A winter storm that swept across New England late last week has caused "severe disruption and damage," and may lead to more problems for the area, according to modeling firm Risk Management Solutions (RMS).
RMS said the storm that hit areas of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont and New York caused damage in the form of fallen trees and power lines. The system brought heavy rain, sleet, freezing rain and snow to the affected areas, RMS said.
Around 1.4 million homes and businesses lost power, according to RMS, and even though the storm has passed, additional power outages are possible.
RMS said, "While utility companies are working hard to restore power, there is potential for more damage to power lines to occur as the ice continues to melt, causing branches once weighted down with ice to spring back and come into contact with power lines. This factor makes it difficult to accurately predict restoration rates."
RMS said there are limited reports of property damage at this stage, "particularly from burst pipes–which may get worse the longer the power outages last."
A spokesman for the modeling firm said RMS will likely release insured loss estimates later this week.
There have been at least four deaths as a result of the storms, RMS reported.
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