What’s new: In brief (September 20, 2004)

Window cleaners in the U.K. are up in arms over insurance rate hikes. The British Cleaning Council (BCC) says that a 50% or more hike in premiums for those who are even able to acquire coverage at all is putting small businesses out of business. While employers’ liability coverage is required for England’s 80,000 window cleaners, the BCC says many are going without cover. Currently, the BCC estimates coverage to cost 1,500-2,000 pounds per employee. It is encouraging its members as well to institute better safety practices.

As Tropical Depression Ivan moves through the northern U.S., counties in Pennsylvania and other states are filing for federal funds to help stem the tide of flood losses. Ivan has brought heavy rains to several states, up to nine inches in some areas, causing the evacuation of thousands of residents, while thousands more were ordered to stay home Monday for safety reasons. The Susquehanna, Ohio and Delaware Rivers have all flooded over. The once Hurricane Ivan has been blamed for more than 50 deaths in the U.S. and more than 70 deaths in the Caribbean.

The U.S. can breath a sigh of relief that it should be spared the wrath of Tropical Storm Jeanne, which is being blamed for at least 250 deaths in Haiti. Jeanne has veered off into the Atlantic after causing widespread damage to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico last week as a hurricane. Although the storm had weakened before making landfall in Haiti, it still brought up to 13 inches of rain to some areas, causing flooding and mudslides, specifically to the coastal city of Gonaives.