North Dakota June Storm Damage Costs Rising, Regulators Say

The North Dakota Department of Insurance reported that the Bismarck/Mandan-area storm that occurred on June 17 is developing into one of the largest claim events for 2016 in state, which has experienced several severe weather events this spring.

As of late June, eight of the top 10 insurers had reported $39,029,080 in damages to private property owners.

Additionally, the Insurance Department’s Fire and Tornado Fund has been notified by five Bismarck-area state and political subdivisions of damages to public facilities, adding to the already mounting claims from previous June storms elsewhere in the state.

The Fund expects almost 100 claims and millions of dollars in damages from previous storms.

“There are significant reports of damage to homes, cars, commercial and public buildings,” North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm said.

“Insurers have already brought in adjusters from across the region to start working claims and we encourage policyholders to contact them immediately after finding damage.”

The storms rolled across North Dakota and other parts of the Midwest causing damage in varying degrees.

In Meno, S.D., the June 17 storm damaged homes and vehicles around town, tore the roof off a county building and toppled an 80-foot light pole at the local baseball field. Quarter-size hail hit the town for about 45 minutes, and strong winds blew for about three hours, the Associated Press reported. Some rural power lines were downed and area crops were hit hard.

In Ohio, barns and farm equipment were damaged by the storms that swept through an area from near Waynesville to Wilmington. Winds topping 100 mph were reported in parts of Indiana, according to the AP.