Midwest Twisters Get Cat Declaration

The Property Claim Services subsidiary of Insurance Services Office, Jersey City, N.J., has declared the tornado damage in Kansas an insurance catastrophe.

“PCS assigned Cat No. 11 to the damage from severe weather in Kansas, according to Gary Kerney, PCS assistant vice president, an ISO spokesperson said.

Catastrophes under PCS' definition involve an event with a $25 million loss or impact on a major number of policyholders.

In New York the Insurance Information Institute put out a statement with tips on how tornado victims could speed the claims settlement process.

The twisters tore through Kansas on Friday and parts of Oklahoma on Saturday.

I.I.I. said thousands of homes, businesses and vehicles were destroyed by the twister that sent 205-mph winds through the town of Greensburg, Kan. The Oklahoma town of Sweetwater, about 225 miles south of Greensburg, was hit hard by a twister that severely damaged a high school and other buildings.

I.I.I. said each year about 1,200 tornadoes with wind speeds as high as 300 mph touch down in the United States. Though not generally as destructive as hurricanes, tornadoes are more frequent and can also cause severe damage.

“If your home has been destroyed or seriously damaged, your agent will do everything possible to ensure your claim is given priority,” I.I.I. advised.