Topic
Catastrophes
Amid hot, dry fall, grass fires bring destruction from Wyoming to Iowa; no rain in sight
October 15, 2015 Mead Gruver - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSCHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wildfires burning on prairie land in five states have destroyed more than a dozen homes and killed livestock in the past few days as a region normally accustomed to crisp temperatures and even snow this time of…
Massive fire destroys businesses in northern Manitoba shopping mall
October 15, 2015 The Canadian PressDAUPHIN, Man. – A shopping mall has been destroyed in a massive fire in Dauphin, Man. No injuries have been reported in the blaze that began about 1 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon at the Dauphin Village Mall. The fire is…
Record number of British Columbians participate in ShakeOut earthquake drill
October 15, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterA record number of British Columbians – 785,000 – took part in the Great British Columbia ShakeOut on Thursday, joining millions around the world, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said. “Since launching the Great British Columbia ShakeOut in 2011,…
Tianjin explosions could cost PartnerRe $70 million
October 14, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterBermuda insurance carrier PartnerRe Ltd. announced Tuesday it is estimating its losses from the Aug. 12 explosions in Tianjin, China will be up to US$70 million. The Associated Press reported in August that the explosions originated at a warehouse where…
Fire crews battle another multimillion dollar blaze on southern Alberta reserve
October 14, 2015 The Canadian PressSTANDOFF, Alta. – Fire crews were fighting another multimillion-dollar fire on a reserve in southern Alberta. Oscar Cotton, chief of Blood Tribe Emergency Services, said the blaze broke out late Friday night in a forage-processing plant near Standoff. It continued…
Water scarcity creates risks for businesses, demands management: Zurich
October 14, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterWater scarcity is leading to risks and exposures for businesses worldwide, necessitating that organizations put in place appropriate water management plans, argues a white paper issued Tuesday by Zurich Insurance. Businesses around the world are feeling the strain of water…
Strong winds on Prairies knock out power and rip roof off polling station
October 13, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterELIE, Man. – Howling winds that exceeded forecasts knocked out power across parts of the Prairies, and even ripped the roof off an advance polling station in Manitoba. The original wind warning for southern Saskatchewan on Sunday was wind at…
U.S. judge OKs $446 million settlement for victims of Lac-Mgantic disaster
October 9, 2015 David Sharp - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPORTLAND, Maine – A U.S. bankruptcy judge has approved a $446-million Cdn settlement fund for victims of the fiery Lac-Megantic oil-train derailment in Quebec, clearing the way for payments to victims by year’s end. Judge Peter Cary in Portland, Maine,…
Severe floods continue to threaten South Carolina: AIR Worldwide
October 9, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterHigh water levels are still posing a threat in South Carolina, primarily in the Midlands and Lowcountry, and the situation is expected to worsen as rivers continue to rise, catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide said on Friday. The floodwaters continue…
Federal investigator discusses Lac-Mgantic at Engineering Insurance Conference
October 9, 2015 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorPollution problems resulting from the 2013 fatal railway derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec will persist for years, while officials with the railway company involved were “not exactly leaders” in safety management, a Transportation Safety Board of Canada official suggested to insurance…
As dams bulge and rivers rise, South Carolina still on edge; 2 people die driving into water
October 8, 2015 Adam Beam and Meg Kinnard - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSCOLUMBIA, S.C. – It could take until the weekend for the threat of flooding to ease in storm-tattered South Carolina, where a senator warned of a potential billion-dollar cleanup bill, two more people died in the floodwaters and the flagship…
National economic losses from drought conditions in western Canada exceed US$1 billion: Impact Forecasting
October 8, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterDrought conditions across western Canada during September were expected to cost the Alberta’s Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) between $700 million and $900 million (US$525 million and US$675 million), according to Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team. This…