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Who We Are

The Innovation and Technology Leader in Catastrophe Risk Modeling

Watch the video to see how the KCC team makes a global impact

An Impressive Team of Scientists, Engineers, Data Analysts, and Technologists

Catastrophe modeling is a highly specialized industry requiring experts from many fields, including meteorology, seismology, structural engineering, and software engineering. What sets the KCC team apart is a passion for excellence and delivering the most accurate and timely information possible. KCC experts build the most advanced models and software applications through a highly collaborative team environment in one of the most dynamic cities in the world.

Innovating the Quantification and Management of Risk

KCC models are proven to be the most accurate and up to date with respect to current scientific knowledge on extreme events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, and floods. The KCC team continually advanced the science through innovative applications like KCC LiveEvents™, Characteristic Events, and WindfieldBuilder®. KCC Models capture hundreds of property characteristics so that the impacts of mitigation activities can be readily assessed and incorporated.

Tackling the World's Most Challenging Problems

Climate change is the most important issue of our time, and the costs and societal impacts of natural disasters continue to rise. KCC models incorporate the effects of climate change to provide current and future projections of likely impacts on weather-related events for multiple time periods and scenarios. KCC models are forward thinking and therefore avoid the frequent "model misses" of other catastrophe models.

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History

KCC was founded by two pioneers and innovators in the catastrophe modeling industry—Karen Clark and Vivek Basrur.

Karen Clark created the first catastrophe model and founded the first catastrophe modeling company in 1987. Ms. Clark has been leading innovation in this industry since that time, and she has been well recognized for her leadership and contributions, including being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize certificate in 2007 for her contributions to work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Vivek Basrur created the first data standards and web-based applications for the catastrophe modeling industry in the mid-1990s. Mr. Basrur has been instrumental in the evolution and advancement of catastrophe modeling software applications since that time.

Innovation Highlights

2022

KCC releases climate-conditioned catalogs for US Hurricane, Flood, and Wildfire Models. Nine catalogs for each peril represent projected impacts of the changes in climate for 2025, 2030, and 2050 under three different IPCC SSPs.

KCC releases US Winter Storm Model Version 2.0 with complete coverage of the continental US, including the perils of wind, snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.

KCC releases US Wildfire Model Version 2.0 with updated impacts of climate change and proprietary fuels database developed with advanced machine learning algorithms. Wildfire scores available directly from the model.

KCC releases updated property exposure database (KPD 2022) incorporating the impacts of supply shortages and COVID19.

2021

KCC releases US Winter Storm Model Version 1.0 in January and accurately estimates the losses from the major Arctic Air Outbreak in February at $17 billion. The accuracy of the KCC winter storm stochastic catalog as well as real time loss estimates validated by this event.

KCC wins Catastrophe Modeling Firm of the Year.

2020

KCC US Flood Model first to be approved by the Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology. Model includes high resolution storm surge and inland flood intensity footprints and losses.

KCC expands suite of catastrophe models to include the earthquake peril for Canada, Central America, and South America.

2019

KCC US Hurricane Model approved by the Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology.

KCC expands suite of catastrophe models to include Japan typhoon and earthquake, Europe windstorm, Australia and New Zealand earthquake, Caribbean hurricane and earthquake.

2018

KCC launches Severe Convective Storm (SCS) Daily Update to provide insurers with daily hail and tornado/wind footprints for claims tracking and handling. This is an automated and still one-of-a-kind service available nowhere else.

2017

KCC launches LiveEvents™ hurricane tracking and accurately estimates the losses and financial impacts from three major events: Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

KCC releases US Severe Convective Storm (SCS) Model Version 1.0.

2016

KCC launches CATLAB® Workshops.

2015

KCC releases US Earthquake Model Version 1.0.

2014

KCC launches RiskInsight®, the first open loss modeling platform.

2013

KCC launches WindfieldBuilder®.

2012

KCC launches Characteristic Events (CEs).


Manage Your Global Catastrophe Risk With Confidence

KCC utilizes the best available data, science, and technology to create high resolution, accurate, and transparent global catastrophe models and software solutions that allow you to make decisions with confidence.

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