Topic
Catastrophes
IBC supports B.C. government’s earthquake report
March 27, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is applauding the government of British Columbia’s earthquake preparedness report, which recommends that the provincial and federal governments engage with the insurance industry and other key stakeholders to develop a strategy on disaster resilience…
Floods from heavy rain in Chile’s usually bone dry Atacama desert cuts roads, knocks out power
March 26, 2015 Luis Andres Henao - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSSANTIAGO, Chile – Communities in a desert region of northern Chile struggled Thursday to cope with rain-provoked flooding that has claimed the lives of at least seven people, knocked out power and cut off roadways. Thunderstorms with torrential rains moved…
Flight club members say co-pilot from crashed plane was ‘very happy’ with Germanwings job
March 26, 2015 David McHugh - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMONTABAUR, Germany – Andreas Lubitz never showed any sign he was anything but thrilled to have landed a job with Germanwings, according to those who taught him the trade as a teenager in this town in the woody hills of…
Nation’s tornado drought comes to an end; 1 person killed, several injured in Oklahoma
March 26, 2015 Justin Juozapavicius - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSTULSA, Okla. – The first batch of severe weather in this year’s tornado season has devastated an Oklahoma mobile home park, and storms across the area damaged buildings, tore off roofs and left debris strewn across roads. One person was…
Insured losses from disasters below average in 2014 despite record number of natural catastrophe events: Swiss Re sigma study
March 25, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterGlobal insured losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters were $US35 billion in 2014, down from $US44 billion in 2013 and well below the $US64 billion-average of the previous 10 years, according to a Swiss Re sigma study released on…
New Brunswick appoints commission to study conditions on fracking
March 24, 2015 The Canadian PressFREDERICTON – A former chief justice and two academics have been appointed to a commission in New Brunswick to determine whether government-placed conditions can be met before a moratorium on shale gas fracking can be lifted. Former chief justice Guy…
World conference adopts new international framework for disaster risk reduction after marathon negotiations
March 24, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterFollowing the 3rd annual UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan last week, representatives from 187 United Nations member states have adopted the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda – a far reaching new framework…
New Global Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes formed
March 24, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Toronto-based Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) announced on Monday that it will immediately form a new worldwide alliance with an international group of disaster research institutes. The proposal builds on initiatives presented at the Sendai Framework for Disaster…
Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction to host earthquake risk presentation in April
March 23, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) has announced that it will host an earthquake risk presentation next month. The Dynamics of Urban Earthquake Risk presentation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on April 17. It will…
Number and cost of residential water damage claims on steady rise, Aviva Canada says
March 23, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterWith the late winter thaw happening around the country, to be followed by the spring and summer rains, Aviva Canada Inc. is encouraging Canadians to take steps to protect their property from water damage. “2013 was our worst year for…
Halifax storm creates possibility of ice damming, collapses: RSA
March 23, 2015 Jason Contant, Online EditorAs Halifax continues to clean up from the storm that dumped more than 100 centimetres of snow on the city last week, Alex Walker, national director of claims relations with RSA Canada, is reminding policyholders about the potential for ice…
Severe winter weather drives Allstate’s estimated cat losses for February
March 23, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterThree severe winter weather/freeze events accounted for the lion’s share of Allstate Corporation’s estimated US$223 million (pre-tax) in catastrophe losses for February 2015, the insurer reports. The cat loss estimate for the month was US$223 million (pre-tax) and US$145 million…