For insurers as for Floridians, the recent pounding from four back-to-back hurricanes, costing $20 billion or so, has been highly unusual, as well as unwelcome. Not since Texas in 1886 have so many hurricanes struck one American state in a single season. And Mother Nature seems to be fairly bursting with surprises. In Europe, last summer was the hottest on record and severe windstorms have been on the rise. On a ten-year view, the frequency of weather disasters has tripled since the 19605 and insured losses have risen tenfold, according to Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer.
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