The insurance industry today is reacting to a nor'easter Saturday that dumped more than 2 feet of snow in some spots in New England, prompting emergency declarations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Though most of the industry says it is too early to provide initial claims numbers (However, USAA says it has gotten more than 1,300 claims and State Farm says it has received 716 homeowners claims, but no auto claims yet), it expects numerous claims from downed trees on homes and vehicles, auto accidents and power losses.

At least eight people have been killed in affected states, according to reports, and about 4 million homes were without power in five states. Countless businesses—from small convenience stores and gas stations to larger retailers and banks still had no power on Monday as crews worked to clear fallen trees from lines.

Following are pictures from the unusual October snowstorm. Click next to see the slideshow.

(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

A vehicle makes its way at the snow-covered intersection of Autumn and Grove Streets in Lodi, N.J., following a rare October snowstorm that hit the region, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Saturday advised against travel, saying the storm caused 60 incidents on roadways and 20 road closures.

(AP Photo/Lee Ferris)

A resident of Cornwall, N.Y. clears his driveway on Sunday, Oct. 30. Millions of people from Maine to Maryland are without power after the unseasonably early nor'easter dumped heavy, wet snow over the weekend on the region.

Trees and power lines were stressed by the weight of the wet snow, which amounted to more than a foot in northeast Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, southern New York, western Connecticut, throughout central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. High winds were also reported throughout New England, according to AccuWeather.com. Gusts of more than 60 mph were reported along the New England coast.

(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

A tree down on a power line in Glastonbury, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 30.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told the press the storm—”of a magnitude and at a time of year that we have never experienced before”—created the largest number of power outages in the state's history.

(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Workers from the Connecticut Department of Transportation remove a traffic signal that had fallen from a downed line on Route 5 in South Windsor, Conn., Monday, Oct. 31. The storm had utility companies struggling to restore electricity to more than 3 million homes and businesses.

Thousands will remain without power for days, say electric utility companies in the affected states.

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

A tree is split in two due to heavy snow on its branches in Belmont, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 30.

Winter storms have caused about $1 billion in insured losses per year—$26 billion from 1991 to 2010, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The costliest storm was a March blizzard in 1993 that affected 24 states and caused nearly $2 billion in losses, according to data reviewed by III.

(AP Photo/Jim Cole)

After hiking up the mountain, skiers and snowboarders make first tracks at Gunstock ski area in Gilford, N.H. after the early Fall snow, Sunday, Oct. 30.

(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Stranded passengers rest on cots a day after a storm inside at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 30.

The storm delayed numerous flights and trains in New England. A JetBlue Airways flight headed to Boston from Florida was forced to land in Connecticut. About 125 passengers were stuck inside the plan for several hours with no food, water or working toilets.

JetBlue says it diverted 17 flights on Saturday—6 to Hartford, Conn. In a statement the airline says the airport experienced power outages that “made refueling and jetbridge deplaning difficult.” It has offered round-trip refunds to passengers.

(AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

Fans wait as ground crews try to clear falling snow from the field at Michie Stadium before the start of a NCAA college football game between Army and Fordham University in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 29.

The snow created a wild weekend for high school and college athletic events. Many high school football games were canceled or moved to earlier in the day on Saturday. Others were played on schedule, with plows or volunteer shovelers attempting to clear snow from yard lines.

(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

A woman walks under fall foliage during the snow storm at Haverford College in Haverford, Pa. Saturday Oct. 29.

Insurers might be wishing this early snowstorm is not a sign of things to come, considering that in 2010 winter storm losses totaled $2.6 billion—the highest total since 2003.

Special Reports /

Unusual October Snowstorm Leaves Downed Trees, Power Lines in Its Wake -- Slideshow

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