As we close the books on 2017 and look forward to 2018 and beyond, it’s hard not to reflect on the series of natural disasters that plagued the country in the past year. From floods to tornados, wild fires to hurricanes, it seemed that no one was spared. At Beacon Hill Associates, we were lucky that our Houston and Jacksonville offices made it through unscathed, but we know many underwriters, agents, and insureds that were impacted. Our thoughts remain with them as they work to recover and achieve a sense of normalcy.

This series of events highlighted for us the pure unpredictability of life, and the fact that the best plans often go awry. The environmental impacts of events such as these are huge, and while some cannot be tied to a single insured, many others can be. A completely unexpected event leading to a pollution release is in fact why people buy insurance, and why more people need to consider it.

This issue of The Summit is dedicated to a larger review of the impact of natural disasters, along with a very specific discussion of the impact of one of the worst storms. Additionally, we discuss current trends and other issues, hopefully helping to paint a picture of what the future of environmental insurance might look like. 

As always, we thank you for reading this publication, and for being a partner as we move into a new year.