South Central

• Oklahoma Tornado Claims for May Over 70,000

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 19, 2013

  The Oklahoma Insurance Department says insurance claims from a series of tornadoes in May jumped to 70,782 with insurance payments reaching close to $562 million.

• California Auto Insurance Rates Decrease, Bucking U.S. Trend

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 14, 2013

  California auto insurance buyers are paying less for coverage than they were two decades ago while rates rose substantially for the rest of the country, says the Consumer Federation of America.

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  "All Ears To The Ground" for Advancing Risks

  By Denise Tessier  |  June 14, 2013

  The industry talent shortage is getting worse, earthquake risk should be addressed on the national level, and other revelations plucked from spring industry conferences.

• Severe Weather Threatens U.S. East Coast with Possible Tornadoes

  By Colleen Jenkins, Reuters  |  June 13, 2013

  A severe storm system sweeping the U.S. East Coast on Thursday delayed flights and threatened to snarl work commutes a day after causing several tornadoes, damaging hail and high winds across the upper Midwest.

• May Tornado Claims Top $470M in Oklahoma

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 13, 2013

  Insurance payments on May claims related to severe tornadoes in Oklahoma have eclipsed $470 million, and Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak this is “just the beginning.”

• Verisk Companies Support Tornado Recovery Through Analytics

  By Staff Writer  |  June 12, 2013

  When a tornado touches down, property claims professionals immediately deploy to offer help and begin the recovery process for their policyholders.

• CIAB, PCI Voice Support for NARAB II Bill

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 7, 2013

  The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers is urging the Senate to act promptly on legislation providing a mechanism for a true nonresident licensing reciprocity.

• U.S. House Passes Bill to Delay NFIP Increases

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 7, 2013

  In an effort to deflect consumer outrage from mandated flood insurance rate increases, House members touted a provision in legislation passed June 5. But it apparently won’t accomplish what they want it to do.

• Insured Losses in Oklahoma from May Tornadoes Reaching $250M

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 6, 2013

  Insured losses are nearing $250 million from tornado-related claims in Oklahoma since May 19.

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  10 States at Greatest Risk of Storm Surge Damage

  By Hannah Bender, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 6, 2013

  Although hurricanes are usually associated with southern coastal states, hurricanes Irene and Sandy proved storm surge is also a big risk for other states.

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  Aon Benfield: At Least $4B in Insured Losses from May Storms in U.S.

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 5, 2013

  Storm damage in the U.S. in May will cost insurers at least $4 billion, says Aon Benfield’s Impact Forecasting.

• CSU, TSR Continue to Call for Above-Average Hurricane Season

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 5, 2013

  There is a probability of 96-percent a hurricane of any strength will make landfall—with the usual suspects at the head of the list for landfall, says a team at Colorado State University.

• Insured Cost of North Texas Hailstorm to Reach $400M

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 4, 2013

  Hail is said to cause an average of $1 billion in damage to crops and property each year. A recent hailstorm in North Texas is quickly approaching half that amount on its own.

• Analysis: As Hurricanes Loom, Florida Insurance Lives on 'Borrowed Time'

  By David Adams, Reuters  |  June 3, 2013

  Florida has enjoyed a record run of seven years without a hurricane making landfall, but industry experts question whether Florida's state-controlled insurance system is able to cope in the long term.

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  Recent Tornadoes May Be Second Billion-Dollar Insured Event in Two Weeks

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 3, 2013

  The Midwest received no reprieve from the intense May storm season this weekend, as Oklahoma City and St. Louis were pummeled by tornadoes, flooding and straight-line winds on Friday.

• Lockton Adds Insurance Exchange for Retiree Medical Benefits

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 3, 2013

  Lockton Companies has joined other major insurance brokers responding to changes brought on by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by adding a private insurance exchange to its employee benefits division.