As catastrophe modelers begin assessing damages from Superstorm Sandy, business-interruption claims could make up a good portion of overall expected insured losses from the unique storm—just as business interruption losses made up a sizable portion of insured losses after the Japan earthquake and tsunami, and flooding in Thailand in 2011.

Business interruption can be added to a property insurance policy or included in a package policy. Coverage compensates a business owner for lost income if the company cannot operate due to disaster-related damage that is covered under your property insurance policy.

With that in mind, PC360 took a look at the top writers of the commercial multi-peril in the states most-affected by Sandy—New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

It looks as if no one company is particularly exposed much more than its competition. (Take a look at the chart, put together using data from SNL Financial).

Before Superstorm Sandy, PC360 took a look at the exposure of personal insurers and it looks as if State Farm, Allstate and Berkshire Hathaway—the parent company of direct auto insurer GEICO—will be most affected, considering New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania took the brunt of the mammoth storm, with Maryland reporting its share of claims as well.

Many Insurers in 'Frankenstorm' Sandy's Projected Path

Using State Farm as an example, the insurer says New York has filed nearly 28,900 homeowners' insurance claims and about 8,180 auto claims as of early Nov. 7. The insurer has taken 22, 480 homeowners claims and 3,505 auto claims from New Jersey.

These totals make up a majority of the 80,013 homeowners and 14,592 auto claims the insurer has taken thus far from every state affected by Sandy.

Special Reports /

Commercial Exposure to Sandy Appears Spread Out Among Insurers

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