Tag: wildfires

Nineteen Large Fires in Washington State and Oregon Prompt Evacuation Orders

insurers exodus from wildfire regions

On Sunday, wildfires raged across Oregon and Washington state, prompting officials to order evacuations in some areas and electric utilities to turn off power to thousands of customers for safety. There were 19 large fires in the two states, encompassing more than 295,000 acres as of Sunday, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, which… Continue reading Nineteen Large Fires in Washington State and Oregon Prompt Evacuation Orders

Millions of Homes Are Being Built in Harm’s Way Even as Wildfires Grow

insurers exodus from wildfire regions

Wildfires are becoming larger and more severe across the Western United States as global warming intensifies. At the same time, new data show that more Americans than ever are moving to areas of the country that are more likely to burn, increasing the likelihood of disaster. More than 16 million homes in the West were… Continue reading Millions of Homes Are Being Built in Harm’s Way Even as Wildfires Grow

FEMA to Launch Initiative to Modernize Building Codes in Cat-Resiliency Effort

Miami Florida cityscape skyline with concept of sea level rise and major flooding from warming or hurricane damage

On this first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, federal officials are launching a new initiative to modernize building codes so that communities can be more resilient to hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that are intensifying due to climate change. Deanne Criswell, the administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and… Continue reading FEMA to Launch Initiative to Modernize Building Codes in Cat-Resiliency Effort

Most of U.S. West Is in Severe Drought as Peak Wildfire Season Looms

A rusted cast iron water main cover in the desert

The American West is experiencing its worst drought on record, bringing new water restrictions, wildfire danger, and anxiety to one of the country’s fastest-growing regions as summer approaches. According to tree-ring records analyzed by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, much of the West has been mired in a drought dating back to… Continue reading Most of U.S. West Is in Severe Drought as Peak Wildfire Season Looms

Triple-I: New Mexico’s Wildfires Highlight Need for Preparedness

Air pollution and workers

President Joseph Biden’s approval last week of a major disaster declaration for New Mexico gave new urgency to the importance of May’s Wildfire Awareness month, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). “The U.S. has incurred a significant loss of life and property damage over the past five years due to wildfires and drought conditions… Continue reading Triple-I: New Mexico’s Wildfires Highlight Need for Preparedness

Up to Two-Thirds of Homes Destroyed in Marshall Fire May Be Underinsured

insurers exodus from wildfire regions

According to preliminary estimates from Colorado’s insurance division, one-third to two-thirds of the homes destroyed in the Marshall Fire may have been underinsured for replacement costs (DOI). “One of the more troubling issues in the aftermath of the Marshall Fire has been the problem of underinsurance for people who lost their homes,” the Department of… Continue reading Up to Two-Thirds of Homes Destroyed in Marshall Fire May Be Underinsured

Extreme Weather Makes Insurer Reimbursement Increasingly Challenging

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

Almost six months after Hurricane Ida lifted the roof off Brett Gabriel’s house, filling it with rain water, rebuilding feels nearly as out of reach as it did the day of the storm. Between gutting the mold-covered walls and replacing the waterlogged floors in his home about 45 miles southwest of New Orleans, it will… Continue reading Extreme Weather Makes Insurer Reimbursement Increasingly Challenging

Closely Built Homes Help Spread Colorado Marshall Fire

High winds 80 to 100 miles per hour fueled apocalyptic wild fires which tore across open grasslands and through homes in Superior, Colorado off highway 36. Power was cut to 34,000 homes and over 30,000 residents were forced to evacuate. Over 500 homes were destroyed by the Marshall fire outside Boulder, Colorado which was sparked by downed power lines in high winds on December 30, 2021.

Too many houses built too close together on the tinder-dry high plains between Denver and Boulder resulted in $1 billion in Marshall firestorm losses, insurance industry researchers discovered this week as they sifted through ashes and charred ruins. They were starting an investigation, similar to the work done after previous devastating fires, such as the… Continue reading Closely Built Homes Help Spread Colorado Marshall Fire