As communities recover from tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and other disasters, NICB says contractor fraud schemes are becoming more sophisticated, with roofing scams, inflated mitigation claims, and assignment of benefits abuse among the most common threats.
Five earthquakes off the Northern California coast caused little damage, but they renewed attention on the fact that most California homeowners lack earthquake insurance and would receive no coverage for quake-related property losses.
Forecasters are monitoring a potential tropical depression that could develop in the Gulf by mid-June. Even if a named storm does not form, increased rainfall and tropical moisture could affect Florida and other Gulf Coast areas.
Researchers analyzing more than 480,000 Salmonella genomes found climate change is associated with a 10% increase in antimicrobial resistance genes worldwide, with projections showing the threat could intensify by 2100 without emissions cuts and antibiotic stewardship.
A North Carolina jury awarded $101 million in a retaining wall collapse lawsuit tied to a 2021 construction accident that killed one worker and seriously injured three others. The case highlights contractor liability, construction site safety failures, and the legal exposure tied to engineering and permitting decisions.
A Colorado jury found a contractor intentionally interfered with an insurance contract after allegedly inflating a church hail damage claim. The verdict highlights growing insurer scrutiny of contractor involvement in appraisal disputes and claim inflation.
The Institutes Knowledge Group’s 2026 Skills Report finds AI literacy, claims expertise, leadership, and risk management skills are becoming critical as insurance roles evolve.
Deadly incidents in Washington and California are drawing attention to chemical storage inspections, emergency planning, and the risks tied to aging industrial tanks. Regulators and safety experts say maintenance failures can quickly escalate into major claims events.
Officials allowed more than half of evacuated residents to return home after pressure inside a volatile chemical tank dropped, though thousands remain displaced as investigations continue into the industrial incident.
As Contractor Fraud Awareness Week continues nationwide, roofing contractors, insurers, and adjusters are warning homeowners about storm chasing scams, inflated claims, and post-disaster fraud risks.
Fire crews gained ground overnight as calmer winds helped containment efforts near Simi Valley. Thousands remain under evacuation orders as wildfire risk continues across Southern California.
Munich Re says El Niño conditions could suppress Atlantic hurricane activity while increasing typhoon risks across the western Pacific. The reinsurer warns that even a quiet season can still produce catastrophic insured losses.
The National Hurricane Center has begun issuing daily Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlooks for the 2026 season. No tropical cyclone formation is expected over the next seven days, but parts of Florida and the Southeast Coast are being watched as higher-risk areas this year.
