Topic
Catastrophes
Quake aid need acute in Nepal capital, more so in villages near epicenter; toll tops 3,700
April 27, 2015 Katy Daigle and Binaj Gurubacharya - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSKATHMANDU, Nepal – Shelter, fuel, food, medicine, power, news, workers – Nepal’s earthquake-hit capital was short on everything Monday as its people searched for lost loved ones, sorted through rubble for their belongings and struggled to provide for their families’…
RIMS Community Service Day focuses on rebuilding two catastrophe-affected neighbourhoods in New Orleans
April 27, 2015 Angela Stelmakowich, EditorNEW ORLEANS, La. – About 100 risk management professionals joined forces with the St. Bernard Project, a non-profit that provides critical resources for communities afflicted by natural disaster, on Apr. 26 to lend a hand in rebuilding two New Orleans…
6.1 magnitude earthquake hits British Columbia’s north coast, no tsunami
April 24, 2015 Cara McKenna - THE CANADIAN PRESSQUEEN CHARLOTTE CITY, B.C. – Billy Yovanovich was about to rise from bed when his house started trembling from a powerful earthquake on British Columbia’s north coast. “I was just waking up and my dog, actually, I think heard it…
Closing protection gap offers opportunity for insurance industry: Swiss Re
April 23, 2015 Angela Stelmakowich, EditorThe global insurance industry has an opportunity to provide solutions and products in light of the considerable protection gap – the difference between economic and insured losses from natural catastrophes – that currently exists and could grow larger, Christoph Oehy,…
Water levels on St. John River expected to exceed flood stage
April 23, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterNew Brunswick’s Department of Public Safety is warning that four water levels on the St. John River are forecast to exceed flood stage today and tomorrow. In its River Watch 2015 alert, the department noted that “ice has been occurring…
North Ontario First Nation community to begin evacuation due to flooding today
April 23, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterKASHECHEWAN, Ont. – The evacuation of a remote northern Ontario First Nation is set to begin today as the rapidly rising Albany River threatens the community. About 600 of the most vulnerable residents in the James Bay community of Kashechewan…
U.S. coalition calls for reforms to natural disaster policies to refocus on mitigation
April 23, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterA coalition of insurers, taxpayer advocates, environment groups and mitigation and housing organizations in the United States is calling for major reforms of the federal government’s natural disaster policies to refocus on mitigation. The coalition, SmarterSafer, released a report this…
Willis launches forensic accounting, complex claims practice
April 23, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterWillis Group Holdings plc announced Wednesday a new forensic accounting and complex claims (FACC) practice, which the commercial brokerage says will help companies “across all industry sectors globally” submit claims “in a format that is familiar to insurers.” London-based Willis…
Gas leak caused explosion that killed man, levelled Toronto home: investigator
April 22, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterTORONTO – Investigators say at least six homes are not structurally sound after a blast flattened one home in northeast Toronto killing one man and damaging 40 nearby homes. Wayne Romaine, an investigator with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, said…
Oklahoma geology group links surge in earthquakes to disposal wells from oil and gas drilling
April 22, 2015 Tim Talley - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Geological Survey said Tuesday it is “very likely” that most of the state’s recent earthquakes were triggered by the subsurface injection of wastewater from oil and natural gas drilling operations. Geologists have been studying the…
Insurance Council of Australia has received more than 19,500 claims following storm
April 22, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has received more than 19,500 claims, with losses estimated at AUD$129 million as of 7 a.m. on Wednesday, following a storm that affected parts of New South Wales (NSW). The ICA said in a…
Federal government calls for National Disaster Mitigation Program proposals
April 21, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterCanada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Steven Blaney, has launched the first call for proposals for the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP). In the federal government’s Economic Action Plan 2014, it committed to providing $200 million in funding…