Ivan Insured Losses In $3B-$6B Range

Ivan Insured Losses In $3B-$6B Range

By Steve Tuckey

NU Online News Service, Sept. 22, 4:25 p.m. EDT?Latest insurance industry estimates put insured damages from Hurricane Ivan at between $3 billion and $6 billion.[@@]

Newark, Calif.-based Risk Management Solutions based the estimates released today on a reconstruction of the hurricane's wind field and detailed ground and aerial reconnaissance of the damage zone.

Hurricane Ivan made landfall Sept. 16 near Gulf Shores Alabama as a Category Three Hurricane on the five step Saffir-Simpson scale.

Mohsen Rahnama, RMS vice president of vulnerability modeling, said the surveys revealed extensive storm surge in immediate coastal areas from Gulf Shores eastward to Pensacola, Fla.

"The aerial reconnaissance has revealed both residential and commercial building collapses due to coastal surge and wave action," Mr. Rahnama said. "Of particular interest are several multi-story commercial structures that have collapsed due to failure of the building foundation."

Ivan generated storm surges of 10 to 16 feet above normal tides, and rainfall totals of 10 to 15 inches and more in some areas.

Meanwhile, property-casualty industry representatives continue to express satisfaction from the toughening of the state's building codes in regard to wind provisions approved by the Florida Building Commission last month.

Keith Lessner, vice president for loss control for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, noted the measures aroused opposition from the building industry when they were first proposed.

"Hurricane Ivan has proved that all Florida homes should be built to withstand heavy winds, not just those on the coast and not just those in south Florida," he said. "No area is safe from a hurricane."

Carriers are still reporting estimated loss damages from Hurricane Francis, which struck Florida on Labor Day Weekend.

Seattle-based Safeco said it expects to suffer pre-tax losses of about $28 million. A total of $13 million will come from personal lines policies, while $15 million will come from small business lines.