Colorado’s Early June Storms Among State’s Most Costly

New insurance claim estimates from the hail, wind and flooding that wreaked havoc on June 6 from South Denver down to Colorado Springs and again on June 7 in Northern Colorado and the Eastern Plains made it the state’s fourth most costly catastrophe with estimated claims totaling $321.1 million, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

There were an estimated 69,842 auto and property claims totaling $321.1 million from the storm. Insurance companies track both storms as one event so damage estimates include 33,459 auto claims and 36,383 property claims.

The lion’s share of the damage was to roofs, along with hail battered and flooded vehicles, according to RMIIA.

When adjusted for inflation in today’s dollars, July 11, 1990, ranks the highest with an estimated $1.08 billion in insured damage. July 20, 2009, is second on the list with a hailstorm hitting the North Denver-Metro area and costing an estimated $804.8 million (most expensive in actual claims paid). Third is the June 2009 tornado and hail that pounded Aurora and the South-Metro and Fort Collins.

The storm damages compounded with ongoing wildfires in Colorado have made June a rough month for the state.

“Colorado is already experiencing its most destructive wildfire season and Mother Nature doesn’t appear to be letting up any time soon,” said Carole Walker, RMIIA’s executive director. “While wildfire can exact a more devastating personal toll, this is a stark reminder that hail is still historically the state’s most costly insured catastrophe due to the widespread damage to cars and property.”