The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) says insurance claimsfrom a series of tornadoes in May jumped to 70,782 with insurancepayments reaching close to $562 million.

Claims from the two worst outbreaks numbered 40,264 for May 19thand 20th and 29,355 for May 30th and 31st. Homeowners claims hasthe largest insurance pay-out totaling $437 million for the fourday period with 33,808 claims. Auto is close behind in number ofclaims at 31,693 claims and insurance pay-out of more than $80million.

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak says the numbers areproof of the dramatic impact of the tornadoes on his state and heis happy to see that so many victims are insured.

Doak says the department launched a series of forums to allowthe state's tornado victims to receive assistance withinsurance-related issues such as claims filing and fraud.

The commissioner also advised public adjusters to refrain fromcharging customers more than 10 percent of their claims settlementafter negotiating compensation for property claims.

“Oklahoma storm victims need alternatives and assistance, butthey also need to keep as much of their insurance claim aspossible,” he says.

While the OID is monitoring all claims handlers' fees, it asksthat all adjusters carry a state proof of license up to 90 daysafter the catastrophe, and that they ask for no payment in advanceof a settlement.

Meanwhile, the OID issued a bulletin to all licensed P&Cinsurers and producers to keep their customer's on their currentpolicies for 60 days after the completion of repairs.

“As a result of the devastating tornado outbreak, thousands ofOklahomans have filed property claims,” says Doak. “Because ofthat, insurers are now reassessing risks and issuing nonrenewalnotices. Due to the backlog of work that contractors and repairshops are currently experiencing, many repairs won't be completedbefore the policy expires. That results in open and pending claimsthat prevent the policyholder from obtaining replacementcoverage.”

The Insurance Consumer Bill of Rights, passed by the statelegislature in early 2013, says that insurers may not cancel,refuse to renew or increase the premium of a homeowner's policywhich has been in effect more than 45 days solely because theinsured has filed a first claim against the policy.