Latest news with #Nearmap
ABC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Before and after images of NSW floods show impact on farmland across the state
Specialised imagery equipment fitted to planes flying over flood-impacted NSW show the devastating impact the Mid North Coast floods have had on the state's farmland. Australian location intelligence firm Nearmap took the photos using plane-attached cameras, in order to produce more detailed pictures than what is typically possible with satellite imagery. M'Shenda Turner, the company's senior director of survey and geospatial content operations, said the flooding was "one of the most severe weather events we've seen in NSW in recent years". "Entire communities have been cut off, and the scale of the damage is staggering," she says. "These imagery and insights give us a powerful way to help emergency services, insurers and local councils understand exactly what they're facing on the ground. "In moments like this, fast, clear information is everything — it helps guide critical decisions, prioritise support, and ultimately, speed up the path to recovery for the impacted communities." You can take a look at before and after images using the sliders below. (Source: Location intelligence by Nearmap). Taree was one of the worst-hit areas along the mid-north coast, copping five times its annual rainfall in a matter of days. The mid-coast town experienced record-breaking floods in what has been described by authorities as a one-in-100-year weather event. The Manning River flooded at a level never seen before at Taree, surpassing the 1929 record of 6 metres. The river only fell below flood levels on Saturday afternoon. Bordered by the Manning river, residents in Ghinni Ghinni, Oxley Island, Jones Island, Dumaresq Island, Coopernook, Glenthorne and Moto were forced to evacuate or isolate, as authorities issued emergency-level warnings. Emergency workers performed at least 765 flood rescues in the Mid North Coast and Hunter regions. Five people have been killed in the region during the floods and an estimated 12,000 people are still isolated. Helicopters airdropped medical and food supplies, including animal feed to farmers and residents across the region. An estimated 1,200 businesses and homes remain without power across the Mid North Coast, but supplies were starting to arrive in the region after all lanes of the Pacific Motorway near Taree were reopened over the weekend. As homes faced inundation and tens of thousands of people were cut off from supplies and escape routes, key coastal roads were also severed. At least 10,000 properties may have been damaged in the floods, authorities estimate. As residents count the costs of the damage and mourn those who have died, farmers also grieve the lost of livestock swept away. Helicopters were used to fly fodder into affected areas and rescue large animals. There have also been reports of an estimated 1,000 livestock deaths. This toll is expected to rise. It is not unusual for huge swathes of farmland across the region to flood but farmers have described the conditions as diabolical. Barrington dairy farmer James McRae told the ABC the feed situation would worsen over the next two months of winter. "We are going to lose quite a lot of pasture this year and if it stays wet, it's going to be really hard to get that pasture re-sown before the cold weather," he said. Farmers across the NSW North Coast have reported damages of $17 million as they continue to take stock of the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Townships Heatherbrae, Woodberry, Tarro and Raymond Terrance are surrounded by the Hunter River, which experienced flooding last week. While the worst of the weather appears to be behind the region, many towns are still cut off by the waters, with warnings still in place. Authorities have warned residents near the flood zone to download the Hazards Near Me app and follow any emergency broadcasts. As floodwaters recede, more than 600 people have joined a community recovery group to help clean up affected homes on the NSW Mid-coast. The state's peak farm body is encouraging flood affected farmers to access the support services available to assist as recovery efforts begin across the Hunter and Mid North Coast. NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said emergency fodder, veterinary support and a range of other services could be accessed from state government authorities by farmers dealing with the effects of the major flood event. "We know farmers did everything they could to prepare for this disaster, but the reality is these floods have left colossal damage and devastation in their wake," Mr Martin said.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nearmap to acquire insurtech company itel from GTCR
Private equity firm GTCR has reached an agreement to offload ITEL Laboratories (itel) to Nearmap, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, US, itel provides data analytics and insights to support the property and casualty insurance industry, with a focus on property claims settlements. Investment in the company's technology platform and operational streamlining are said to have almost doubled its revenue within three years, while opening 'new future growth opportunities'. The acquisition will see Nearmap and itel combine their expertise to offer underwriting and claims insights, aiming to improve claims processing and risk mitigation. Nearmap CEO Andy Watt will lead the combined company, while itel CEO Brian Matthews will oversee the transition and join the board of directors. Thoma Bravo will be the lead investor in the merged entity. Watt said: 'This acquisition is transformative for property insurance. We have long admired the itel brand and by bringing our two companies together, we are combining the best of property intelligence and ground-truth data to create a true end-to-end solution that meets the most critical data needs across insurance claims and underwriting.' The deal, due for completion in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2 2025), is subject to standard closing conditions. Goodwin Procter was legal advisor to Nearmap and Thoma Bravo. Itel received financial advice from Raymond James and Bank of America and legal advice from Latham & Watkins. Matthews stated: 'Now, with instant access to property intelligence from Nearmap, we can help customers respond to claims more intelligently and ensure fast, fair and frictionless outcomes. It is a win-win for insurers, adjusters, contractors and homeowners alike.' Earlier this month, GTCR, along with Synova, agreed to acquire JMG Group, a UK-based insurance broker. "Nearmap to acquire insurtech company itel from GTCR " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Stark before-and-after photos of St. Louis reveal destruction after deadly tornado
ST. LOUIS – Before-and-after images snapped from space highlight the damage to St. Louis, days after an EF-3 tornado tore through the city, leaving five people dead. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said more than 5,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed by the tornado. The twister touched down in Clayton before tracking through several St. Louis neighborhoods, Forest Park and crossing the state line into Illinois. As the city works to clean up in the days since the storm, satellite images show the damage left behind in the northwest part of St. Louis. Near Fairground Park, images from MAXAR Technologies in April showed the trees and grass a lush green. Homes and businesses are fully intact. New images from Sunday, just two days after the storm, showed widespread damage across the neighborhood. 'We're In A Tornado!' Watch St. Louis Construction Workers Ride Out Destructive Twister In Their Truck Close-ups showed damage along Natural Bridge Avenue. Several blocks have damaged buildings, with debris scattered across parking lots and the median of Natural Bridge Avenue was a mess. Woman Killed After Church Roof Collapses During Tornado Strike In St. Louis More photos showed power crews in action, working to restore electricity to thousands of St. Louisans who lost power during the storm. Dozens of electrical trucks are parked along the streets around damaged homes and businesses. As of Tuesday, 17,000 people in the city were still without power, according to St. Louis Food Truck Owner Killed During Storms Leaves Behind 7 Children: 'He Always Showed Up With A Hug' More satellite images from down the street on Ashland Avenue showed a once-normal-looking neighborhood now touched by disaster. Debris littered the streets and some homes are destroyed, while others remain undisturbed as if nothing had happened. Before-and-after photos from Nearmap show another part of the city in March and then after the twister. The images showcased the extent of damage, with trees uprooted or knocked over. Through loss and devastation, the city continues working around the clock to restore power and remove trees, Spencer said Tuesday morning. Crews are also working to repair traffic signals and fallen light poles. Seven people died in Missouri, after two additional deaths were reported in the Bootheel in Scott County. Donations to the City of St. Louis's tornado relief fund can be made by clicking this article source: Stark before-and-after photos of St. Louis reveal destruction after deadly tornado
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Germania partners with Nearmap to enhance property risk assessment
Texas, US-based farm mutual insurer Germania Insurance has teamed up with Nearmap to leverage the latter's Betterview platform. This collaboration aims to improve property risk evaluation, optimise inspections and enhance underwriting decisions. By integrating Nearmap's solutions, Germania gains visibility into roof conditions and property risks to mitigate losses from wind and hail claims. For almost a year, Germania has been using the capabilities of the Betterview by Nearmap platform, extracting insights into roof conditions, pinpointing high-exposure risks and refining inspection strategies. The integration allows real-time access to location intelligence solutions, offering insights that enable management of catastrophic-related risks. As the partnership progresses, Germania plans to scale up the use of Nearmap's solutions with a focus on portfolio intelligence across its entire book of business. Germania Insurance enterprise CX operations VP Rachel Bazan stated: 'The Betterview by Nearmap platform enables us to identify potential risks before they result in property damage. With comprehensive insights into roof conditions, roof age and property attributes, we can reduce premium leakage and uphold underwriting best practices.' Nearmap insurance GM David Tobias said: 'By leveraging AI-powered property intelligence, Germania is making smart underwriting decisions, reducing unnecessary claims and improving its ability to serve policyholders across Texas.' Last month, Nearmap launched Portfolio Intelligence, an AI-powered solution that equips insurers with comprehensive insights at the portfolio level. The tool was integrated into the Betterview platform. "Germania partners with Nearmap to enhance property risk assessment " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Before and after aerial imagery reveals scope of deadly Oklahoma wildfires
OKLAHOMA CITY – Aerial imagery is revealing the extent of destruction caused by deadly wildfires that have ravaged Oklahoma, damaging at least 400 homes statewide and resulting in four confirmed fatalities. Nearmap, an aerial imagery and geospatial data company, recently released a series of before-and-after images that show the catastrophic damage. The imagery highlighted scorched vegetation and destroyed structures, with both residential homes and business buildings that were reduced to rubble. Fire weather alerts were issued ahead of the firestorm as gusty winds, low humidity and dry conditions combined to ignite hundreds of wildfires across the Southern Plains on Friday. The region was impacted by a powerful storm system that not only helped spark wildfires but also brought blizzard conditions to northern parts of the country and tornadoes across the South. Locals in the hardest-hit communities described the fires as the worst they have ever seen. Over A Dozen Killed As Powerful Storm System Unleashes Powerful Winds, Dust Storms Across Southern Plains The Oklahoma Department of Health has reported at least 200 injuries related to the fires, including burns, cuts, falls, and other wind or fire-related injuries. Many of the injured were treated for burns and smoke inhalation, while others suffered more critical ailments. For those who escaped the flames, emergency shelters were set up to assist displaced residents. Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for at least 12 counties, enabling agencies to mobilize resources more quickly and provide much-needed assistance. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, nearly three-quarters of Oklahoma is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, with one-third of the state currently in drought status. These dry conditions, combined with gusty winds and the availability of dry vegetation, make the region especially susceptible to wildfires during spring and fall, which are typically the peak fire seasons. Oklahoma Governor Vows To Rebuild Charred Home From Wildfires That Ripper Through State Killing Officials reported that downed utility lines were the primary causes of some of the fires, with firefighters still working to contain the larger blazes. The fires have burned nearly 200,000 acres across the Sooner State, according to Oklahoma Forestry article source: Before and after aerial imagery reveals scope of deadly Oklahoma wildfires
