NU Online News Service, April 6, 12:03 p.m.EDT

Georgia InsuranceCommissioner Ralph T. Hudgens says deadly storms that struck thestate this week have caused insured losses of about $50million.

The commissioner toured Jonesboro, Ga., yesterday to inspectdamaged areas. The estimate includes damage to vehicles, homes andbusiness, he says.

State Farm spokesman Justin Tomczak says strong straight-linewinds and some hail throughout the state have generated more than1,800 claims.

“There is no one central affected area,” Tomczak says. “Thedamage is scattered everywhere.”

Claims have also been filed due to fire started by lightningstrikes, Tomczak reports.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says the storm systemproduced strong, gusty winds, heavy rain, pea- to baseball-sizedhail and one tornado. Georgia was not the only state affected, asdamage reports have come from states throughout the Southeast.

The NWS has confirmed that a tornado carrying winds of 130 mphtouched down in Eastman, Ga., killing one.

Downed trees fell on top of houses and vehicles, reports theNWS. Fallen trees reportedly killed six people. Other deaths havebeen reported in Mississippi and Tennessee.

This was the second line of severe storms in Georgia in justover a week, says Tomczak. State Farm received more than 1,000 hailand wind-related claims from storms during the last weekend inMarch and sent additional resources, including its CatastropheResponse Vehicle, to the state to help with claims volume.

“State Farm claim representatives are already on the groundthroughout the state, inspecting damage, assisting agents andtaking care of policyholders,” says Tomczak.

Victims of the storm are encouraged to make temporary repairs toprevent further damage, and to save their receipts, he adds.

According to Highline Data, the top writers of homeowners insurancein 2010 were State Farm (29.7 percent market share), AllstateInsurance (14.7 percent), Travelers (7.7 percent), Georgia FarmBureau (7.1 percent) and USAA (6.1 percent).

Highline Data is a part of Summit Business Media, which alsoowns National Underwriter.