Catastrophe & Restoration

Most research efforts that test the effects of moisture exposure on wood building products evaluate the effects of water vapor -- in other words, the relative humidity (RH) -- rather than exposure to free water.

Property and casualty claim data indicate that the insurance industry spends billions of dollars each year removing fallen trees and shrubs (trees) from insured structures and properties.

Golf ball-sized hail -- along with strong winds -- recently caused damages across the Denver area that totaled $350 million in insured losses.

Insurers must prepare for an expected increase in catastrophic losses arising from climate change. Key strategies will incorporate prudent risk selection, accurate claim reserving, and technology adoption.

Has the economy finally affected everybody -- and everything? Did Mother Nature take a mandated furlough in June and July, content to work on her tan while sipping mojitos on the beaches of Miami?

With the downward shift in our economy, economists are telling business owners that the best thing they can do to increase business is to improve the level of customer service provided. That includes temp housing.

As the textile restoration niche has gained recognition as a viable component of the prop-erty claim process, the procedures for handling specific types of losses have become more refined and standardized.

Severe thunderstorms are responsible for causing more than $6 billion dollars in insured damages for the first six months of 2009, making it the leading cause for insurance losses so far in what has been called a moderate year for natural disasters.