MEDIA ADVISORY: Tropical Storm Erika Headed Toward Florida and Hurricane Ignacio Threatening Hawaii

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York Press Office: (212) 346-5500; media@iii.org

NEW YORK, NY, August 28, 2015 — Reporters covering Tropical Storm Erika and Hurricane Ignacio can contact the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) with questions about how auto, home and business insurance policies cover storm-caused damage.

Hurricanes and tropical storms accounted for 41 percent of total U.S. insured catastrophe losses between 1995 and 2014, followed by tornadoes (39 percent), winter storms (7 percent), terrorism (6 percent), wind/hail/flood (5 percent) and fire (2 percent).

Eight of the 10 costliest hurricanes in U.S. history have occurred since 2004, resulting in about $125 billion in inflation-adjusted claims payments to policyholders. The costliest hurricane in Hawaii’s history was Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Inflation-adjusted claims payments for that storm topped $2.7 billion.

The property/casualty (P/C) insurance industry entered the 2015 hurricane season with near-record claims paying capital on-hand. The combined capacity of all P/C insurers operating in the U.S. was $671.7 billion as of March 31, 2015, according to this I.I.I. analysis.

The following I.I.I. staff will be available via cell phone and email this weekend (Aug. 29-30) to answer questions and provide interviews:

Dr. Robert Hartwig

President of the I.I.I. and economist: 917-453-1885; bobh@iii.org

Michael Barry

Vice President, Media Relations: 917-923-8245; michaelb@iii.org

Lynne McChristian (Florida)

Florida Media Representative: 813-480-6446; lynnem@iii.org

Elianne González (Florida)

Hispanic Press Officer: 954-684-4410; elianneg@iii.org

Bill Davis (Georgia)

Southeastern Media Representative: 770-331-9279; billjoe@bellsouth.net

Jeanne Salvatore

Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, and chief communications officer: 917-612-4088; jeannes@iii.org

Loretta Worters

Vice President, Communications: 917-620-0982; lorettaw@iii.org

RELATED LINKS

• Issues Update: Catastrophes: Insurance Issues, Hurricane and Windstorm Deductibles, Flood Insurance

• Facts and Statistics: Hurricane Fact Files and Market Share by State, Hurricanes

The I.I.I. has a full library of educational videos on its You Tube Channel. Information about I.I.I. mobile apps can be found here.

THE I.I.I. IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038, www.iii.org