Louisiana: Hurricane Losses Hit $240 Million

By Mark E. Ruquet

NU Online News Service, Oct. 10, 3:53 p.m. EST?A preliminary estimate by the Louisiana Department of Insurance puts damage claims from two hurricanes that hit the state recently at $240 million or more.

The state's Acting Commissioner of Insurance, Robert Wooley, said initial estimates from Hurricane Lili are $170 million, but could go higher. Figures from Hurricane Isidore have been lowered, from an initial $100 million to a range of $65-to-$70 million.

While the number of claims from Isidore has increased, the severity of the claims is dramatically lower than anticipated, Mr. Wooley explained, adding that the department's figures are based upon reports from insurers.

The Insurance Information Institute Inc., based in New York City, said it estimates that the total cost of claims from all five states impacted by the Hurricane could be about $600 million.

Loretta L. Worters, vice president of communications for the institute, said that the figures are preliminary and cover the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and parts of Texas.

The preliminary figures were prepared by Boston-based AIR Worldwide, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jersey City, N.J.-based Insurance Services Office Inc.

Officials in Mississippi said three counties have been declared disaster areas, but no figures are available yet.

In Arkansas, Charlye Crawford, Arkansas Department of Insurance public information officer, said Lili did not hit the state as hard as was initially feared. At this time, she said, the department "has no claims attributable to Lili."

The Texas Department of Insurance said it did not have estimates. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance could not presently provide loss information.

Special Reports /

Louisiana: Hurricane Losses Hit $240 Million

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