The Unusual Alliances Tackling Weather Risk To The Insurance Industry

InnovationScienceThe Unusual Alliances Tackling Weather Risk To The Insurance IndustryByMarshall Shepherd,Senior Contributor.Follow AuthorJun 14, 2026, 08:35am EDTWindshield and body of a car severely damaged by hailstorm. Front view of unrecognizable vehicle.gettyAs the nation continues its 250th anniversary celebration today, potentially crippling heat, strong winds, and extreme rainfall are in the forecast for Washington D.C. A major UFC event is being hosted at the White House, and officials are likely keeping a close eye on the weather. From a different context, a new alliance is also monitoring extreme weather closely as extreme heat, hail, winds, and tornadoes reshape the insurance industry.A New Center Brings Universities, Insurance Companies, and NASA To The Table“Duke University and the University of Georgia are partnering with leaders from the insurance and climate data industries to launch the Center for Innovation in Risk, Catastrophes, and Decisions (CIRCAD), a new initiative focused on advancing insurance innovation and large-scale risk mitigation,” stated a university press release in 2025. The center is funded by the National Science Foundation to reimagine insurance and emerging risks associated with extreme weather.Lightning strikes near the Executive Office building as reporters rush past as a storm hits the downtown area at the White House in Washington, DC on July 14, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesHowever, CIRCAD has an interesting twist because of its unique partnership with the insurance industry and NASA. “Weather and climate risk is no longer just an environmental challenge. It is a challenge for insurance markets and investment decisions, and community resilience,” said Mark Borsuk, the Duke University-based director and a professor of civil and environmental engineering. "CIRCAD was created to bring together industry leaders and researcher...