Category: Natural Disasters

Hurricane statistics, floods, fire storms, tsunami, earthquakes – we report the world’s natural disaster events. These life changing events not only rock the industry but leave residents and business owners in dire situations.

State Farm works with American Red Cross on home fire safety

H. Cutner
Home fire safety - smoke detector

The two companies have partnered up to educate employees, neighbors, friends and family. A new home fire safety partnership between State Farm and American Red Cross has formed to help employees and friends alike to be better informed and prepared. The education program is meant to help agents, employees, neighbors, and friends. This home fire safety prevention and action education is meant to save lives and property. The American Red Cross responds to an annual average of 60,000 disasters. Most of those events are related to home fires. Last year,…

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Oregon wildfire insurance may continue through Lloyd’s of London

Logan B.
Oregon Wildfire Insurance - Forest Fire in Portland, Oregon

As the risk of another fire season approaches, the state will rely on its unique policy again in 2021. As the state’s traditional fire season approaches, Oregon wildfire insurance will be provided by the unique $25 million policy through Lloyd’s of London. The oldest insurance marketplace in the world has been providing this coverage since 1973. The state Department of Forestry has purchased the Oregon wildfire insurance against losses for nearly fifty years. This is a unique coverage as no other state has coverage against wildfires. “It’s a catastrophic firefighting…

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State Farm fire insurance customers protected by Wildfire Defense Systems

H. Cutner
State Farm fire insurance - wildfire near home in California

The insurer has contracted the private wildland firefighting firm to protect covered homes in California. Californian homeowners with State Farm fire insurance coverage will now be protected by private wildland firefighting services from Wildfire Defense Systems. This is positive California insurance news for policyholders in a state increasingly affected by season-long wildfires. This means that private firefighting crews may be dispatched to protect covered homes in the state. According to a Mercury News report, as of April 1 citing a letter from the insurer, Wildfire Defense Systems has been contracted…

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FEMA unveils NFIP Risk Rating 2.0 with potential for cheaper flood insurance

Nordstrom
NFIP Risk Rating 2.0 - Piggy Bank - Savings

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is promising reduced rates for its policyholders. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has unveiled its NFIP Risk Rating 2.0 pricing strategy. This is an update to the way it calculates its National Flood Insurance Program rates for its 5 million policyholders. FEMA promises that many homeowners will see a reduction in their premiums. The new NFIP Risk Rating 2.0 strategy will mean that about two out of every three older homes will see a reduction in their premiums, according to FEMA. At the same…

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Progressive Corporation records $40 million reinsurance recovery for February

Logan B.
Reinsurance recovery - Winter storm - ice on home

The US winter storms, particularly occurring in Texas and Oregon, generated massive catastrophe losses. The Progressive Corporation recorded reinsurance recovery of $40 million in February as a result of the extreme winter weather that struck southern regions of the United States. Insurance damages left behind by the extreme and uncommon weather in the south were substantial. During February 2021, Progressive’s catastrophe losses were recorded at $87 million. This translated to a net catastrophe loss ratio of 2.7 percent of the insurer’s earned premiums, including the reinsurance recovery impact. The vast…

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Florida flood insurance rates are too low, says recent study

Logan B.
Florida flood insurance rates - water in house

New research shows that the National Flood Insurance Program is undercharging property owners. Florida flood insurance rates aren’t as high as they need to be to reflect the risk associated with the property, says the results of a recent study. It indicates that the National Flood Insurance Program is undercharging people and that it could justifiably raise its rates. Undercharging Floridians means that it is more affordable for people to live in dangerous locations. The Florida flood insurance rate findings were made following a new analysis by First Street Foundation.…

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Allstate and State Farm take on tens of thousands of Texas storm claims

G. Turner
Texas storm claims - Snow in city street

The insurers have deployed claim centers and technology to support affected policyholders. As Texas storm claims come rolling in by the tens of thousands, insurance giants like Allstate and State Farm have deployed staff and technology to meet policyholder needs. Allstate has deployed six mobile claim centers into the areas most heavily affected by the storms. The six Allstate mobile centers have been deployed for Texas storm claims in the areas most heavily affected in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and Austin. Each of them has carefully included COVID-19 safety measures.…

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