JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 21, 2008 – U.S. property/casualty insurers are expected to pay homeowners and businesses an estimated $6.025 billion for second-quarter property losses resulting from a total of 16 catastrophes in 27 states – nearly double the number of catastrophes in the first quarter. And the insured property damage in the second quarter almost doubled the losses incurred in the first, according to preliminary analysis by ISO�s Property Claim Services (PCS) unit.
PCS estimates the 16 catastrophes of second-quarter 2008 generated 1,223,500 claims that averaged nearly $5,000 each.
Following is a summary of second-quarter losses and frequency since 1999:
| Year | Insured Loss ($) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 3.50 billion | 13 |
| 2000 | 1.46 billion | 10 |
| 2001 | 6.24 billion | 9 |
| 2002 | 2.79 billion | 10 |
| 2003 | 5.05 billion | 4 |
| 2004 | 2.33 billion | 6 |
| 2005 | 930 million | 4 |
| 2006 | 5.04 billion | 13 |
| 2007 | 2.3 billion | 6 |
| 2008 | 6.03 billion | 16 |
At $1.08 billion, Texas topped the list of the five most severely affected states, followed by Minnesota at $810 million, Kansas at $578 million, Arkansas at $450 million, and Oklahoma at $425 million.
The costliest event of the quarter � caused by the effects of severe weather � occurred in May and affected seven states from Colorado and Wyoming to Minnesota. The current PCS estimate of insured property damage for this event is $850 million.
ISO�s PCS unit defines a catastrophe as an event that causes $25 million or more in insured property losses and affects a significant number of policyholders and insurers.
About PCS
ISO’s Property Claim Services (PCS) unit serves property/casualty insurers and reinsurers as an authoritative source of catastrophe loss information, providing estimates of anticipated industrywide insured losses arising from catastrophes. The estimates reflect the total insurance payment for personal and commercial property items, business interruption, terrorism, workers compensation, and additional living expenses. The estimates exclude loss adjustment expenses.
About ISO
A leading source of information about risk, ISO provides data, analytics, and decision-support services to professionals in many fields, including insurance, finance, real estate, health services, government, human resources, and risk management. Using advanced technologies to collect, analyze, develop, and deliver information, ISO helps customers evaluate and manage risk. The company draws on vast expertise in actuarial science, insurance coverages, fire protection, fraud prevention, catastrophe and weather risk, predictive modeling, data management, economic forecasting, social and technological trends, and many other fields. To meet the needs of diverse clients, ISO employs an experienced staff of business and technical specialists, analysts, and certified professionals. In the United States and around the world, ISO helps customers protect people, property, and financial assets. http://www.iso.com/
