Alabamians File Steady Stream of Storm Claims

Alabama residents who suffered severe losses due to a series of storms that swept through the Southeast last month have already filed over 65,000 storms, according to an estimate by state officials.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling said the estimate represents the combined reports of insurers working in the area. Bentley warned, however, that that number is expected to grow rapidly. “With nearly 2,000 adjusters already on the ground and more on the way, there will be considerable activity to adjust these claims,” he said.

Ridling expects a second round of claims to be filed in the coming weeks. “With some areas just reopening it is likely that people will wait,” he said. “Even so, if Alabamians have a problem, we want them to know that they should call the Department of Insurance for assistance or to get an answer to any insurance-related question they might have.”

Ridling’s announcement comes after he said the state’s damage estimate could exceed the $1 billion mark set by Hurricane Katrina and possible the $2 billion market left behind after Hurricane Ivan.