Historically, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes have been known for generating historic losses and headlines, but the insurance industry is increasingly concerned about the mounting financial impact of so-called secondary perils. Hail storms, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and wildfires are causing more frequent and severe losses that mount into the tens of billions of dollars on an annual basis, often outweighing losses from major perils in recent years. Over the last 40 years, a pattern of more frequent natural catastrophe events has emerged, a trend that has further accelerated over the last decade, according to AM Best (source 1).

The severe hurricanes and record-breaking wildfires that have caused widespread damage in recent years have heightened concerns that a changing global climate may be leading to more frequent and extreme natural catastrophes. Among the possible effects of climate change, stronger and slower-moving hurricanes may bring more devastating winds, higher storm surge and greater inland flooding; hotter temperatures can dry out vegetation and raise the risk of wildfires, particularly as people move into formerly wild areas. Those changes may lead to greater risks for property owners and higher-than-expected claims for insurers.

Insurisk is CRC Group’s exclusive products facility has recently launched CAT+, an A rated property capacity for middle market business that is primarily CAT-exposed. CAT+ can accommodate costal exposure risks from Texas all the way to the Carolinas.

Buyers have grown used to price cuts in the property market in recent years, but insurers are now taking a harder stance. Insurers are seeking additional premium wherever possible and applying stricter underwriting, particularly to property valuations. Rate increases seem to be gaining traction as leading markets pare back on unprofitable lines. Still, those viewed as good risks can expect to do better than more challenging exposures.

The Catastrophe Risk Assessment Report is a proprietary tool developed by CRC Group’s Property experts to help retailers win with their clients. Exclusive to CRC Group, this report helps deliver an attractive and detailed presentation providing quality mapping and analytics with comprehensive location details and analysis to your insureds. It includes a summary of an account’s exposures aggregated a number of ways, including by CAT zones, State, flood zone, and construction type.

Property owners in thunderstorm-prone inland areas are learning the impact that catastrophe models can have on their insurance costs. While severe thunderstorm models have been around for years, carriers are now making greater use of them and asking for higher deductibles and percent deductibles in high-hazard areas.

Hurricanes dominated the headlines last year, but away from the coast, massive losses from thunderstorms, tornadoes, and wildfires continue to roil the property markets. Insureds that have become used to price cuts on non-coastal, non-cat driven business, now face possible rate increases and likely larger deductibles.
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Our special report "Away From the Coast - Rain, Wind and Fire Roil Property," provides valuable information about market conditions away from the coast and shows why you should avoid neglecting these non-coastal accounts.
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And as always, as hurricane season gets underway and is forecasted to be normal or above-normal, the experts at CRC Group are here and ready to help.