Method and apparatus for rating geographical areas using meteorological conditions

The method of claim 8 wherein the ranges of severity and/or frequency of the wind are 0 to 70 MPH;

• 71 to 75 MPH;
• 76 to 80 MPH;
• 81 to 85 MPH;
• 86 to 90 MPH;
• 91 to 95 MPH;
• 96 to 100 MPH;
• 101 to 105 MPH;
• 106 to 110 MPH;
• 111 to 115 MPH;
• 116 to 120 MPH;
• 121 to 125 MPH;
• 126 to 130 MPH;
• 131 to 135 MPH;
• and 136 to 140 MPH and greater than 140 MPH.

The method for determining the insurability of a physical structure located in a geographical area, which comprises:

• (a) providing a rating database in a computer having a cumulative rating factor for a plurality of geographical areas wherein the cumulative rating factor is calculated using the equation
• R.sub.N =X.sub.W F.sub.N (W)+X.sub.T F.sub.N (T)+X.sub.L F.sub.N (L)+X.sub.E F.sub.N (E)+X.sub.H F.sub.N (H)
• wherein N is the geographical area R.sub.N is the cumulative rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (W) is a wind rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (T) is a tornado rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (L) is a lightning rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (E) is the earthquake rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (H) is a hurricane rating factor for the geographical area and wherein X.sub.W, X.sub.T, X.sub.L, X.sub.E, and X.sub.H are weighting factors for each of the meteorological condition;
• (b) accessing the rating database to retrieve the cumulative rating factor for the geographical area;
• (c) providing a rating chart showing the insurability for the cumulative rating factors;
• and
• (d) comparing the cumulative rating factor for the geographical area with the rating chart to determine the insurability of the structure located in the geographical area.

The method for determining the insurability of a physical structure located in a geographical area from a database, which comprises:

• (a) providing a plurality of charts, each chart having information relating to a severity and/or frequency of a meteorological condition for a plurality of geographical areas;
• (b) selecting a range of rating factors representing the severities and/or frequencies of each meteorological condition for the plurality of geographical areas;
• (c) calculating a rating factor for each geographical area for each meteorological condition;
• (d) combining the rating factors for each of the meteorological conditions for each of the geographical areas to provide a cumulative rating factor for each of the geographical areas;
• (e) inputting the geographical areas and the corresponding cumulative rating factors into a computer to form the database;
• (f) forming a chart showing an amount of for the cumulative rating factors;
• (g) retrieving the cumulative rating factor from the database for the geographical area where the structure is located;
• and
• (h) comparing the cumulative rating factor for the geographical area with the chart to determine the amount of for the geographical area.

A media operational for use in storing a database for use in a method for determining the insurability of a physical structure located in a geographical area, which comprises:

• providing a database on the media having a cumulative rating factor for a plurality of geographical areas wherein the cumulative rating factor is calculated using the equation
• R.sub.N =X.sub.W F.sub.N (W)+X.sub.T F.sub.N (T)+X.sub.L F.sub.N (L)+X.sub.E F.sub.N (E)+X.sub.H F.sub.N (H)
• wherein N is the geographical area R.sub.N is the rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (W) is a wind rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (T) is a tornado rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (L) is a lightning rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (E) is the earthquake rating factor for the geographical area, F.sub.N (H) is a hurricane rating factor for the geographical area and X.sub.W, X.sub.T, X.sub.L, X.sub.E and X.sub.H are weighting factors for each of the meteorological conditions;
• accessing the database to retrieve the cumulative rating factor for the geographical area;
• providing a rating chart showing the insurability for the cumulative rating factors;
• and comparing the cumulative rating factor for the geographical area with the rating chart to determine the insurability of the structure located in the geographical area.