Hurricane Isaias to drive $1bn+ insured & economic losses

07.08.2020 625 views
Economic and insured loss totals from the impact of Hurricane Isaias are each individually expected to surpass the $1 billion threshold, according to analysts at Aon. Isaias swept across the Caribbean over July 28th to August 1st with notable impacts in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. It later tracked up parallel to the Florida Coast before landfalling in North Carolina on August 3rd as a Category 1 Hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds of 85mph. Significant impacts were experienced along a large portion of the eastern seaboard, including historic storm surge, hurricane force wind gusts, flooding rainfall, and damaging tornadoes. Isaias became the second hurricane, and the fifth storm to make landfall in the US during the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season. Across the Dominican Republic, landslides and downed trees were reported across multiple provinces, while 131 towns were isolated due to flooding of streams and rivers. Preliminary surveys indicated 1,119 damaged homes throughout the country, with the most significant damage reported in Hato Mayor. In Puerto Rico, at least 438,000 customers lost power and several river gauges were recorded at above flood stage after portions of the island received between 6 to 10 inches of rainfall. And similarly, in the Bahamas, there were widespread reports of power interruptions, downed utility lines, fallen trees, and flooding, as well as storm surge damage and substantial crop loss. Hurricane Isaias brought only minimal impacts as it tracked up the coast of Florida, but brought notable storm surge across portions of coastal South Carolina. Following this, the storm brought 2 to 4 inches of rainfall to North Carolina, as well as hurricane force wind gusts reaching 99 mph at Federal Point, and multiple confirmed tornadoes. A NWS damage survey reported dozens of destroyed mobile homes, along with multiple single-story homes – some of which were left unrecognizable – while flooding inundated roadways and stranded vehicles. Aon reports that the hurricane then moved up across Virginia, where similar levels of inland flooding were reported, before tracking across Maryland and Delaware, where it caused more flooding and minor wind damage. Beyond this, Isaias continued to cause minor disruption in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York as it weakened significantly, although power outages and downed trees were reported as far as Connecticut and New Hampshire. While Aon believes that the economic and insured loss totals from Isaias will both eventually surpass $1 billion, it warned that it remains too early to provide a more precise loss estimate, given that damage surveys across the Caribbean, US and Canada remain on-going. Source - https://www.reinsurancene.ws
24.11.2025

Uzbekistan establishes Agricultural Insurance Fund to expand risk-insurance system

Uzbekistan has established the Agricultural Insurance Fund under a presidential decree aimed at improving the country’s agricultural risk-insurance system.

24.11.2025

NitroScope project launches in Ghent to map and manage Europe’s farm nitrogen flows

Nitrogen is a cornerstone of agricultural productivity, yet its excessive use continues to harm soil health, water quality, and climate. To address this challenge, the NitroScope project officially kicked off with a two-day meeting at Ghent University.

24.11.2025

Ghana secures €154m Italian investment to expand large-scale commercial agriculture

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced a €154 million investment from the Government of Italy, in partnership with BF International, to support the transformation of large-scale commercial agriculture in Ghana.

24.11.2025

Sri Lanka unveils digital platform aimed at modernizing shrimp farming

The South Asian nation of Sri Lanka has launched a fully integrated digital platform for its shrimp sector, aiming to modernize farming practices and strengthen biosecurity as the industry looks to expand sustainably.

24.11.2025

South Africa signs agricultural cooperation MoU with Vietnam

South Africa's agriculture department has concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with Vietnam covering cooperation in crop production, plant protection, animal husbandry, veterinary services, research, technology transfer, and agricultural trade. 

24.11.2025

Nigeria - Federal Government Launches National Council to Reform Livestock Sector

The Federal Government has launched the National Council on Livestock Development, a new policy and coordination body designed to drive major reforms and attract new investments into Nigeria’s livestock economy. 

23.11.2025

PCN-SP tool helps Scottish potato growers manage nematodes effectively

A new digital tool designed to help Scottish potato growers manage one of the industry’s most persistent pests has been launched by PCN Action Scotland.

23.11.2025

India - Rain damaged Kharif crops, now water-logging delays Rabi sowing in N Gujarat

Even as the government has announced relief packages worth Rs 11,138 crore for farmers for damages due to rains in September and October, the farmers in several districts say they do not see the situation getting any better.