Last week's tornadoes in Texas were the costliest in the state's history, causing an estimated $2 billion in insured losses, says The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT). On Oct. 20th, nine tornadoes touched down in the Dallas area, impacting homes and commercial property and causing damage to trees, power lines, roads, and altering the very landscape of some neighborhoods. According to the National Weather Service, the strongest of the tornadoes was an EF3 twister with peak winds near 140 mph that was on the ground for more than 15 miles. The other storms had wind speeds ranging from 80 mph to 100 mph. The preliminary loss estimates from ICT include over 30,000 auto and home claims. Not accounting for commercial or business claims, the loss estimate is likely to rise, says the organization. The current estimate makes the Oct. 20 tornado outbreak the costliest in Texas history, surpassing the Garland/Rowlett tornado of December 26, 2015, which resulted in insured losses of $1.2 billion. View photos of the tornadoes' damages in the gallery above. |

Scam alert

As claims trickle in for tornado damage, the Texas Department of Insurance has issued a warning about a scam targeting storm victims. Fliers with the message, "In Texas, if you do not pay your insurance deductible go to jail!"[sic] are being circulated in affected neighborhoods in an attempt to lure storm victims into buying a service that claims to pay insurance deductibles. The fliers also mention a new state law that makes it illegal for a contractor to waive an insurance deductible, and some claim to be a "public service announcement" and use the Texas Department of Insurance logo. "Intentionally scaring and misleading people who are trying to recover from a devastating storm is unconscionable," said Insurance Commissioner Kent Sullivan in a statement. "Homeowners were already required to pay the deductible. The new law helps protect them from bad contractors." State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione of Southlake said in a release that "One of the fliers used my name to appear as though I was quoted and endorsing the company. I never spoke to anyone with this company, never gave consent for a quote to be used, and I never gave an endorsement of this fraudulent company. I want to thank the Texas Department of Insurance for quickly alerting Texans to this fraudulent activity and helping keep those who just experienced storm damage safe from deceitful and dishonest scammers." If a contractor offers to waive a deductible, report it to the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-621-0508. For an insurance question or help with a claim, call the Texas Department of Insurance Help Line at 1-800-252-3439. Related: |

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