Insurance claims from last week's storms that swept into Oregon and Washington State have reached 32,000 in the wake of widespread damage from toppling trees and thousands of power outages.
Karl Newman, president of the NW Insurance Council, said more than 32,000 claims have been filed so far and many more are expected.
He said more adjusters are coming into the region and plans call for them to work late into the Christmas weekend to deal with the situation. Companies are also reallocating personnel and have set up special phone banks to deal with customers calling in to make claims.
"Insurance companies really show their value to customers following a catastrophe like this," Mr. Newman told National Underwriter.
"It is frustrating to deal with the windstorm loss, but it would be financially devastating to many if they hadn't insured their homes and businesses," he said in a prepared statement.
AIR Worldwide, a subsidiary of Jersey City, N.J.-based Insurance Services Office, put out a loss estimate of $500 million earlier in the week.
Jerry Davis, a spokesman for Farmers Insurance, the second largest insurer behind State Farm in both Oregon and Washington, said the company has brought more than 100 additional claims representatives into the two states.
Farmers, a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance, has utilized its claims bus, a self-sufficient claims center, to help facilitate claims and issue checks to policyholders for living expenses if covered.
The company does not have any claim totals available at this time, Mr. Davis said, but it has made sure it is in continuous communication with insurance departments, customers and legislators with updates and information.
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