NU Online News Service, Jan. 24, 1:42 p.m. EST

Where rooftops weren't pummeled by hail in Texas in 2011, damage from wildfires scorched homes and set records for damage.

According to the Insurance Council of Texas, 2011 was the costliest for wildfires in state history, and Texans were also thumped by hail and strong wind as well as extreme temperatures.

“There have been a lot of reports about rates going up here and we haven't even gotten the stats from the fourth quarter,” says Mark Hanna, spokesman for the ICT. “Insurers doled out millions to repair and rebuild.”

“There are some companies here, especially the smaller ones, that have been hit harder than they ever have been in their lives,” Hanna adds. “It's been a rough year for the little guy.”

That's because many wildfires occurred in rural areas, where smaller niche companies that are not as geographically diverse than their larger peers, typically do business.

Six of the state's 10 largest fires in Texas history occurred in 2011—all in April. Hundreds of thousands of acres burned in places like Big Bend and Possum Kingdom Lake, where homes were insured for more than $1 million, according to the ICT.

A wildfire in Bastrop during Labor Day weekend went down as the costliest fire in state history, with insured losses of $325 million.

Also last April, hail the size of softballs fell inAbilene. The ICT reports 8,000 homes needed new roofs and hundreds of cars found temporary residence in body shops for repairs and new windshields.

Drought is normally to blame for the fierce spread of destructive wildfires and temperatures during the 2011 summer provided plenty of dry brush. Things got so bad, Hanna say cattle ranchers were forced to reduce the size of their herds because of lack of water and the cost of feed.

The state was also affected by very below-average temperatures during the winter (remember the snow before the Super Bowl last year) that burst pipes and water mains.

Wind and hail from thunderstorms last January caused $100 million in insured losses to homes, business and vehicles.

“In 2011 we saw and experienced some things we've never seen before, or haven't seen in a long while,” Hanna says.

Special Reports /

Texas Slammed by Record Storms, Wildfires in 2011

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