Hiscox: Sandy to be third-dearest windstorm

 
p57 epa03452402 A general view of dozens of destroyed homes and vehicles after a fire caused by Hurricane Sandy, in Breezy Point, Queens, New York City, New York, USA, 30 October 2012. Floods, fires and high winds caused by one of the biggest storms to ever hit the United States continued to batter the north-east on 30 October, killing at least 16 people and leaving 6.5 million without electricity. Sandy, which was downgraded from a hurricane to post-tropical cyclone late 29 October, is blamed for deaths in New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Canada. Many were caused by falling trees, with electrocution and flying debris also responsible. EPA/RAMIN TALAIE
EPA/RAMIN TALAIE
5 November 2012

Hurricane Sandy is on course to become the third most costly windstorm in history, the head of Lloyd’s of London insurer Hiscox has warned.

Bronek Masojada said he expected last week’s hurricane in the United States to cost the industry “close to $20 billion (£12 billion)”, making it third only to Katrina in 2005 and Andrew in 1992.

He also agreed that the storm had given Barack Obama the edge against rival Mitt Romney ahead of tomorrow’s US Presidential election. “It was a huge event that handed Obama the chance to be Presidential.

“I’d say it’s given him a slight advantage, but what do I know,” he added.

He said it was too early to calculate Hiscox’s exposure.

Masojada was speaking as the company reported a 6.4% rise in the revenues it took from insurance premiums during the first nine months of the year to £1.2 billion.

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