Catastrophe & Restoration

The looming homeowners' insurance crisis has both the insurance industry and policyholders sending out a distress call.

After months of negotiations, the U.S. House and Senate have not yet reached a consensus regarding a flood reform package.

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.