Property insurers are facing pressure as some governors are working to impose price controls on premiums, but such efforts "will inevitably backfire," The Washington Post editorial board writes, noting how rate-setting restrictions in California have hindered the availability of insurance. "The role of state insurance regulators is not to micromanage prices but to ensure that companies remain solvent," the board writes, also encouraging state lawmakers to help communities improve their disaster resilience and to take steps to curb legal system abuse, as Florida has done.

A long-term solvency regulation proposed by the California Department of Insurance would mandate insurer documentation of the risks and opportunities posed by cyberrisk, climate disasters and AI, with projections required for 2030, 2040 and 2050. APCIA's Mark Sektnan said the association "will work in collaboration with [the department] to ensure the data requirements don't place an undue burden on smaller companies or duplicate existing reporting obligations."

A proposal from the Louisiana Department of Insurance would require insurance discounts or rate reductions of 20% to 30% for the completion of home mitigation projects that align with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety's Fortified standards. A comment period on the proposal is open until Nov. 10.

Halloween tends to increase the risk of certain types of insurance claims, including vandalism, theft, auto accident and fire, as well as homeowners insurance injury claims. Steps to reduce claims risk around the holiday include ensuring that home walkways are free of trip hazards; keeping pets away from trick-or-treaters; and driving cautiously, particularly in residential areas.

A storm that broke some daily rainfall records in the New York City area caused flash flooding that inundated basements, with one person found dead in the Flatbush neighborhood and another in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood. Rainfall totals exceeded 2 inches in some areas, with most of it falling within a 20-minute period rather than an eight-hour time frame as had been forecast.

The death toll from Hurricane Melissa has risen to at least 45, with 25 deaths in Haiti, 19 in Jamaica and one in the Dominican Republic as of this morning. Chuck Watson of Enki Research said Jamaica's estimated economic losses from the storm are at least $8 billion, largely due to flooding. Melissa struck parts of Jamaica where deforestation had already created an elevated risk of flash flooding and landslides.

Recent cyberattacks caused far-reaching disruption in public defenders' offices in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, with thousands of case files affected. A breach at the Arizona Federal Public Defender's Office this year resulted in the encryption of client data and other internal records spanning a six-decade time frame, forcing attorneys to find other sources to rebuild case materials.