Catastrophe Risks

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the challenge posed by a siloed approach to business continuity management and crisis management, according to a new report examining risk professionals’ response to the crisis. The report found that the pandemic has highlighted a frequent disconnect between strategic risk and operational resilience and response. Read More

Catastrophe risk modeling firm RMS estimates that insured losses from wildfires in the western United States will be between $4.0 billion and $8.0 billion. RMS said the projected losses reflect estimates as of September 20, 2020, and indicated that the losses are likely to increase as many fires are still ongoing. Read More

Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide estimates that Hurricane Sally caused $1 billion to $3 billion in insured onshore property losses as a result of wind, storm surge, and inland flood. Wind was responsible for the majority of the losses, AIR said. Read More

Commercial insurance companies should not be surprised to see buyers reduce their premium spending across lines if they continue to tap out of difficult-to-insure risks like pandemics, Zach Finn, clinical professor of risk management and insurance at Butler University, tells Richard Cutcher in episode 38 of the Global Captive Podcast. Read More

A new report from Kroll Bond Rating Agency suggests that the (re)insurance industry remains sufficiently capitalized and is generally well-positioned to manage through current catastrophes, including hurricanes, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The continuing increase in hurricanes' severity will lead to another year of high catastrophe losses for insurance companies. Read More