Topic
Catastrophes
Supreme Court of Canada will not hear CN Rail appeal over coal tar pollution lawsuit
August 11, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterCanada’s highest court recently announced it will not hear an appeal from Canadian National Railway Company, which in 2014 had a 25-year-old lawsuit – arising from a requirement to clean up land polluted more than 55 years ago by coal…
Total economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters reach US$37 billion in first half of 2015, global insurers cover 45% of losses: Swiss Re
August 11, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterTotal economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters reached US$37 billion in the first half of 2015, with the global insurance industry covering nearly 45% of these losses (US$16.5 billion), according to preliminary sigma estimates released on Tuesday by…
B.C. government announces Level 3 drought rating for four regions
August 10, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterBritish Columbia’s Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is urging water users in the Lower Columbia, West Kootenay, East Kootenay and Middle Fraser regions (the latter of which includes Cariboo and Chilcotin) to reduce water consumption as the…
From wildfires to commercial flights, drones becoming a dangerous and growing nuisance
August 10, 2015 Elliot Spagat - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSSAN DIEGO – As Jason Thrasher lowered his helicopter to a park with seven firefighters aboard, he saw what he thought was another firefighting chopper battling a blaze that was threatening homes. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection…
90% chance of below-normal Atlantic hurricane season: NOAA
August 10, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center has reported that there is a 90% chance of a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year. The NOAA updated its 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook last week, saying that the…
Manitoba farmer donates 100 hay bales to Alberta farmers hurt by drought
August 7, 2015 The Canadian PressDAUPHIN, Man. – A Manitoba farmer is donating 100 hay bales to Alberta farmers hurt by drought. Jurgen Kohler says that after hearing about Alberta counties declaring states of agriculture disaster, he and his wife decided to donate their surplus…
California’s Central Valley vulnerable to US$24.1 billion in flood damage, despite drought: Lloyd’s report
August 7, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterA 1-in-100 year flood in the Central Valley region of California could potentially result in US$24.1 billion of damage to floodplain assets, Lloyd’s said on Friday in its latest Innovation Series report. The flood risk analysis of the region –…
Claim payments for multi-peril crop insurance in Alberta estimated at $700-900 million this year
August 7, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterAs Alberta agriculture producers continue to deal with dry conditions, the Alberta Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) estimates that this year’s claim payments for multi-peril crop insurance will range from approximately $700 million to $900 million. To date, AFSC has already…
Severe weather in Canada in late June caused economic losses of more than US$40 million: Impact Forecasting
August 6, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterSevere weather in Canada on June 22 caused economic losses of more than US$40 million, noted Impact Forecasting’s Global Catastrophe Recap for July. In addition, wildfires caused minor structural damage in Canada and the United States, Impact Forecasting said on…
Some damage reported as hail, rain and strong winds whip through Calgary
August 5, 2015 The Canadian PressCALGARY – Heavy rain, hail and strong winds have whipped through Calgary, leaving some damage in their wake. Flash flooding on Tuesday evening swallowed up some vehicles and caused delays for transit. In some spots, the hail was so heavy…
California wildfire more than triples in size, jumps containment line: AIR Worldwide
August 5, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterCatastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide reported on Tuesday that the Rocky Fire wildfire in northern California has more than tripled in size over the weekend and then jumped a containment line on Monday, as it grew to 97 square miles…
2015 Atlantic hurricane season predicted to be below average
August 5, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterResearchers at Colorado State University (CSU) expect an Atlantic hurricane season below average in 2015, with the CSU Tropical Meteorology Project team calling for eight named storms over the June 1 to Nov. 30 season. Citing the development of a…