American Family Says Losses in Midwest $143 Million Since May 1

One insurance company based in the Midwest says weather-related losses are adding up quickly. Madison, Wis.-based American Family Insurance Company says that claims are mounting in the Midwest since tornados, windstorms, hail and flooding have hit the multi-state area all beginning May 1, 2008. The death toll has risen to 10 in the latest round of tornadoes and more rain is predicted in Illinois and some surrounding states.

Steve Witmer, media relations administrator for American Family told Insurance Journal that 43,741 claims have been reported to their company since May 1.

“An estimated 53,742 property claims have been filed for the entire year, “Witmer said. “Severity for Midwest events since May 1st would be $143 million.” Witmer said that auto claims calculated by the company’s catastrophe teams are not included in this number.

The following is the claim count by events. These events were declared between May 1st to June 10, 2008.

Indianapolis, Indiana – 1,238

Parkersburg, Iowa 156

Mason City, Iowa 199

Kansas City, Kansas – 3,655

Garden City, Kansas – 1,962

Manhattan, KansasS 2,253

Wichita, Kansas – 3,556

Neosho, Missouri – 1,735

Hannibal, Missouri – 1,688

St. Louis, Missouri – 247

Windsor, Colorado 2,207

Minneapolis, Minnesota – 19,500

Rochester, Minnesota – 432

Kearney, Nebraska – 1,394

Madison, Wisconsin – 761

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – 2,758

State Farm Insurance insures one every three homes in Illinois and one in every four homes in Indiana. Spokesperson Missy Lundberg said that the total number of claims in Indiana since May 31st was 8,787. In Illinois the total number of claims since June 6 was 3, 432.

“We hope to have more information on insured losses across the Midwest in the next couple of days,” Lundberg said.

Allstate Insurance Company did not have loss estimates yet, spokesperson Eric Scott said.