Declarations

Violent, Widespread

“I’ve never seen anything this violent and this widespread.”

—Alabama Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling.

Insurance Capacity

“This is why people have insurance. The industry has the capacity and it shouldn’t have an impact on rates unless we see this same sort of damage over and over again.”

—Insurance Information Institute spokesperson Bill Davis in Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa Damage

“In areas of Tuscaloosa affected by the EF-4 tornado, large commercial structures were reduced to rubble. Many properties closer to the periphery of the tornado sustained significant damage to their roofs and openings (large plate glass windows and doors). With the building envelope breached, many sustained subsequent structural damage.”

—Dr. Tim Doggett, principal scientist at AIR Worldwide.

Complete Comeback

“I don’t think words can fairly express the level of devastation here. I am not articulate enough. This is not going to be a quick comeback or an immediate one but it will be, in my view, a complete one when all is said and done.”

—Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano after visiting storm-struck states.