NU Online News Service, March 2, 3:09 p.m.EST

Residents throughout the Midwest will be spending their weekendpaying close attention to the weather as the National WeatherService warns of continued possible tornado activity.

The National Weather Service issued a major severe-weatherwarning today saying an outbreak of severe thunderstorms andtornadoes “is likely” over a large area of the country from Indianato Ohio into Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama.

According to Jeff Master at Weather Underground, the stormsystem could produce significant tornadoes.

The intensity of the storms is expected to pick-up tonight.

A number of tornado warnings and sightings were already reportedearly this afternoon. The National Weather Service's SeverePrediction Center recorded reports of 15 tornados by 2 p.m.EST.

The insurance industry was busy responding to events, receivingclaims and responding quickly.

The Insurance Information Institute says the industry has sentadjusters out to the catastrophe sites and they are busy handlingclaims.

Yesterday, State Farm reported that it received close 1,000claims and expected more.

American Family Insurance says it has dispatched claimsrepresentatives in Branson, Mo., and it received 300 claims fromhomeowners, commercial properties, farms and ranches by Wednesdayafternoon.

Larry Case, executive vice president for the MissouriAssociation of Insurance Agents, says agents are telling him thatthe response from carriers has been “very good.”

“The catastrophe teams have gotten there quickly and they havebeen doing what they need to do,” says Case.

One of the biggest issues in Branson is finding accommodationsfor tourists who were visiting the area because hotels were heavilydamaged, says Case.

Branson attracts tourists because of its theaters and musicvenues.

Case notes that the damage in Branson is not as extensive aslast year's tornado that destroyed Joplin, Mo., which claimed 116lives.

A spokesman for the Missouri Department of Insurance says it hasnot received any complaints from policyholders and insurers havenot had any issues with working in the affected areas.

Calls to officials in Illinois where the town of Harrisburg washeavily damaged were not immediately returned.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has issued a state-disaster proclamationand has applied for federal disaster aid through FEMA.

According to reports, the tornados that touched down on Tuesdayhave claimed 13 lives.