FEMA Chief Brock Long’s Unauthorized Travel Cost Government $151,000, Inspector General Report Shows

President Trump’s top disaster official cost the government $151,000 through the unauthorized use of government vehicles that included travel to his home in North Carolina, according to an internal investigation. Brock Long, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also relied on government vehicles and employees to drive him and his family around Hawaii… Continue reading FEMA Chief Brock Long’s Unauthorized Travel Cost Government $151,000, Inspector General Report Shows

Businesses Are Urged to Build Resilience to Climate Change Impact: Zurich Insurance

Flood risks and uninsured

With measures to slash greenhouse gas emissions set to miss their mark, businesses should act now and prepare for a changing climate, according to a report by Zurich Insurance Group. Published ahead of Climate Week NYC, a gathering of investors, governors and CEOs in New York this week, it recommends a three-step strategy to help… Continue reading Businesses Are Urged to Build Resilience to Climate Change Impact: Zurich Insurance

Hurricane Florence Has Gone, But Challenges for the Carolinas Have Just Begun

A hurricane on earth viewed from space. This is a rendered image.

It will not be easy drying out, fixing up and rethinking whole ways of life in a region drenched and deeply shaken by more than eight trillion gallons of rain. But that is the challenge facing the Carolinas after Hurricane Florence and a wearying week of heroic rescues, hard choices, potential environmental crises — including… Continue reading Hurricane Florence Has Gone, But Challenges for the Carolinas Have Just Begun

Aftermath of Hurricane Florence Estimated to Have Caused Between $20 and $30 Billion in Flood and Wind Losses

CoreLogic®, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today announced updated residential and commercial flood and wind loss estimates for Hurricane Florence. According to this new data analysis, flood loss for residential and commercial properties in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia is estimated to be between $19 billion and $28.5 billion… Continue reading Aftermath of Hurricane Florence Estimated to Have Caused Between $20 and $30 Billion in Flood and Wind Losses

FEMA Chief to Reimburse Cost of Improperly Using Government Vehicles

FEMA disaster aid distribution

President Trump’s top disaster official agreed to repay the government for the improper use of federal vehicles and received a show of support from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. “Corrective actions” are being taken, Ms. Nielsen said Friday. She said she had ordered Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to… Continue reading FEMA Chief to Reimburse Cost of Improperly Using Government Vehicles

Moody’s Pegs Florence’s Economic Cost at $38 Billion to $50 Billion

Wagram, North Carolina, United States/September 18, 2018: Power line that went down during Hurricane Florence

After a week of heavy rains and record flooding, initial estimates for the damage that Florence wrought on the Carolinas rank the storm among history’s top hurricanes, but far below last year’s trio of powerful cyclones. Moody’s Analytics on Friday estimated the economic cost of Florence to be between $38 billion and $50 billion including… Continue reading Moody’s Pegs Florence’s Economic Cost at $38 Billion to $50 Billion

Puerto Rico Sues Insurers Amid Unresolved Claims

aftermath of hurricane Maria. In the valley shots prior to Maria, the homes were not visible.

Puerto Rico’s government is suing insurance companies that officials say have not responded quickly enough to claims filed after Hurricane Maria hit nearly a year ago. Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Tuesday that the lawsuits aim to prevent companies from dropping claims because they have allegedly expired. He said insurance companies believe they can drop a… Continue reading Puerto Rico Sues Insurers Amid Unresolved Claims

FAA Approves State Farm’s Use of Drones to Assess Hurricane Damage

Trees felt over houses by strong wind, natural disaster theme

Insurer State Farm will be allowed to operate small, foam, fixed-wing drones to assess damage from Hurricane Florence across four states, after the Federal Aviation Administration deemed its aircrafts safe enough to do so, according to Bloomberg. The company will use eBee drones, manufactured by the SenseFly subsidiary of drone company Parrot. The unmanned aerial… Continue reading FAA Approves State Farm’s Use of Drones to Assess Hurricane Damage

Allstate Reports Cat Losses of $186M for August 2018

Allstate catastrophe losses

The Allstate Corporation, one of the largest primary insurers in the U.S, has reported estimated catastrophe losses of $186 million pre-tax ($147 million after-tax) for the month of August 2018. Catastrophe losses consisted of 16 events that cost an estimated $137 million pre-tax, as well as unfavourable reserve re-estimates for prior catastrophe losses. Allstate said… Continue reading Allstate Reports Cat Losses of $186M for August 2018

North Carolina Officials Ask for More from FEMA

Predictive flood modeling

Just as some local officials said they were starting to get antsy about the arrival of federal aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, it began arriving. “This was the first FEMA shirt I’ve seen. We’ve been taking care of ourselves,” said Skip Watkins, vice chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. He… Continue reading North Carolina Officials Ask for More from FEMA