Insurers to Pay Homeowners and Businesses an Estimated $3.7 billion in Second-Quarter Catastrophe Claims

January 1, 2011 / 3 min read

JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 21, 2006 — Property/casualty insurers are expected to pay homeowners, businesses and auto owners an estimated $3.7 billion in catastrophe claims for the second quarter of the year, according to ISO’s Property Claim Services (PCS) unit.

This year’s second quarter ranks fourth highest in insured catastrophe claim payments for a second quarter over the past 10 years and brings total estimated catastrophe payments for the first half to $5.2 billion.

At $6.2 billion, the second quarter of 2001 posted the greatest amount paid for catastrophe-driven property losses in the last 10 years.

This year’s second-quarter losses resulted from 13 PCS-designated catastrophes. Second quarter catastrophes caused insured damage in 24 states and the District of Columbia. PCS estimates policyholders will file nearly 1 million claims as a result.

Personal property losses represent 61 percent of all second-quarter claims, while commercial property losses make up 15 percent with commercial and personal vehicle losses accounting for 24 percent.

While this year’s second quarter ranks fourth in cost of total claims paid in a second quarter over the last 10 years, it ranks second in frequency of catastrophic events with 13, tying 1999 and behind 1998 when 16 catastrophes were named. The second quarters of 2003 and 2005 had the fewest catastrophes among second quarters in the last ten years with four apiece.

Second-Quarter Catastrophe Losses in Severity and Frequency: 1997-2006
Year	Dollar Amount	No. of Events
2001	$6.2 billion	9
2003	$5.0 billion	4
1998	$4.5 billion	16
2006	$3.7 billion	13
1999	$3.5 billion	13
2002	$2.8 billion	10
2004	$2.3 billion	6
2000	$1.5 billion	10
1997	$0.9 billion	9
2005	$0.9 billion	4
Total	$31.5 billion	94

Indiana suffered the greatest total insured loss of the second quarter with claims totaling an estimated $658.5 million. Tennessee followed with $655 million; Texas, $623.5 million; Kansas, $404 million; and Kentucky, $186.5 million.

All catastrophe events of the second quarter resulted from severe weather, including high winds, large hail, tornadoes and widespread flooding.

At $5.2 billion, the first half of 2006 ranks fifth in first-half insured catastrophe losses over the last ten years. The worst first half was in 2001 with $6.9 billion in catastrophe losses, followed by the first half of 2003 with $6.5 billion.

First-Half Catastrophe Losses: 1997 — 2006
Year	Estimated Loss
2001	$6.9 Billion
2003	$6.5 Billion
1998	$5.5 Billion
1999	$5.4 Billion
2006	$5.2 Billion
2000	$3.4 Billion
2002	$3.4 Billion
2004	$3.3 Billion
2005	$3.1 Billion
1997	$1.8 Billion
Total	$44.6 billion

ISO’s PCS unit defines a catastrophe as an event that causes $25 million or more in insured property losses and affects a significant number of policyholders and insurers.

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

About ISO
ISO is a leading provider of products and services that help measure, manage and reduce risk. ISO provides data, analytics and decision-support solutions to professionals in many fields, including insurance, finance, real estate, health services, government and human resources. Clients use ISO resources and databases to classify and evaluated a variety of risks and detect potential fraud. In the U.S. and around the world, ISO services help customers protect people, property and financial assets.

Release: Immediate

Contacts:
Giuseppe Barone / Erica Helton
MWW Group (for ISO)
201-507-9500
gbarone@mww.com / ehelton@mww.com