¹President, Insurance Information Institute, New York, USA

Abstract

As the largest insured event in history, the World Trade Center disaster encompasses almost every line of insurance, from life and property to workers' compensation and business interruption. Hundreds of insurers and reinsurers worldwide are feeling the impact. Legal and contractual questions regarding coverage will go on for years.

Apart from its effects on insurance, how the industry's response is portrayed in the media will influence its public standing for years to come. This paper looks at the enormity of this disaster primarily from the communications experience of the Insurance Information Institute in dealing with the media following the attack.