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# December 29, 2015: Reinsurance Mergers Remain in the Tax Crosshairs and Seattle Maps Catastrophes
- URL: https://www.riskmarketnews.com/december-29-2015-reinsurance-mergers-remain-in-the-tax-crosshairs-and-seattle-maps-catastrophes/
- Published: 2015-12-29T08:24:02.000Z
- Updated: 2015-12-29T08:24:02.000Z
- Author: Chris Westfall

## Risk Science: What You Need to Read Today

### [Do You Live in a Natural-Disaster Danger Zone? Check This Interactive Seattle Map](http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/new-online-tool-helps-seattleites-prepare-for-natural-disasters/?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

#### [Seattle Times](http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/new-online-tool-helps-seattleites-prepare-for-natural-disasters/?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

A new online map lets Seattle residents zoom in on the range of natural hazards that threaten their homes, hangouts and workplaces.

### [The Year in Disasters: Fracking, Fires and Floods](http://www.texasobserver.org/year-in-disasters/?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

#### [Texas Observer](http://www.texasobserver.org/year-in-disasters/?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

In 2015, we didn’t have to fear acts of God — our disasters, fueled by climate change, were man-made.

### [Record El Nino, Climate Change Drive Extreme Weather](http://phys.org/news/2015-12-el-nino-climate-extreme-weather.html?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

#### [Phys.org](http://phys.org/news/2015-12-el-nino-climate-extreme-weather.html?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

Deadly extreme weather on at least five continents is driven in large part by a record-breaking El Nino, but climate change is a likely booster too, experts said Monday.

### [Damage From Sinking Land Costing California Billions](http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci%5F29317963/damage-from-sinking-land-costing-california-billions?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

#### [AP](http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci%5F29317963/damage-from-sinking-land-costing-california-billions?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

Four years of drought and heavy reliance on pumping of groundwater have made the land sink faster than ever up and down the Central Valley.

## Risk Business: What You Need to Read Today

### [Insurance Mergers Face U.S. Regulatory Uncertainty Despite Inversions Clarification](http://blogs.reuters.com/financial-regulatory-forum/2015/12/28/commentary-insurance-mergers-face-u-s-regulatory-uncertainty-despite-inversions-clarification/?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

#### [Reuters](http://blogs.reuters.com/financial-regulatory-forum/2015/12/28/commentary-insurance-mergers-face-u-s-regulatory-uncertainty-despite-inversions-clarification/?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

Proposed anti-inversion regulations help mollify insurers by clarifying the “cash box” issue, but M&A activity in the insurance sector is still fraught with regulatory uncertainty.

### [There’s Value Hidden in This Chinese Insurer](http://www.wsj.com/articles/theres-value-hidden-in-this-chinese-insurer-1451386925?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

#### [WSJ (sub may be required)](http://www.wsj.com/articles/theres-value-hidden-in-this-chinese-insurer-1451386925?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

The staid world of insurance has thrown up an interesting value play. The actors include two of China’s top insurers and one of America’s.

### [Near Dallas, Residents Tally Tornadoes’ Devastation](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/29/us/near-dallas-residents-tally-tornadoes-devastation.html?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

#### [New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/29/us/near-dallas-residents-tally-tornadoes-devastation.html?ref=riskmarketnews.com)

By far the worst physical toll was in the suburbs of Dallas, particularly Garland, where more than 600 structures were damaged.

### [UK Building 10,000 Homes a Year on Floodplains](http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/bfa49cb0-acbf-11e5-b955-1a1d298b6250.html?ref=riskmarketnews.com#axzz3vi0F2hxp)

#### [Financial Times (sub may be required)](http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/bfa49cb0-acbf-11e5-b955-1a1d298b6250.html?ref=riskmarketnews.com#axzz3vi0F2hxp)

Britain is still building nearly 10,000 new homes a year on floodplains despite growing warnings over episodes of extreme flooding.