NU Online News Service, Sept. 20, 2:28 p.m.EDT

Natural catastrophes have made 2011 the highest loss year onrecord globally, Robert Hartwig, president of the InsuranceInformation Institute, notes yesterday at the Houston MarineInsurance Seminar.

In his slidepresentation Hartwig says that the “extraordinary accumulation”of severe natural catastrophes, earthquakes, tsunami, floods andtornadoes have caused $260 billion in globally in economic lossesin the 2011 first half—a new record for the first six months,exceeding the previous record of $220 billion in 2005.

There also have been $55 billion in insured lossesglobally, he adds, which is more than double the first half 2010amount and more than four times the 10-year average.

Economic losses in the U.S. totaled $27 billion, representing a129 percent increase over the $11.8 billion amount through thefirst half of 2010.

Insured losses in the U.S., arising from 100 cat events were$17.3 billion, representing a 162 percent increase over the $6.6billion amount through the first half of 2010, he says.

As of June 30, 2011 there were:

1,585 tornadoes in the U.S., claiming more than 500 lives.

7,176 reports of “large hail” through June 30, causing extensivedamage to homes, businesses and vehicles.

11,283 high wind events causing significant damage.

A total of 20,044 severe weather reports.