Robert Hartwig
Robert Hartwig
higher homes people quickly rebuild resistant side
On one side will be people who want to rebuild quickly and inexpensively, and on the other will be those who say, 'We need to do something different. We need to build all these homes up higher and make them more resistant to wind,
automobile insurance links people secret surprised taxes
Many people would be surprised how many secret taxes are levied on automobile and homeowner insurance premiums, some of which have tenuous links on auto safety,
chaos complete explosions looking
We're looking at complete chaos in New Orleans, with explosions and uncontrolled fires,
federal government orleans today
New Orleans is what it is because the federal government made it that way. And what it is today -- underwater.
definition fairly water
The definition of 'flood' is fairly ironclad. It's essentially water that comes from below,
areas half insurance likely location northern prone rise several
It's all location dependent. In the northern half of the states, it will be minimal. But in areas prone to hurricane-related risks, it's likely that insurance will rise substantially, probably for several years.
drawn people price
It's the price of paradise, ... People are drawn to landscapes.
idiot
It makes us all look like idiot savants.
employers evidence exhibit heavy machinery mental monitor operating soldiers stress
There's evidence that many soldiers will exhibit mental stress from their experience, and it's important for employers to monitor them, particularly if they're operating heavy machinery or driving.
billion country depending far high hurricane insurance katrina losses situation
We are already at about $50 billion of insured losses from catastrophes in this country so far and that could be as high as $70 billion, depending on what Katrina does. Hurricane Wilma is a situation that is going to exacerbate what was already problematic for the insurance industry.
continued insurance price problems relative risk unless
Unless there is some rationalization of the price of insurance relative to the risk assumed, there will be continued problems of availability.
collected forced lead penny possibly quite smaller
Insurers have never collected a penny in flood-insurance premiums. If they're forced to pay, it could quite possibly be destabilizing and lead to the insolvency of smaller insurers in the area.
billion generate interest investment months nine portfolio rates rising
Insurers benefited from the rising short-term interest rates to generate $40.7 billion on their investment portfolio in the first nine months of the year.
hour negotiate position terms trying
Hopefully, in two years we're not in this same position again, in the 11th hour trying to negotiate terms for an extension.