Property-casualty insurers' first-quarter catastrophe losses,impacted by severe tornadoes in several southern states, exceeded$1.2 billion, according to Property Claim Services.

PCS, a unit of Insurance Services Office in Jersey City, N.J.,released a preliminary analysis in advance of its upcomingcatastrophe conference.

According to PCS, U.S. p-c insurers are expected to pay anestimated $1.22 billion to homeowners and businesses in insuredproperty losses from seven events in the first three months of theyear.

PCS also estimated that the four winter storms and three severeweather events produced nearly 204,000 claims in 18 states fromCalifornia to Florida during the period.

The quarter's costliest event, PCS said, occurred in earlyMarch, when tornadoes hit areas of Alabama and Georgia.

PCS said while the damage from this harsh weather outbreak costinsurers more than $450 million, a more serious impact was the lossof life associated with the severe tornado activity in areas suchas Enterprise, Ala., and Americus, Ga. The company did not givefigures on fatalities.

Of the 18 states, the five with the largest insured propertylosses were Georgia, $285 million; Alabama, $175 million; Texas,$167 million; Missouri, $140 million; and Florida, $100million.

ISO's PCS unit defines a catastrophe as an event that causes $25million or more in insured property losses and affects asignificant number of policyholders and insurers.

PCS estimates represent anticipated insured loss on anindustrywide basis arising from catastrophes. Estimates reflect thetotal insurance payment for personal and commercial property linesof insurance covering fixed property, personal property, vehicles,boats, related property items, business interruption and additionalliving expenses. The estimates exclude loss adjustmentexpenses.