Catastrophe & Restoration

The National Flood Insurance Program will pay claims for damage to homes and contents from oil driven ashore during hurricanes, its officials have announced.

State Farm Mutual Insurance Company said it plans to stop handling claims for the National Flood Insurance Program but will continue writing policies.

Companies with exposure to the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico are insured for losses totaling about $1.4 billion, according to initial reports from the companies involved in the incident.

The city of Nashville expects total damage from flooding that began in early May to surpass the billion-dollar mark.

Whether a loss is large or small, specialty items may often be the culprit behind snags, delays, and points of contention.

As you prepare for this year's hurricane season, there is one rule that is true time and time again: "Expect the unexpected." Use our guide to help you anticipate as much as possible.

There really is no season of disasters, but it does seem that spring and summer, from mid-March to the beginning of fall, is when we receive the most "gifts" from Ma Nature.

Insurance claim professionals would do well to remember that anticipating disaster and preparing for response are two recipes that don't call for slick talk.