Claims News Service, Sept.22, 10:24 a.m. EST -- The following is a report from Guy Carpenter, a global risk and reinsurance specialist and a part of the Marsh & McLennan Companies.

According to Insurance Services Office's Property Claim Services (PCS) unit, Tropical Storm Ernesto caused an estimated insured loss of $245 million across eight states. PCS added that U.S. insurers are expecting to receive more than 75,000 claims from policyholders for damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and boats caused by Ernesto. Virginia sustained the highest loss with $63 million, while New York and New Jersey incurred losses of $45.5 million and $44 million, respectively. Significant losses also were reported in Maryland ($31.8 million), North Carolina ($25 million), Delaware ($16.5 million), Florida ($13.5 million) and South Carolina ($5.8 million).

Ernesto made its first and second landfall in the Florida Keys and the south Florida peninsula on Aug. 30 with sustained winds of 45 miles per hour. However, Ernesto did not strengthen between Cuba and the United States as expected and, although some houses temporarily lost power, there were no reports of serious damage or injuries. Ernesto was downgraded to a tropical depression over Florida but headed back out to sea and intensified into a tropical storm over the warm waters of the Atlantic as it tracked towards the Carolinas.

Ernesto came ashore for the third time near Long Beach in Brunswick County, North Carolina, on Sep. 1 as a strong tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour, just short of hurricane strength. The storm's heavy rain triggered flooding that forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. Ernesto's remnants also caused disruption across the mid-Atlantic states as it moved inland. Reports said hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded.

Sources: National Hurricane Center, Associated Press, Reuters News, BBC News, CNN News, Agence France Presse, Insurance Day, ISO's Property Claim Services

This report was reprinted in abbreviated form with permission. For the complete report on Ernesto or for more CAT-i reports and information on the service, go to www.guycarp.com.

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Tropical Storm Ernesto Results in 75,000 Claims

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