Catastrophe Risks
RMS Says Insured Losses from Western US Wildfires Could Hit $8 Billion
Catastrophe risk modeling firm RMS estimates that insured losses from wildfires in the western United States will be between $4.0 billion and $8.0 billion. RMS said the projected losses reflect estimates as of September 20, 2020, and indicated that the losses are likely to increase as many fires are still ongoing. Read More
AIR Estimates Hurricane Sally Insured Losses at Up to $3 Billion
Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide estimates that Hurricane Sally caused $1 billion to $3 billion in insured onshore property losses as a result of wind, storm surge, and inland flood. Wind was responsible for the majority of the losses, AIR said. Read More
Captives Will Step in If Insurers Label Pandemics "Uninsurable"
Commercial insurance companies should not be surprised to see buyers reduce their premium spending across lines if they continue to tap out of difficult-to-insure risks like pandemics, Zach Finn, clinical professor of risk management and insurance at Butler University, tells Richard Cutcher in episode 38 of the Global Captive Podcast. Read More
Report Cites Importance of Insurance in Natural Disaster Recovery
The average annual losses from natural catastrophes have increased dramatically in recent years, but the increased amounts of insurance penetration can have a dramatic impact on recovery time. A new report notes that average annual catastrophe losses rose from $27 billion in 1970–1980 to nearly $200 billion in 2010–2020. Read More
Industry Well-Capitalized for Catastrophes but Further Price Hikes Likely
A new report from Kroll Bond Rating Agency suggests that the (re)insurance industry remains sufficiently capitalized and is generally well-positioned to manage through current catastrophes, including hurricanes, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The continuing increase in hurricanes' severity will lead to another year of high catastrophe losses for insurance companies. Read More