ISO Says Insurers’ Losses from Seven-State Tornado Damage Stand at $460M

Insurers are expected to pay homeowners and businesses $460 million for insured-property losses from the rash of tornadoes, strong thunderstorm winds and hail that struck seven states on Nov. 9-10, according to preliminary estimates by Insurance Services Office, Inc.’s (ISO) Property Claim Services (PCS) unit.

As many as 88 tornadoes were originally reported to have ripped through a wide swath of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, causing extensive damage to property and vehicles. For example, a third of Carbon Hill Township, Ala., was destroyed, as were dozens of buildings in Columbus, Miss.

Insured losses were greatest in Tennessee at $160 million, followed by Ohio at $125 million and Alabama at $95 million. Insurers have received nearly 86,000 claims from residential and commercial policyholders.

PCS estimates represent anticipated insured loss on an industrywide basis arising from catastrophes, reflecting the total net insurance payment for personal and commercial property lines of insurance covering fixed property, personal property, vehicles, boats, related property items and business-interruption losses. The estimates exclude loss-adjustment expenses.