NU Online News Service, Dec. 19, 12:35 p.m. EST

Natural catastrophes in 2011 are causing policyholders, government and insurers to rethink their preparedness for a number of risk scenarios.

Commenting on a 12 page report released Wednesday by CoreLogic, a Santa Ana, Calif.-based consulting firm, states, Howard Botts, executive vice president and director of database development for CoreLogic spatial solutions, says in a statement, “The year 2011 was a year that informed the general understanding of risk and, hopefully, will lead to improved preparedness for years to come.”

He adds, “Weather-wise, it has certainly proven to be a memorable year in the United States and around the world. Several major urban areas faced unexpected catastrophes in 2011, putting disaster readiness plans and emergency response teams to the test and causing severe damage in regions underprepared for unusual weather events.

“As a result, homeowners, insurers, government officials and even the news media have been forced to rethink the way they view, plan for and react to natural hazards.”

The report notes that this year, despite only three named storms striking the U.S., turned out to be the most expensive year since 2008 in terms of damage at $8 billion, primarily from flooding.

Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and Don have many experts rethinking national flood policy, says the report, “especially in major metropolitan hubs like New York City.”

The tornado season of 2011 was the third-most active since 1980 with 1,559 storms to date, says CoreLogic. The outbreak of tornados between April 25 and April 28 was the largest outbreak on record, with 336 confirmed across the South, Midwest and Northeast United States.

These tornado events are forcing insurers to “reevaluate risk for tornado damage well beyond the traditional geographic focus of 'tornado alley' and adjacent areas,” according to the report.

Wildfires in 2011 are continuing a trend of fewer but larger fires, and a geographic shift to drought-stricken Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The coming year, 2012, may not be much better, the report notes, as drought conditions are expected to persist for sections of the country, causing wildfire activity to spread.

Residents in non-traditional earthquake areas were surprised with earthquake events, the most significant of which was the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit central Virginia on Aug. 23. Since these events, homeowners in unexpected regions have begun making inquiries about earthquake coverage.

Flood losses in the U.S. are estimated at close to $11 billion by CoreLogic from record breaking rainfall and above-average snowpack in the northern Rocky Mountains. This raised awareness of the possibility of floods outside of FEMA's 100-year flood zones. However, following the trends, CoreLogic says 2012 and the next several years should not see the same extreme flood events of 2011. CoreLogic projects flood loss in 2012 at just over $3.5 billion.

Special Reports /

2011 Natural Catastrophes Cause Reassessment of Risks

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