A pattern has emerged related to the joint concept of greater precipitation in winter months coupled with greater evaporation in summer months, both driven by a warming climate. A wet winter allows grasses to grow, which dry out during excessively hot summers, and become receptive fuel for fire, especially during offshore wind events like the Santa Ana Winds. The 2017 and 2018 ... Continue Reading »
California
Wildfire – Understanding and Modeling the Risk: Part I
A confluence of excessive heat and lack of precipitation has led to a dangerous wildfire situation in the western United States. As of late September, 75 percent of the western region is in a state of moderate to exceptional drought. The drought, combined with high winds and lightning activity, precipitated the ignition and rapid spread of over 70 large fires in California, ... Continue Reading »
Wildfire: Understanding and Modeling the Risk
A confluence of excessive heat and lack of precipitation has led to a dangerous wildfire situation in the western United States. As of late September, 75 percent of the western region is in a state of moderate to exceptional drought. The drought, combined with high winds and lightning activity, precipitated the ignition and rapid spread of over 70 large fires in California, ... Continue Reading »
Oregon and California Fires
Exceedingly hot and dry conditions combined with an extreme wind event beginning on September 7 resulted in explosive growth of existing fires and the ignition and rapid spread of several fires in the Pacific Northwest. These conditions have resulted in five fires in Oregon that have currently burned more than 100,000 acres with numerous smaller fires prompting massive ... Continue Reading »
Extreme Fire Weather Conditions and September Wildfire Outlook
Excessively hot temperatures in recent days have created favorable conditions for the growth of numerous ongoing fires in the western United States as well as the ignition and spread of several new fires. A cold front has begun to bring cooler temperatures and precipitation in the form of both rain and snow to parts of the Mountain West but is also increasing wind speeds ... Continue Reading »
Continued California Wildfire Activity
Several large fire complexes continue to burn in Northern California with red flag conditions expected today that may result in extreme fire behavior and additional fire spread as well as the possibility of new fires. Numerous evacuation orders remain in place across the state. ... Continue Reading »
Podcast: Lessons Learned – California Health During COVID-19
Over 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment insurance since mid-March. While the weekly number of new unemployment insurance filings continues to decline, the total number of job losses across the United States has already reached unprecedented levels and the labor market outlook is far from certain. The third episode of The Marsh & McLennan Advantage Podcast ... Continue Reading »
Review of Climate Change Risks on GC Capital Ideas
Here we highlight the recent stories that GC Capital Ideas has presented on managing risks associated with climate change. ... Continue Reading »
Climate Resilience: Opportunities for the Insurance Industry
The potential impact of the effects of climate change is requiring multiple stakeholders to re-think their approach to climate resilience. In recent years we have witnessed heightened weather volatility, and according to the majority of scientific opinion, this trend is expected to continue, according to Ruth Lux, Head of Public Sector EMEA, Placement Solutions Group. ... Continue Reading »
Guy Carpenter Selected by CEA on Wildfire Fund Reinsurance and Risk Transfer Program
Guy Carpenter & Company today announced its appointment as the sole reinsurance intermediary for the newly formed California Wildfire Fund, which is currently being administered by the California Earthquake Authority (CEA). Guy Carpenter will provide strategic reinsurance and advisory services to develop a risk transfer and reinsurance strategy for the California ... Continue Reading »