Total aggregated economic losses in the U.S. from severe weather in May was set to exceed $4 billion, while public and private insurers faced a combined payout approaching $3 billion, according to Aon Benfield's Global Catastrophe Recap report. (Those totals may change as further assessments are conducted.)
The report reveals that several major outbreaks of severe weather swept across central and eastern sections of the United States in May, causing extensive damage through large hail, straight-line winds, tornadoes and isolated flash flooding.
The most serious event occurred in the greater Denver metro area, where damage from up to softball-sized hail led to insurance payouts of more than $1.4 billion. Significant damage from severe storms was also cited in parts of the Plains, Midwest, Southeast, and the Mid-Atlantic.
Devastation in Sri Lanka
In terms of international losses, significant rainfall struck Sri Lanka following the arrival of a monsoon in the southwest and a developing tropical cycle, killing at least 213 people, with another 77 people listed as missing and presumed dead. Nearly 150 others were injured.
Flooding and landslides affected 15 of the country's 25 districts and left more than 22,200 homes damaged or destroyed. Total economic losses were preliminarily estimated at $197 million.
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Denny Jacob
Denny Jacob is an associate editor for NU PropertyCasualty360. Contact him at [email protected].
