NU Online News Service,  Jan. 13, 7:55 a.m.EST

NEW YORK – John M. Huff, director of the MissouriDepartment of Insurance, was in Washington D.C. when a massive,destructive tornado tore through Joplin, Mo.

Huff, in Washington as a member of the U.S. FinancialStability Oversight Council (FSOC), flew back to see the scene thathad been described to him by agents as a "war zone."

The tornado May 22 is now the largest insurance event in statehistory, said Huff at the Property/Casualty Insurance JointIndustry Forum on Jan. 10.

When Huff returned home, he said he didn't visit the devastationin Joplin with a team from his office, or cameras following him.Accompanied by a single state trooper to get throughroadblocks, Huff traveled to all the insurance catastrophe teams'sites.

"I really couldn't be more proud," said Huff, who has worked inthe industry. Insurers paid $1 billion the first 100 days after thetwister, he said. Money was already being put back to rebuild, andyou could see it, he said.

Claims payments will likely top out at $1.8 billion to $1.9billion in Missouri, he added.

"The proof of the industry's performance is in the numbers, andthrough the many stories I have heard," Huff told NationalUnderwriter. "Insurers took 18,000 claims and stepped up tothe plate. They dealt very well with the community to help thembegin the rebuilding process as soon as possible. You could see ithappening everywhere."

The expansive destruction created some problems, as insurerswere not able to get to some homes and businesses to start theadjusting process, and contractors were in short supply. Huff saidtold insurers they'd need to extend rebuild deadlines in order to avoid bad-faithaccusations and possible legal action.

He said consumer complaints have been "nominal"—about 800—butthat includes all types of complaints.

Huff said one of the major lessons learned following the tornadowas to educate residents about the need for insurance, whether ornot your home has a mortgage.

Three insurers did go under due to Joplin-related claims. Theoperations of Barton Mutual Insurance Co., Gateway Mutual and CapeMutual—all part of the Barton County Mutual Group—wereassumed by Missouri Farm Bureau.