Insurer Group: Dallas Tornado Outbreak Costliest in Texas History

The nine confirmed tornadoes that hit the Dallas, Texas-area late on Sunday, Oct. 20 have caused an estimated $2 billion in damage, an insurer trade group says, making it the costliest tornado loss in Texas history.

The Insurance Council of Texas noted that the previous highest tornado-related loss occurred as the result of the Garland/Rowlett tornado of Dec. 26, 2015, which caused insured losses of $1.2 billion dollars. The more recent outbreak, however, extended over a wider geographic span and impacted a variety of homes and commercial property, the ICT said.

Commercial and business losses are still being estimated but ICT said it is thought that more than 30,000 auto and home claims will be filed as a result of the late October string of twisters. Severe hail damage was also reported in some areas.

The strongest of the tornadoes hit the heavily populated north Dallas area, where an EF3 twister had peak winds of 140 mph and was on the ground for more than 15 miles.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 16 counties that sustained damage from the system. The governor’s disaster declaration includes Cass, Cameron, Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Erath, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Panola, Rains, Rockwall, Rusk, Tarrant, Van Zandt and Wood counties.

Four people died in Arkansas and Oklahoma as a result of the storm system that hit on Oct. 20 and 21. No fatalities were reported in Texas.

Topics Catastrophe Carriers Natural Disasters Texas Windstorm