U.S. property and casualty insurers are expected to pay homeowners and businesses an estimated $2.1 billion for insured property loss claims from eight catastrophes in the first quarter of 2005, according to Property Claim Services.

This year's first-quarter catastrophe totals were the second costliest since the first quarter of 1996, when the industry suffered losses of $2.6 billion. First-quarter catastrophe losses in the same period last year were $1.04 billion.

Year – Loss ($) Frequency

• 1996 – $2,555,000,00011
• 2005 – $2,135,000,0008
• 2000 – $1,980,000,0007
• 1999 – $1,865,000,0005
• 2003 – $1,475,000,0005
• 2004 – $1,035,000,0005
• 1998 – $1,005,000,00010
• 1997 – $860,000,0008
• 2001 – $680,000,0003
• 2002 – $615,000,0003

PCS estimates that the eight catastrophes will generate 535,000 claims from policyholders in 28 states, 61 percent of which are for personal property, 14 percent for commercial property, and 25 percent for damages to vehicles. The quarter's costliest catastrophe was the series of thunderstorms that pummeled the South and the East Coast in late March, causing an estimated $655 million in losses. Texas, at $565 million, headed the list of the five most severely affected states, followed by California at $275 million, Georgia at $220 million, Alabama at $150 million, and Pennsylvania at $120 million.