With some unexpected earthquakes striking the U.S. late last year, some state officials are beginning to take earthquake insurance more seriously. In Shawnee County, Kansas, officials are looking into the benefits of insurance coverage after the county was shaken by several aftershocks stemming from the November earthquake in Oklahoma. Another quake in Topeka, Kansas, furthered concerns as damage was done to some homes and vehicles. County officials have tasked the county’s insurance broker to find affordable coverage that could mitigate further disasters. Recent earthquakes have caused the price of property…
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AIR Worldwide marks 200th anniversary of New Madrid Earthquake with special report
It has been 200 years since the New Madrid Earthquake, a major seismic event that rattled the Central U.S. in the winter of 1811. The quake, which was estimated as being a 7.0, struck what is, today, Missouri. To mark the occasion, AIR Worldwide, a catastrophe modeling firm serving the insurance industry, has released a new report titled “The New Madrid Earthquake Bicentennial: Revisiting A Midwest Mystery.” The report details how much the catastrophe modeling community has changes in the centuries following the disaster and estimates the financial impacts of…
Read More2011 disaster losses break records from previous years
This year was one that brought disasters to areas all around the globe, and these catastrophes came with record breaking bills that have left the figures from previous years behind. According to the data from Swiss Re AG, a reinsurance company, the quakes and tsunami in Japan, the earthquakes in New Zealand, the Thailand floods, and the large number of American tornadoes brought a global disaster loss total up to a staggering $350 billion. The tremendous amount of devastation brought production at factories to a grinding halt and cut off…
Read MoreEarthquakes in Oklahoma highlight the importance of insurance protection
Over Thanksgiving weekend, Oklahoma experienced several small earthquakes and aftershocks. While Oklahoma is no stranger to earthquakes, the seismic events caused major damage in some cities not fortified against such events. Governor Mary Fallin has submitted a formal request to FEMA asking for assistance. Governor Fallin is looking to have the federal agency declare the seismic events in the state an official disaster. If FEMA does declare a disaster, Oklahoma will gain access to federal funds to aid in recovery. According to state officials, more than 200 homes and other…
Read MoreInsurers show tentative interest in New Zealand insurance market nearly a year after devastating earthquake
A devastating earthquake struck New Zealand early this year, causing widespread damage throughout the region of Canterbury. In the wake of the quake, insurance companies fled the nation, paying out policies and refusing to sell insurance in the region until recovery had been achieved. In the months following the disaster, the New Zealand government offered to purchase the properties that had been damaged, all of which were completely uninsurable. Recently, however, insurance agents and underwriters have been visiting Christchurch, the city most affected by the disaster, looking to assess the…
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