one of the most devastating years on record.” 2008’s major catastrophes included a number of tropical cyclones (hurricanes and typhoons) and …

Munich Re 2008 Catastrophe Report Cites Role of Climate Change

Munich Re has released its analytical report on the natural catastrophes that occurred in 2008, which the reinsurer describes as, “one of the most devastating years on record.” 2008’s major catastrophes included a number of tropical cyclones (hurricanes and typhoons) …

Death Map: Geographers Compare Natural Event Fatalities by County

University of South Carolina geographers have produced a map of natural-hazard mortality in the United States. The map, featured in the Dec. 17 issue of the International Journal of Health Geographics, gives a county-level representation of the likelihood of dying …

Windsor, Colo. Spends $2 Million to Repair Tornado Damage

Windsor town officials say they spent about $2 million to repair the Town Hall, an arts center and a swimming pool building after a May 22, 2008, tornado that killed one person. Town Manager Kelly Arnold said the costs were …