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.