
Description
With catastrophe events in the U.S. becoming more frequent and severe—ranging from wildfires to floods and hurricanes—underwriters face increasing pressure to anticipate risks and adapt. This interactive online training will give delegates the opportunity to learn from past CAT events and understand how they have shaped market cycles, while also uncovering practical underwriting strategies to strengthen resilience.
Participants will explore how to apply lessons learned across perils, benchmark more effectively, and gain greater confidence in using modelling tools to support smarter, faster decision-making. Ultimately, the course is designed to help underwriters not just react to events but get ahead of them.
What you will learn
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, delegates will be able to:
- Identify key U.S. catastrophe (CAT) perils and their impact on property insurance markets.
- Analyse lessons learned from major events such as Katrina, Sandy, and recent wildfires.
- Compare regional differences in CAT exposure and underwriting responses.
- Apply insights from past events to improve underwriting decisions and risk selection.
- Use CAT modelling tools and data to support pricing and exposure management.
- Recognise emerging trends and products such as wind deductible buybacks and flood modelling.
Course Content:
- Reviewing past events:
- Hurricane Katrina
- Super Storm Sandy
- Hurricane Ivan
- Flooding & Storm Surge
- Wildfires – brush exposure
- Louisiana:
- Recent Hurricanes
- Construction improvements
- Alabama:
- Impact of Hurricane Ivan
- Construction Improvements
- Hurricane Sally & impact
- Florida:
- Recent Hurricanes
- Issue with Public Adjusters & Assignment of Benefits
- California:
- Wildfires
- Change in aggregate zones & modelling
- Other significant CAT events including, Carolina’s, tornados & COVID-19,
- Growth of new tools & products
- Wind deductible buybacks
- Flood modelling
- Peril specific or ‘wrap insurance’