In the insurance world, every incident of damage is followed by a restoration and repair process.  Japan’s recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami – and subsequent nuclear malfunction – while on a massive scale, is essentially no different. But 2 colossal hurdles are impeding progress: 1)     the first is financial: who is going  more...

Although it happened half a world away, the economic ripples of Japan’s 3-part catastrophe (earthquake, tsunami, nuclear melt-down) will be felt here in Canada. Because it is the world’s third-largest economy, the devastation in Japan is already resulting in supply-chain interruptions on everything from auto parts to electronics to aircraft assembly. In the financial sector,  more...

New Zealand’s 6.3 magnitude earthquake early Tuesday morning again brings into sharp focus the chilling potential for destruction and carnage resulting from seismic activity.  Early estimates of 75 dead are certain to increase as the rescue/recovery operation continues in New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch.   This event falls hard on the heels of a major  more...

Video from http://www.ilstv.com/top-10-disasters-of- more...

So far, 2010 has seen an exceptionally large number of global natural catastrophes taking lives and damaging vital infrastructure.  And for most of us, this news is so common, we’ve largely forgotten the dimensions of each tragedy. According to industry definition, the first half of 2010 saw 440 catastrophic events around the globe.  Losses of  more...

Wednesday’s magnitude -5.0 earthquake was memorable for affecting such a large piece of geography  – tremors were felt in Ontario, Quebec, New York, Illinois, Vermont, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio – without resulting in fatalities or substantial damage. The quake occurred at approx. 1:31 p.m., lasted 15 to 20 seconds, and was dominating social  more...