NU Online News Service, Dec. 14, 10:59 a.m. EST

Europe's run-in with severe Windstorm Friedhelm is not expected to produce significant insurance claims despite hurricane-force wind gusts, say experts.

Yesterday, Willis Re released a report saying that despite wind gusts that reached 165 mph in some places of Scotland last week, insurance losses are expected to come nowhere close to Windstorm Kyrill that hit northern Europe in 2007 and caused around $618 million (at today's exchange rate) in insured loss.

Reports from Scotland's 3 News say many schools and bridges were closed during the storm and residents were advised to stay indoors during the storm.

Superior roof construction was credited with minimizing losses, note experts, as the region is subject to high winds throughout the year.

“As the northern part of the [United Kingdom] is more exposed to high-wind speeds than the south, roofs are frequently built to higher specifications to withstand wind force,” says Tim Edwards, divisional director of Willis Re in a statement.

Catastrophe modelers AIR Worldwide and RMS issued statements saying that the region suffered extensive power outages from the storm.

AIR notes that structural-damage reports were few and the “level of damage is not expected to be severe.”

RMS's Neena Saith says downed trees were the most notable feature of the storm that disrupted transportation in Scotland and northeast England.

Neither modeler issued insured-loss estimates and indicated that they did not plan to.

Special Reports /

Windstorm Friedhelm Insurance Losses Minor

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