Aon plc has launched the latest edition of its monthly Global Catastrophe Recap report, which evaluates the impact of the natural disaster events that occurred worldwide during March 2020.
The report reveals that deadly tornadoes impacted central Tennessee in the United States on March 3, killing at least 25 people and injuring nearly 300 others. The impacts were part of a broad storm system that saw additional tornadoes and large hail in Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, and Texas from March 2-5. Total economic losses were estimated in excess of USD1.1bn, with roughly three-quarters of the total covered by insurance.
Also in the U.S., a major severe weather outbreak that included two-dozen tornado touchdowns swept across central and eastern parts of the country on March 27-30, injuring dozens of people. The hardest-hit areas included Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and Indiana, as total economic losses were expected to approach or exceed USD1bn, with most wind and hail-related damage expected to be insured.
Steve Bowen, Director and Meteorologist within Aon’s Impact Forecasting team, said: “With the globe continuing to focus on the risks associated with COVID-19, natural peril activity remained elevated during the month of March as thunderstorms, flooding, and earthquakes were all prevalent. As severe weather season accelerates towards its historical peak during the spring season, the United States endured many episodes of large hail, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that resulted in billions of dollars of economic damage and lives lost. Notable tornado touchdowns in populated metro areas such as Nashville and Jonesboro, only further debunked the myth that cities are less vulnerable to tornadic activity.”
Other natural hazard events to have occurred in March include:
To view the full Impact Forecasting March 2020 Global Catastrophe Recap report, please follow the link:
http://thoughtleadership.aon.com/documents/20200904_analytics-if-march-global-recap.pdf
Along with the report, users can access current and historical natural catastrophe data and event analysis on Impact Forecasting’s Catastrophe Insight website, which is updated bi-monthly as new data become available:
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