Texas Tops Extreme Weather Insurance Claims

Leave a Comment / By Alex / April 11, 2023

Insurance providers have had time to compile information on 2022 claims as we approach the halfway point in 2023. The data is not encouraging for Texas, as we ranked first in the nation for severe weather insurance claims.

KXAN meteorologist Nick Bannin discussed recent statistics on local severe weather claims with Chris Lewis from Allstate Insurance Company.

Meteorologist Nick Bannin: Chris, you have some new data about just how much severe weather we had in Texas, and compare that to what we look like nationally, right?

Chris Lewis, Allstate: Yeah. So probably not a list we want to be on top of, but we are number one in the country when it comes to severe weather and has been there pretty consistently over the last few years.

Bannin: What types of severe weather did we have the most of in 2022 here in Texas?

Lewis: Yeah, so definitely the biggest problems we see are wind, and specifically hail. We had 458 separate hail events last year in the state, almost 1.5 million properties damaged from hail. So definitely, that’s the biggest problem we see.

Bannin: Now I imagine that’s just the cost of replacing roofs because those are pretty expensive.

Lewis: They are, yes. And just like everything else, keeps going up — that cost of repair. So definitely a concern.

Bannin: What about here locally in Central Texas, specifically, the Austin Metro? Where did we rank for severe weather claims within the state? What did we have to deal with last year?

Lewis: Yeah, absolutely. So kind of the three big counties here, Williamson County was in the top 10 last year for the state of Texas. We came in at number eight for Williamson County, Travis, and Hays weren’t on the list for last year. But if we look at some preliminary data for this year, it looks like Travis County is creeping up the list for sure.

Bannin: And remind people, it’s the list of…?

Lewis: What the list of counties in the state of Texas that are impacted by severe weather?

Bannin: Gosh, a list that we don’t want to be on. But at least one of our counties was. So you’ve already gone over the rankings. You also have some data about the disparity between severe weather concerns that people have versus people actually acting on it and preparing for severe weather. Can you talk about that?

Lewis: Absolutely. Yeah. So we did a joint study with Morning Consult that showed people are really concerned about it, right? They’re worried about it. Home is one of the biggest investments that you have. So the data showed that 68% of people were very concerned about these natural disaster events, yet 43% had a plan in place to deal with that disaster. So pretty startling numbers to show that disparity that you’re talking about.

Bannin: Why are so many people concerned but not acting?

Lewis: I think there’s a lot of, well, ‘this can’t happen to me, right? This is not something that can happen to me.’ But I also think there are a lot of unknowns like, ‘What am I supposed to do? What does that even look like? How do I put that plan in place?’

Bannin: For those that aren’t doing anything. What do you suggest that they do before the next storm?

Lewis: Yeah, perfect question. So I think the couple of things that people could be doing right now, number one, is reviewing their insurance policy, no matter what company they’re with. Whether that’s Allstate or anyone else, reach out to your agent, and go over your coverages. Be sure you understand what you have, and more importantly, what you don’t have before a storm hits. We don’t like surprises. Also, get together a disaster-ready kit, right? I think the ice storm we had a couple of years ago taught us that we need to have basic things like water and food and don’t forget about our pets when we’re putting that together. But also, you know, a charging block, make sure you can charge your iPhone and everything to make sure you’re ready for that. You can see the youtube video at below:

According to KXAN, Everybody has items hidden in their closets or beneath their beds that they are unaware they have, and when a calamity strikes, they want to be sure they are paid for. Taking stock will help you understand what you have.

Having a plan is the last, but unquestionably not the least, and most crucial step. Have a plan in place, practice that plan, and make sure that everyone in the house—including your children—knows where to go and who to call in case of an emergency. Just like when you cook your favorite meal, you rely on a recipe; you want to be sure that everyone is ready for when the real thing happens. You can also check out Why Did Universal Choose Frisco For Its Upcoming Theme Park?

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Alex

Alex is dedicated to offering a new take on local news. She is dedicated to making sure that all of the articles on the site are useful to the readers by using her talent for storytelling and attention to detail. Journalism school gave Alex a fresh take on the impact of words on an audience. She works hard with authors to ensure that their stories have the ability to move readers and make them feel a part of something bigger than themselves.

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