Tropical Storm Fay left Florida, but she continued to spread heavy rains throughout the South and created thousands of insurance claims, officials said.

The National Weather Center's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, which is now tracking the storm instead of the National Hurricane Center, said Fay moved slowly through central Mississippi, but rains affected a region from as far west as Louisiana, east to the Florida panhandle, and as far north as South Carolina.

The storm, with sustained winds near 25 mph, is expected to weaken further over the next couple of days. Flash flood warnings were in effect for portions of Alabama, Mississippi, eastern Louisiana and the western Florida panhandle. Flood warnings were in effect for parts of northern Florida and southern Georgia.

The Florida Department of Insurance Regulation said as of today Fay was responsible for over 11,000 claims among four of the state's largest insurers.

State Farm, Florida's largest personal lines property-casualty insurer, topped the list. A company spokesman, John Pisula, said as of today there were over 4,649 homeowners claims, 1,021 auto claims and 571 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims.

The state's residual market carrier, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., followed with 2,158 homeowners' claims.

The state's second largest p-c personal lines insurer, Allstate, did not report any claims to the state.

A spokesman for San Antonio, Texas-based USAA said in an e-mail that most of the claims are primarily related to heavy rains (roof leaks and surface water) and flooding. That company reported 1,348 homeowners claims, 169 auto, and 140 NFIP.

Mr. Pisula said the company received a significant number of auto claims after the weekend. Homeowner claims were primarily related to downed trees and water damage from backed-up drains, or seeping under roof shingles. While more than 80 percent of auto claimants have been contacted, many homeowners will have to wait until the water recedes before claims adjusters can get to their homes, he said.

"We dodged a bullet this time," said Mr. Pisula, noting that if Fay reached hurricane force winds then claims would have been significantly higher.

Last week, Property Claim Services, a subsidiary of Jersey City, N.J.-based Insurance Services Office Inc., said it did not have claims loss evidence and the situation had not changed as of today.

Reports put the death toll in the United States related to Fay at 13--eleven in Florida, and the other two in Alabama and Georgia. The storm has claimed more than 50 lives in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Florida will also receive additional federal assistance after four major disaster declarations were made by the president for Brevard, Monroe, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties. The entire state received emergency disaster declaration on Thursday. Additional counties are under review for major disaster assistance.

While touring a storm damaged region, Florida's Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Alex Sink said the department has dispatched several department investigators and consumer specialists into storm damaged areas to be on the lookout for misconduct and to provide assistance to homeowners.

(This story was updated at 3:46 p.m.)

Special Reports /

A Weakened Storm Fay Lingers As Fla. Claims Pile In

Related Stories

Recommended For You