US005839113A [ii] Patent Number: 5,839,113 [45] Date of Patent: Nov. 17, 1998
A method and apparatus for rating geographical areas based on the severity and/or frequency of different meteorological conditions. To determine the rating of a geographical area, raw data information from meteorological charts is gathered. The raw data scale for each meteorological condition is divided into ranges. The distribution of the geographical areas over the entire scale is determined. Individual rating factors are assigned to each of the ranges based on the distribution of the geographical areas throughout the scale. The individual rating factors are preferably selected such that the incremental change in the individual rating factors between ranges is preferably proportional to the incremental change in the number of geographical areas between the same ranges. All the individual rating factors for a single geographical area are used to calculate a cumulative rating factor for the geographical area. The cumulative rating factors of all the geographical areas are compared to provide a ranking of the geographical areas. The ranking relates to the risk potential in each geographical area based on the meteorological conditions. The resulting ranking of geographical areas is used to determine the insurability of a structure in a geographical area.
45 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets
Microfiche Appendix Included
(3 Microfiche, 149 Pages)
CUM A TOLOQCAL RANKIHG
Each weather condition, namely Earthquake, Hurricane, Lightning, Tornado and Wind has been
rated by degree of severity and/or frequency
Each individual ranking was combined to provide an overall "RANKING" The County Level
Climatological Data Screen therefore shows this "Ranking" factor
The summary information for the U.S. is as follows
1. There are 261 Counties with a ranking under 0.
2. There are 726 Counties with a ranking between 0 and 099
3. There are 1,523 Counties with a ranking between . 1 and .75.
4 There are 176 Counties with a ranking between .76 and I 0
5 There are 286 Counties with a ranking between L001 and 3 0
6 There are 101 Counties with a ranking between 3.001 and 7.0
7 There are 18 Counties with a ranking between 7.001 and 10.0
8. There are 10 Counties with a ranking greater than 10.001.
The last 129 counties out of 3,101 have the worst weather ranking Review each weather
condition with ranking for full evaluation.
