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

07.08.2020 648 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
15.12.2025

India - Delayed crop loss survey keeps Cauvery delta farmers in limbo

Nearly 90,000 hectares of samba and thalady crops are submerged, raising fears for the next cultivation cycle.

15.12.2025

Romanian farmers to get financing support with €25 million EIB loan to Agricover Credit

Romanian farmers will be eligible for extra financing as a result of a €25 million loan that Agricover Credit IFN SA is receiving from the European Investment Bank (EIB). 

15.12.2025

UAE launches AI ecosystem to boost global agricultural resilience

The United Arab Emirates has launched an AI-powered agricultural ecosystem, partnering with global institutions to help farmers adapt to climate change and food security challenges.

15.12.2025

Bulgaria Opens €278M CAP Grant Calls for Farm Investments in Vulnerable Sectors

CAP Investment Support Calls Open in Bulgaria

15.12.2025

India - Maize Farmers in Bihar’s East Champaran Hit by Crop Diseases After Floods and Drought

Farmers in eastern Bihar say fungal and bacterial infections are damaging young maize plants, raising fears of yield losses after a season already disrupted by floods and drought. 

15.12.2025

Farmers’ Revolt in Greece Intensifies Amid State Repression

Greek farmers have escalated nationwide protests in December 2025, deploying thousands of tractors to block major highways, borders, ports, and even airports like Heraklion in Crete. 

14.12.2025

USA - USDA launches $700 million pilot to expand regenerative agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday unveiled a $700 million pilot program to help farmers adopt regenerative agriculture practices aimed at improving soil health, water quality and long-term farm productivity while strengthening the nation’s food supply.

14.12.2025

South Africa - Hail and flooding demand critical crop insurance safety net

A single storm can wipe out a season's work. With climate change creating new hail hotspots, as seen across four South African provinces recently, the threat is less predictable than ever.