Flood

Local catastrophes caused intense regional volatility, according to Verisk, but overall lower claim volume contributed to the property & casualty industry’s strong first-quarter results.

The independent agency channel maintains a strong position amid improving underwriting results.

While storms may not make landfall in the U.S., they are becoming increasingly unpredictable and intensify rapidly, warns the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

While annual rainfall is not rising, the increase in extreme rainfall events means that flood risk, infrastructural strain, and flash flooding potential are increasing.

Nearly 85% of single-family homes at risk of flooding in the U.S. carry insufficient coverage, leaving households vulnerable to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs, according to Neptune Flood.

The Big “I” 2025 Market Share Report shows that independent agencies place 61.5% of all U.S. property & casualty insurance, a clear sign of the channel’s continued strength.

This year’s hurricane season, which started on June 1, has a 60% chance of above-normal activity, with 13 to 19 named storms expected.

Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers are predicting 17 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season.

The disaster highlights just how alarmingly low flood insurance coverage is among Americans, particularly in areas that are farther from the coast.

As the climate changes, independent agents play a major role in educating their clients on the need to purchase flood insurance, as well as providing advice to them on the steps to take to protect their property.