Triple-I: Wildfire Risk Expands Beyond the West as Heat Waves Drive US Fire Exposure
A new Insurance Information Institute brief says heat waves, drought and development in the wildland-urban interface are driving wildfire exposure beyond the Western United States, creating new underwriting and claims challenges for insurers.
August 3
Catastrophe
Legislation & Regulation
Property
Risk Management
Underwriting
California
Florida
Georgia
Nebraska
California’s $3.8 Billion Wildfire Technology Plan Aims to Reduce Insurance Losses
California is expanding satellites, AI camera networks, airtankers, and drone technology to detect wildfires earlier. State leaders hope reducing structure losses will help stabilize the homeowners insurance market and ease pressure on the FAIR Plan.
July 29
Catastrophe
Insurance Industry
Property
Risk Management
Technology
California
Hurricane Genevieve Sends Massive Surf to Southern California, Raising Coastal Damage Risks
Long-period swells from Hurricane Genevieve are expected to generate dangerous surf, rip currents, and localized coastal impacts across Southern California through the weekend, even without a direct landfall.
July 29
Catastrophe
Liability
Marine
Property
Risk Management
California
Waymo Driverless Cars Have 68% Fewer Crashes Than Human Drivers, IIHS Finds
An IIHS study found that Waymo’s Level 4 vehicles had fewer police-reportable and injury crashes per mile than human drivers. Researchers warned that federal crash and mileage reporting must improve as autonomous vehicle fleets expand.
July 23
Auto
Insurance Industry
Legislation & Regulation
Risk Management
Technology
Arizona
California
Texas
New Leak Delays West Hollywood Water Main Repairs as LADWP Extends Sunset Boulevard Closure
Just as LADWP prepared to reopen Sunset Boulevard after replacing the ruptured 36-inch water main, crews discovered another leak that could extend repairs. The latest setback adds uncertainty for property owners, businesses, and insurance claims tied to the July 16 flooding.
July 23
Insurance Industry
Property
Risk Management
California
California Driver Sentenced After Dashcam Exposes Road Rage Insurance Fraud
Dashcam footage and an independent 911 witness helped investigators prove a California driver intentionally caused a collision before filing a fraudulent insurance claim. The driver received jail time, probation, and restitution after being convicted on multiple charges.
July 13
Auto
Fraud
Litigation
California
Wind Mitigation Discounts Alone Won’t Stop Property Insurance Premium Surge, Studies Say
Two new studies conclude that mitigation discounts encourage home hardening for some property owners but fail to overcome affordability barriers for many households, even as climate-driven insurance costs continue to rise across much of the Southeast.
July 9
Catastrophe
Property
Risk Management
Underwriting
California
Florida
Louisiana
North Carolina
South Carolina
California Wildfire Contractor Fraud Leaves Homeowner Out $18,000
A California wildfire survivor says an unlicensed contractor took an $18,000 payment before abandoning the project. Insurance and fraud experts say similar scams are increasing after natural disasters across the United States.
July 7
Catastrophe
Fraud
Insurance Industry
Property
California
Rising Insurance Costs Put Performance Car Ownership Out of Reach
Higher theft rates, expensive repairs and underwriting changes are making high-performance vehicles increasingly difficult to insure, even as used prices become more attractive.
June 29
Auto
Insurance Industry
Risk Management
Underwriting
California
Florida
New York
Could a Hurricane Impact the World Cup? History Shows the Risk for Host Cities
Historical hurricane data shows tropical storm threats remain relatively low during the World Cup, but several host cities have experienced damaging storms, flooding, and infrastructure losses during June and July.
June 24
Catastrophe
Insurance Industry
Property
Risk Management
California
Florida
Georgia
Massachusetts
Missouri
Houston-Area Clinic Owner Accused in $906 Million Medicare and Tricare Fraud Scheme
Federal prosecutors allege a Houston-area clinic owner and co-conspirators submitted hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicare and Tricare claims tied to medically unnecessary allograft procedures. Investigators say the scheme generated nearly $300 million in government payments and involved kickbacks and patient referrals.
June 22
Fraud
Insurance Industry
Legislation & Regulation
Life & Health
California
Hawaii
Nevada
Texas
NHC Tracks First Eastern Pacific Tropical Disturbance of 2026 Hurricane Season
The system has a 60% chance of development within seven days, while NOAA forecasts an above-normal Eastern Pacific hurricane season.
May 29
Catastrophe
Insurance Industry
Marine
Property
Risk Management
California
West Coast Chemical Tank Failures Spotlight Inspection Gaps and Industrial Safety Risks
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.
May 28
Catastrophe
Legislation & Regulation
Liability
Litigation
Property
California
Washington
California Chemical Tank Emergency Leaves 16,000 Displaced After Explosion Threat Eases
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.
May 26
Catastrophe
Insurance Industry
Liability
Litigation
Property
California
Southern California Wildfire Threatens 17,000 Homes as Sandy Fire Reaches 30% Containment
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.
May 21
Catastrophe
Property
Risk Management
California
