Catastrophe & Restoration

As the 2005 hurricane season advances, repair costs for residents of the southeastern Unites States remain 20 to 40 percent higher than in other parts of the country.

A recent survey commissioned by Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. has revealed a troubling lack of coverage knowledge among homeowners.

The United States property and casualty industry is expected to pay homeowners and businesses an estimated $920 million for insured property losses in the second quarter of 2005.

The record-breaking 2004 hurricane season led to a much greater focus on aggregate risk, which will prompt changes in catastrophe risk assessment.

Within one minute on July 7, the first full day of the 31st G8 summit in Scotland, a series of three bomb explosions struck London's public transportation system during the morning rush hour.

The 2005 fire season is predicted to be above normal due to a variety of factors, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, in Boise, Idaho.

Last year's unusually active hurricane season prompted record numbers of people to log on to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration web site.

The National Fire Protection Association delayed consideration of new code proposals that would have revised 90A, Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems.