According to industry trade group, the Insurance Council of Texas, estimates of last week’s severe weather show that the Tarrant County hailstorm caused $600M in damages. Insurance Council spokesperson Mark Hanna said that if these estimates prove to be correct, last Friday’s hailstorm will be the 12th costliest storm in Texas.
According to industry trade group, the Insurance Council of Texas, estimates of last week’s severe weather show that the Tarrant County hailstorm caused $600M in damages. Insurance Council spokesperson Mark Hanna said that if these estimates prove to be correct, last Friday’s hailstorm will be the 12th costliest storm in Texas.
He said, “That means a lot of insurance adjusters are busy right now looking at autos, homes and businesses. We need to get people back on their feet again.”
It’s not going to be an easy job, though. Fixing dented vehicles and repairing damaged roofs is going to take longer than usual due to the number of claims being filed. There are roof damaged homes and businesses from Benbrook to Arlington.
David Cox, president of Lon Smith Roofing and Construction, said, “It’s the biggest one [storm] we’ve had in a while, but it’s too early to say how big it will be.”
Phones have been ringing off the hook at Lon Smith, located in Fort Worth. As of Monday, the business had 22 estimators working in the field and is currently hiring more staff.
According to Cox, “We’re adding more people to answer phones. These storms tend to grow around the edges as more people realize they may have damage. You have the shock and awe where big hail hit — we’ve all seen video — but really these things tend to grow on the edges. We need a good rain to expose granular loss.”
Looking at this week’s weather report that “good rain” (and then some) is on its way.
Mark Hanna estimates that at least 50,000 vehicles were damaged and that $300M of the $600M in damages are vehicle damage claims, including dents and lost windows.
Fort Worth-based Haws Paint and Body Repair also reported non-stop ringing phones as people called seeking repairs to their damaged vehicles.
Haws’ owner, Eddie Stephens said, “We’re booked up until the middle of May. We’ve got four here and one’s already totaled and I expect one of the others to be as well.”
Two insurance companies, Allstate and State Farm now each have five drive-through hail claim centers in Tarrant County.
Kristin Freis, Allstate spokesperson, said the company is still collecting claims data. State Farm spokesperson, Chris Pilcic, reported that as of Sunday, the company had 2,630 property claims and 5,820 vehicle claims from last week’s severe weather. Most of these claims were in Tarrant County.
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