--- title: The Risks of Hazard Blog | Intermap | Bill Raymor description: A graduate of the University of Colorado, Bill is a Business Development Specialist who focuses on natural catastrophe underwriting and risk analytics. In his spare time, Bill enjoys golfing, gardening, and playing with his grandkids. --- [Investors](https://www.intermap.com/investors-2018-0) |[ Partners](https://www.intermap.com/partners-2018-0) |  [WebStore](https://store.intermap.com/MapShop.aspx?GeoLocation=World) [![Intermap Technologies Inc.](https://www.intermap.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Intermap%20Logo%202019%20-%20White.png?width=1656&height=277&name=Intermap%20Logo%202019%20-%20White.png "Intermap Technologies Inc.")](http://intermap.com) # [The Risks of Hazard](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog) ## Bill Raymor A graduate of the University of Colorado, Bill is a Business Development Specialist who focuses on natural catastrophe underwriting and risk analytics. In his spare time, Bill enjoys golfing, gardening, and playing with his grandkids. Find me on: ### Recent Posts ## [Is too big not enough?](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/is-too-big-not-enough) Posted by [Bill Raymor](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/author/bill-raymor) on May 16, 2018 8:18:05 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.intermap.com/hubfs/Blog/mlyn2038_hi-1.jpg) ](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/is-too-big-not-enough) President Trump signed a hurricane relief bill that includes $16 billion in debt relief for the embattled National Flood Insurance Program. The flood program has a Congress mandated debt ceiling of $30.4 billion, which it reached during Harvey, Irma, and Maria (HIM). This action will allow U.S. Treasury funding of the program. **Is help on the way?** Well, kind of. Premiums are on the rise as the search for actuarial solvency continues for the NFIP. You can read the entire Insurance Journal article from April 5th titled [Federal Flood Insurance Average Premium to Rise 8%](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2018/04/02/485019.htm) but here is how it ends: ‘However the premium hikes are likely insufficient to keep the program from sinking into debt, according to a recent government report.’ **What is being done currently –** [Read More](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/is-too-big-not-enough) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/is-too-big-not-enough#comments-listing) Topics: [Flood Insurance](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-insurance), [Private Flood](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/private-flood), [FEMA](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/fema) ## [Private Flood continues to grow despite HIM](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/private-flood-continues-to-grow-despite-him) Posted by [Bill Raymor](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/author/bill-raymor) on Mar 27, 2018 8:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.intermap.com/hubfs/Blog/March%2029%20-%202018%20blog.jpg) ](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/private-flood-continues-to-grow-despite-him) A tumultuous U.S. Nat Cat 2017 year bookended by huge first quarter losses from hail and tornado and an estimated $50bn+ insured losses from HIM (Harvey, Irma, and Maria) still did not impede the private flood insurance market from growing by 51.2% according to information referenced in an [Insurance Journal article](https://amp-insurancejournal-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.insurancejournal.com/blogs/right-street/2018/03/18/483689.htm) published on March 18th of this year. That news comes despite Congress’ delay in reform and reauthorization of the NFIP, currently +-$25 billion in debt (pre HIM). [Read More](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/private-flood-continues-to-grow-despite-him) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/private-flood-continues-to-grow-despite-him#comments-listing) Topics: [Floods](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/floods), [Flood Insurance](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-insurance), [Flood Risk](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-risk), [Private Flood](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/private-flood) ## [Feds Underestimating Flood Risk and ‘The Strangeness Index’  ](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/feds-underestimating-flood-risk-and-the-strangeness-index-march-14-2018) Posted by [Bill Raymor](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/author/bill-raymor) on Mar 14, 2018 8:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.intermap.com/hubfs/images/Property.jpg) ](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/feds-underestimating-flood-risk-and-the-strangeness-index-march-14-2018) PropertyCasualty360 published an [article](https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2017/12/13/does-federal-flood-data-underestimate-risk/?slreturn=20180212095823) in December, 2017 that begins with this eye-opening quote, “Research conducted by a team of U.S. and U.K. scientists and engineers suggests that U.S. federal flood maps underestimate the number of Americans at risk for flood by more than 27 million people.” A study from [IOPscience](http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aaac65/meta) gave a more onerous estimate of 41 million Americans living on the 100 year floodplain. And, with a value of $5.5 trillion! In contrast, current FEMA estimates are around 13 million Americans. At the [2017 American Geophysical Union Meeting](https://fallmeeting.agu.org/2017/) Dec. 11-15 in New Orleans, scientists presented a ‘redrawn’ flood map of the U.S. (coastal areas excluded) simulating every river catchment area. Intermap’s InsitePro flood mapping tool uses a mathematical tree structure called the [Strahler Number](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strahler_number) to predict risk. It is a numbering system that correlates a numeric value to stream size from small tributaries to large riverways. The entire algorithm then uses our proprietary 5m seamless & contiguous bare earth elevation dataset to generate location specific flood risk scores. [Read More](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/feds-underestimating-flood-risk-and-the-strangeness-index-march-14-2018) 1 Comment [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/feds-underestimating-flood-risk-and-the-strangeness-index-march-14-2018#comments-listing) Topics: [Floods](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/floods), [Flood Insurance](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-insurance), [Flood Risk](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-risk), [Risk Scoring](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/risk-scoring), [FEMA](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/fema) ## [Private Flood at the Crossroads – Sink (pun intended) or Swim?](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/06/private-flood-at-the-crossroads-skin-or-swim) Posted by [Bill Raymor](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/author/bill-raymor) on Jun 14, 2017 8:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.intermap.com/hubfs/Blog/00134066-insurance-challenges.jpg) ](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/06/private-flood-at-the-crossroads-skin-or-swim) At Intermap Technologies we write about the ever-changing landscape of insurance, government, and natural catastrophe. Because of the pending reauthorization plans for the NFIP (H.R.1423 - National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2017) currently working its way through Congress, our most recent blogs have been centered around flood. [Read More](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/06/private-flood-at-the-crossroads-skin-or-swim) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2017/06/private-flood-at-the-crossroads-skin-or-swim#comments-listing) Topics: [Flood Insurance](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-insurance), [Risk Management](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/risk-management), [Flood Risk](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-risk), [Insurance Protection Gap](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insurance-protection-gap) ## [Flood Insurers 2017:   Glass half empty or half full?](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/12/flood-insurers-2017-glass-half-empty-or-half-full) Posted by [Bill Raymor](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/author/bill-raymor) on Dec 14, 2016 9:26:56 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.intermap.com/hubfs/Blog/Bills%20blog.png) ](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/12/flood-insurers-2017-glass-half-empty-or-half-full) I get to work with some very talented folks at Intermap Technologies on a Natural Catastrophe Risk product called InsitePro. It is a tool designed for underwriters that analyzes and scores location-based risk. With **H.R.2901** - Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act - making its way through Congress, thus enabling the Private Flood Insurance Market to close the [Insurance Protection Gap](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/02/growth-in-the-protection-gap) as well as alleviate some of the NFIP’s $25B debt load, we are seeing a growing interest in InsitePro. One reason for that interest is our U.S. flood model called FloodScope. It is derived from a seamless proprietary 5m elevation dataset and is both distinctly different from and more useful than FEMA’s FIRMs for evaluating flood risk at a single location. [Here](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2015/09/underwriting-with-a-pen-vs-a-paint-roller) is the difference… The problems facing private insurers are both many and well documented. In a BenefitsPro article titled **Insurers still coming up short on digitalization** written by Jack Craver in November of this year, he stated, “One of the most common barriers to truly transforming the business via digital solutions is the persistence of legacy systems that employees continue to rely on instead of newer approaches. In fact, 80 percent say that while the organization is currently undergoing upgrades to their system, the implementation is hampered by fragmented leadership that conflicts about replacing legacy systems for policy administration and agency management.” And, in a PropertyCasualty360 article from the same month titled **Top 7 Insurance industry concerns for 2017**, author Jamie Yoder states his first two concerns as: 1. **The rise of insurance technology** There are several business challenges that established insurers are facing as they try to meet new customer needs while improving core insurance functions. A specific focus on [insurance technology, or “InsurTech,](http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2016/08/19/insurtech-a-challenge-to-and-opportunity-for-insur)” has emerged to help insurers solve these challenges. 2. **Artificial intelligence** The initial [impact of artificial intelligence](http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2016/07/07/keeping-the-human-touch-as-ai-takes-hold-in-insura) (AI) primarily relates to improving efficiencies and automating existing customer-facing, underwriting and claims processes. Over time, its impact will be more profound; it will identify, assess and underwrite emerging risks and identify new revenue sources… [Read More](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/12/flood-insurers-2017-glass-half-empty-or-half-full) 2 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2016/12/flood-insurers-2017-glass-half-empty-or-half-full#comments-listing) Topics: [Flood Insurance](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-insurance), [Private Flood](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/private-flood), [Flood News](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-news) [All posts](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/all) [Next](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/author/bill-raymor/page/2) ## [The Risks of Hazard Blog](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog)   [![rss-feed](https://www.intermap.com/hs-fs/hub/395294/file-2218415117-png/images/rss-feed.png?width=27&name=rss-feed.png)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/rss.xml) Welcome to The Risks of Hazard, brought to you by Intermap Technologies®. From the latest industry news and trends, to insight from thought leaders around the globe, stay tuned for a variety of content aimed at helping you better understand the role of location-based intelligence in the world of insurance underwriting and risk assessment. To see how Intermap delivers analytics tailored to your underwriting, visit our [InsitePro](https://www.intermap.com/software/insitepro) page. ### Subscribe to the Risks of Hazard blog! ### Posts by Topic - [Flood Insurance (64)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-insurance) - [Insurance Underwriting (62)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insurance-underwriting) - [Flood Risk (43)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-risk) - [Risk Management (42)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/risk-management) - [Insurance Protection Gap (32)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insurance-protection-gap) - [Private Flood (29)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/private-flood) - [Flood Modeling (28)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/flood-modeling) - [Property Insurance (26)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/property-insurance) - [Natural Hazard Risk (25)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/natural-hazard-risk) - [Natural Catastrophe (24)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/natural-catastrophe) - [Floods (23)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/floods) - [InsitePro (21)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insitepro) - [Risk Scoring (17)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/risk-scoring) - [Wildfire (17)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/wildfire) - [Insurance Software (16)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insurance-software) - [Insurance Technology (16)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/insurance-technology) - [Effective Underwriting (15)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/effective-underwriting) - [Earthquake (12)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/earthquake) - [Other Risk Models (11)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/other-risk-models) - [NFIP (10)](https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/topic/nfip) ©2026 Intermap Technologies®. 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