Catastrophe & Restoration

What had most insurers nervous, however, was whether Gustav would cause the kind of residential and commercial damage sustained when Hurricane Katrina hit almost three years ago to the day.

The day was beautiful, without a cloud in the sky. By mid-afternoon, however, the sky had darkened and forecasters talked about the possibility of late afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

Embracing the logic that mitigating disaster-related damages begins with promoting more durable dwellings, the U.S. House has approved the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act.

While attending the Worker's Compensation Educational Conference last month in Orlando, I woke to a sound of a percolating coffee pot.

This summer, I was asked to make a presentation at an insurance fraud conference held by the Nebraska Department of Insurance at a state park on the Platte River.

The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) determined that the cost of homeowners' claims for damages stemming from lightning strikes has increased by 28 percent over the last four years.

The string of properties speckling the Gulf and East Coasts serve as a reminder of what is at stake when the next hurricane sweeps through.

Hurricane season is upon us, and insurance adjusters are bracing themselves for the worst as they pore over 2008 forecasts.