NU Online News Service, June 15, 11:07 a.m.EDT

Insurance companies may pay as much as $2 billion onclaims from the deep dents and broken glass to vehiclesfollowing a massive hail storm in Dallas, according to theSouthwestern Insurance Information Service (SIIS).

“From what I'm seeing—the claims that are already coming in—thedamage is just so extensive,” says Sandra Helin, president of theSIIS, a trade association for property insurers in Texas andOklahoma.

Claims payments could reach the $1.5-$2 billion range, accordingto the SIIS, but Helin says she “hopes it doesn't get thathigh.”

If the SIIS estimate is correct, the hail storm is likely tobecome one of the worst ever for the insurance industry. Accordingto the Insurance Information Institute, hail causes about $1billion in damage to property and crops each year.

SEE ALSO: Texas Hail Storm Insured Losses Could Eclipse AprilTornadoes

In 2011, Texas had the largest number of major hail storms ofany state, with 741.

Helin expects the industry to log about 60,000 auto claims,based on the rate of claims coming in since the storm.

Baseball-sized hail from several storm systems slammed intovehicles and homes during the late afternoon hours June 13. TheNational Weather Service says the storms were the worst in the areain nearly a decade.

“Very expensive homes and historical structures are includedamong the things that got hit,” Helin adds. “Everything got hit.There's nowhere to go and everyone was out.”

Shortly after the storm Mark Hanna, spokesman for the InsuranceCouncil of Texas, said he expected insured losses from the recenthail storms to exceed the estimated $400 million in losses expectedfrom tornadoes that struck the Dallas-Fort Worth area in April.

State Farm says it has already received more than 11,000 claimsas off early June 15: 7,898 auto claims and 3,442 homeowners'insurance claims. The insurer expects claims numbers to increase.

In comparison, several days after the April twisters State Farmreported about 8,610 auto claims.

Farmers Insurance says its claims count as of the afternoon ofJune 15 was nearly 4,500 and rising.

USAA says its members have submitted about 4,000 claims, withslightly more auto than home claims.