Modern day Science still cannot prevent natural disasters or man made calamities from devastating communities when they occur. Every year thousands of lives are taken leaving home owners, businesses and families emotional and financially afflicted.
Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis cost the Home Insurance industry at least $25 million or more per event. Civil disorder, catastrophes and terrorism take their tolls too. These unavoidable events empty out Insurance companies cash reserves and increase home insurance rates every year.
Some catastrophes are worse than others. Here are top four “mega catastrophe” in the last 20 years that resulted in more damage than any other calamity.
1. Hurricane Andrew – August 23rd 24th, 1992
This hurricane turned out to be much more destructive than predicted. It started in southern Florida and the Bahamas. It then traveled across the gulf of mexico attacking sections of Lousiana and other southeastern regions with wind gust up to 200 mph.
Hurricane Andrew destroyed communities, leaving sea of ruined homes and resulted in 250000 people being homeless.
In the aftermath there were 680,000 home insurance claims that added up to $30 billion dollars of damage. This bankrupted eleven property and casualty insurance companies and financially crippled many others. Many homeowners insurance companies had to be rescued by their parent companies given the financial stress.
2. The Northridge Earthquake – January 17th, 1994.
This San Fernando Valley earthquake resulted in landslides and fires. This cause many highway and business closures shaking up the local economy.
This earthquake ended up with a mortality rate of more than 60 people and injuring 12,000. It also destroyed an estimated 8000 homes and damaged 114000 buildings.
In the aftermath there were 430000 home owner claims and thousands of business claims. This ended up costings taxpayers and insurance companies an estimated 20 billions dollars.
3. The World Trade Center Attack – September 11th, 2001
Nobody could have predicted the immense impact the 9/11 events would have on the American people both emotionally and financially.
The event itself killed resulted in almost 3000 deaths and hundreds of deaths thanks to the terrorists who flew their planes into the world trade center buildings.
In the aftermath there were over 35,000 insurance claims in just New York State alone. 2/3 of these were commercial claims and 1/3 were personal claims.
This calamity costed insurance companies and tax payers billions of dollars. It also had major financial ramifications in our stock markets.
4. Hurricane Katrina – August 25, 2005
This hurricane originate over the Bahamas and advanced towards as a category 1 storm. As it progressed over the gulf of Mexico the storm intensified into a category 3 storm. It then attack Louisiana and resulted in one of the most devastating natural calamities in U.S. history.
The hurricane was over 250 miles wide consuming homes and businesses in it’s path.
The hurricane resulted in more than $40 billion in insured losses and over 1.7 million insurance claims.
This hurricane and resulting floods killed almost 2,000 people. Many bodies were never recovered. Hurricane Katrina was one of the most deadliest hurricanes since
Almost 2,000 people lost their lives in this storm and the subsequent floods it caused, and many bodies were never found. This makes Katrina the deadliest hurricane since 1928 Okeechobee hurricane.