Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report: Impact ... - Aon

AnnuAl GlobAl Cli mAte And C AtAstroph e r e port
April
• strong earthquake causes damage in central italy
• multiple spring storms spawn tornadoes across the united states
• Wildfires destroy dozens of homes across parts of oklahoma, texas and south Carolina
Heavy rains fell across parts of New South Wales and southeast queensland between March 31st and April 3rd,
triggering flash flooding. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, at least 2,500 claims from residential
homes, vehicles and commercial properties were filed with losses totaling US$34.5 million. Some locations
along the Sunshine Coast received up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) of rain in a 12-hour period. Five regions in
New South Wales were declared disaster zones.
Between the 2nd and the 8th, wildfires burned across parts of Texas. Gusty winds downed electrical wires
in Live Oak County, Texas and triggered a large fire on the 3rd, destroying at least 34 homes and injuring
two people. On the 4th, a fire broke out near the Texas-Oklahoma border, destroying at least 16 homes and
damaging 51 others.
Heavy snow, tornadoes and hail occurred over many parts of the United States between the 4th and 6th. A
storm system developed on the 4th, bringing up to 16 inches (40 centimeters) of snow and winds gusting to
50 mph (85 kph) across the Nebraska Panhandle. Four tornadoes touched down in eastern Nebraska, causing
home damage across Clay County. On the 5th, severe thunderstorms spawned three tornadoes in Georgia,
while winds damaged roofs, downed trees and knocked out electricity in Kentucky’s Lincoln, Clark and Casey
counties. Gusty winds and heavy snow occurred in parts of Michigan and Indiana, causing nearly 124,000
power outages in Michigan. At least four people died. On the 6th, three tornadoes touched down in North
Carolina, causing damage to dozens of homes across Gates and Bladen counties.
A magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck central Italy on the 6th, killing at least 308 people and injuring more than
1,500. The quake, with an epicenter approximately 95 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Rome, occurred at a
depth of only ten kilometers (6.2 miles). At least 26 towns and cities surrounding the epicenter were affected.
Insured losses were estimated at least $250 million, while total economic losses totaled nearly US$2.5 billion.
Insurers reported that only five percent of homes in the region were insured and that commercial coverage
was approximately 35 percent. Total reconstruction costs throughout central Italy were estimated at US$16
billion. At least 10,000 to 15,000 buildings were either damaged or destroyed, many of which were historic
Renaissance, Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque era buildings. At least 28,000 people were left homeless. Power
outages left tens of thousands of residents without electricity. After the main tremor, at least 500 aftershocks
struck the region, including a manigtude-5.6 quake on the 7th and a magnitude-5.3 on the 9th that further
damaged buildings throughout the Abruzzo region.
Tropical Cyclone Jade skirted the Madagascar coastline between the 6th and the 8th, killing at least eight people
as Jade made landfall on the 6th along northeastern sections of the country. The cyclone initially developed on
the 4th with 65 kph (40 mph) winds and steadily strengthened on the 5th before becoming a Category 1 storm
with 120 kph (75 mph) winds. The cyclone damaged homes and left over 3,300 people homeless.
Wildfires burned across parts of Oklahoma and Texas between the 9th and the 12th, killing at least three
people and injuring 64 more. Hurricane-force winds on the 9th helped fires rapidly spread throughout north
Texas. At least 49 major fires burned throughout the state, covering 192,000 acres (77,699 hectares) and
destroying 32 homes. The town of Stoneburg was described by authorities as ‘burned over’ by a 25,000-acre
(10,117-hectare) blaze. A couple was killed in Montague County as a fire swept through their property.
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