Storms claims hit $550 million
By MARLY KOSINSKI Tribune ChronicleFact Box
RECENT STORM DAMAGE
A look at the costs of Ohio storms in recent years, with damage estimates reported in those years:
- Sept. 14, 2008: Hurricane Ike brings gusts of more than 70 mph, causing at least $553.1 million in insured losses, more than 131,600 insurance claims so far and an estimated $35.9 million in government costs for debris removal and emergency services.
- June 8, 2007: A hailstorm in northeast Ohio prompts nearly 51,000 claims for at least $288 million.
- Oct. 4, 2006: After wind and hailstorms across most of the state, Ohioans file more than 45,000 claims for an estimated $239.6 million.
- May 2004: A series of storms in the Dayton area and northeast Ohio on several days spurs more than 44,000 claims for nearly $167 million in insured losses.
- April 20, 2003: An Easter Sunday hailstorm causes $230.5 million in losses reported in nearly 37,000 claims.
- Nov. 10, 2002: Losses total $91 million from nearly 15,000 claims after a series of tornadoes, high winds and severe storms across the state.
- April 9, 2001: A Dayton-area hailstorm creates at least $70 million in insured losses from about 27,500 claims.
- April 9, 1999: An severe tornado rips through Cincinnati, leading to $66 million in insured losses from about 4,800 claims.
- April 3-4, 1974: Several funnel clouds converge in western Ohio near Xenia, creating a tornado outbreak responsible for about $1 billion in insured losses and government costs in 2008 dollars.
Sources: The Associated Press; Ohio Insurance Institute and Ohio Emergency Management Agency
Ohio insurance companies are reporting a record-high number of claims from a Sept. 14 windstorm linked to Hurricane Ike, which struck the Texas coastline the day before.
According to the Ohio Insurance Institute, winds equal to a Category 1 hurricane (winds up to 74 mph) caused at least $553.1 million in insured losses to date. The amount rivals Ohio's largest natural disaster in recent history since the Xenia tornado of 1974, which resulted in $1 billion worth of claims when adjusted for 2008 inflation rates, according to Ohio Insurance Institute spokeswoman Mary Bonelli.
She said 131,624 claims have been reported so far from the 24 companies participating in the institute's survey. Bonelli said the 24 companies represent 72 percent of the insurance market.
"The number of claims could climb once all the claims are filed," she said.
She said she did not have detailed information for Trumbull or Mahoning counties because neither county qualified for federal assistance from FEMA.
Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency Director Linda Beil said the federal aid threshold is $3.28 per capita, meaning Trumbull County would have had to sustain more than $700,000 in damage to qualify for federal assistance.
About 142,000 customers were without power between Trumbull, Mahoning Columbiana, Mercer and Lawrence counties the day after the storm.
Beil said she is still waiting for damage and clean-up estimates from individual jurisdictions, but it's doubtful Trumbull will reach the threshold.
During the afternoon of Sept. 14, winds moved diagonally across the state from southwest to northeast lasting more than four hours, according to the Ohio EMA. Seven Ohioans died as a result of the storm, and 84 counties reported windstorm damage and power outages.
Hurricane Ike struck the Galveston, Texas, area on Sept. 13 and was the fifth hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. It resulted in insured losses estimated at $9.8 billion.
Texas is expected to sustain the highest losses, with Ohio being one of the highest from Ike's aftermath. The state's windstorm is being referred to as a "dry hurricane."
The Insurance Institute expects the final tally of insured losses and claims to be higher because not all insurance companies participated in the survey. Total damage figures (insured and uninsured) could possibly top Xenia once all insured losses are tallied and county damage assessments are completed by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency. These assessments include local government costs associated with protective and clean up measures, Bonelli said.
The Insurance Institute said counties south of Interstate 70 were hardest hit.
Damage to roofs, siding, windows and walls from fallen trees and limbs were the most commonly reported homeowners losses. Auto claims total 9,254 to date for nearly $22.7 million in insured losses. Commercial claims for property damage, business interruption and refrigerated property losses are more than $69.1 million for 13,564 claims.
The Insurance Institute may conduct a follow-up survey in the spring to gather additional claims information.
