The Latest in Flood Insurance and Industry News
The 2020 Hurricane Season was one of the most active hurricane seasons on record and broke nearly every record held before. “The season ended with 30 named storms, 13 hurricanes, and six major hurricanes” reports The Weather Channel. Continue reading to find out why this year was so unique for hurricanes.
flood insurance industry news
Can we expect flooding on a grander scale in the future? As the effects of climate change become more apparent the answer seems to be a resounding yes! One such article, by Tom Philpott, points to a growing concern that the next major flooding event could happen in California.
flood insurance industry news
When house hunting many consider the location and size of the home in their decision. However, it’s becoming increasingly important to consider a home’s flood risk. Across the nation, homeowners are experiencing flood damage at an alarming rate. Before purchasing a home, consider these 6 flood-focused questions.
A study conducted by the University of California warns that rivers are an increasing threat of flooding due to rising sea levels. Researchers found that this is especially worrying for inland homeowners and can affect historically calm rivers. Contact your policyholders today to warn of this growing threat.
flood insurance industry news
Recent research conducted by Penn’s Wharton School, examines the connection between falling home prices in Florida and rising sea levels. The growing risk of chronic flooding for some coastal homes is having a financial impact on homeowners outside of flood damage.
On Tuesday, June 2nd, we saw the formation of Tropical Storm Cristobal in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. This marks the third storm formation this hurricane season. According to The Weather Channel, we could see it reach the “Gulf Coast of the United States late this weekend.” Currently, it is still too early to tell the severity of the storms once it reaches our coast (if it does), but it is important for those in potentially affected areas to begin preparing. We will continue to monitor the storm and provide updates.
Weeks ahead of schedule, the hurricane season’s first tropical system could develop near Florida and the Bahamas this weekend, forecasters said Tuesday. As of midday Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said there was a 50% chance of development within the next five days. “An area of low pressure is expected to develop this weekend a couple hundred miles northeast of the Bahamas,” the hurricane center said.
Atmospheric rivers are narrow ribbons of concentrated moisture that originate in the Pacific and can flow thousands of miles before dropping rain and snow on land. Scientists are ramping up their research into the systems this winter fearful that warmer temperatures tied to climate change will boost the moisture they carry, supercharging them moving forward.
flood insurance industry news
Recent research finds that repeated flooding events have a cumulative effect on the structural integrity of earthen levees, suggesting that the increase in extreme weather events associated with climate change could pose significant challenges for the nation’s aging levee system.
The United States had 14 major weather disasters last year, with a toll of at least 44 dead and a price tag of $45 billion, according to federal officials.
According to the United States Geological Survey, “more than 75% of declared Federal disasters are related to floods, and annual flood losses average almost $8 billion with over 90 fatalities per year.” Flooding poses serious risk, and as the climate changes, the number of homes in the United States facing a risk of flooding is increasing.
Just 10 intense atmospheric rivers caused nearly half the West’s flood damage over 40 years, new research shows. They’re a hint of what’s ahead with global warming.
10/2019
If it rains, it can flood. That stark reality has been driven home in the last few years as hurricane-related rainfalls smashed records and inundated communities from Houston to New York City. Homes and businesses from coast to coast suffered extensive inland flooding, and swollen rivers breached levees and left farmlands and communities across the Midwest immersed in huge amounts of standing water.
11/06/2019
Even in risky areas, some homeowners still skip flood coverage. Flooding, is the most common cause of disaster-related damages in the United States. The vast majority of standard home insurance policies do not cover flooding. To ensure coverage, most homeowners must purchase a separate policy backed by the federal government under the National Flood Insurance Program. Managed by FEMA, Congress created the program in 1968 to offer primary flood insurance to properties with significant flood risk as many private insurers stopped offering coverage. It was designed to reduce escalating costs associated with helping flood survivors recover losses.
10/13/2019
The data, known as Atlas 14, revealed that parts of Austin are seeing as much as three inches more rain in major storm events than the NOAA had calculated with old rainfall data back in 1961.
9/26/2019
Congress has approved another stopgap funding measure that will keep the federal government running at least through November 21.
9/24/2019
Scientists raise new concerns over an anticipated rise in flooding events across the US, including landlocked areas.
09/13/2019
At a recent hearing hosted by the Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy, environmental experts discussed the risks to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) posed by climate change, saying the situation is likely to worsen in the coming years.