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This PowerPoint presentation by the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Information Institute’s president and chief economist at the 2007 National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans summarizes and quantifies the financial impact of hurricanes on property/casualty insurers and markets.  The presentation provides a review of storm activity and its impact on insurance industry profitability.  One focus of the presentation is the major role played by rapid coastal development in explaining upward catastrophe loss trends. Examples from a number of coastally vulnerable locations are used to vividly illustrate the fact that hurricane-related catastrophe losses will likely continue to escalate.  The presentation also reviews property insurance pricing trends in the wake of the 2004/2005 hurricane seasons as well as the impact on insurers’ claims paying capacity and the role of state-run insurers.  A final section of the presentation summarizes the market consequences of post-Katrina litigation against insurers.