The intensity of the storms is expected to pick-up tonight.

A number of tornado warnings and sightings were already reported early this afternoon. The National Weather Service's Severe Prediction Center recorded reports of 15 tornados by 2 p.m. EST.

The insurance industry was busy responding to events, receiving claims and responding quickly.

The Insurance Information Institute says the industry has sent adjusters out to the catastrophe sites and they are busy handling claims.

Yesterday, State Farm reported that it received close 1,000 claims and expected more.

American Family Insurance says it has dispatched claims representatives in Branson, Mo., and it received 300 claims from homeowners, commercial properties, farms and ranches by Wednesday afternoon.

Larry Case, executive vice president for the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents, says agents are telling him that the response from carriers has been “very good.”

“The catastrophe teams have gotten there quickly and they have been doing what they need to do,” says Case.

One of the biggest issues in Branson is finding accommodations for tourists who were visiting the area because hotels were heavily damaged, says Case.

Branson attracts tourists because of its theaters and music venues.

Case notes that the damage in Branson is not as extensive as last year's tornado that destroyed Joplin, Mo., which claimed 116 lives.

A spokesman for the Missouri Department of Insurance says it has not received any complaints from policyholders and insurers have not had any issues with working in the affected areas.

Calls to officials in Illinois where the town of Harrisburg was heavily damaged were not immediately returned.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has issued a state-disaster proclamation and has applied for federal disaster aid through FEMA.

According to reports, the tornados that touched down on Tuesday have claimed 13 lives.