Severe U.S. weather in April causes more than $650 million in insured damage

Severe weather damage in the United States in April 2012 resulted in at least 105,000 claims and insurance payments exceeding $650 million, notes an Aon-Benfield report.

In its April 2012 Global Catastrophe Recap, Aon Benfield references a major severe weather outbreak that swept across the central United States in April 2012, killing at least six people and injuring dozens more.

“During a 72-hour stretch, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) confirmed 94 tornado touchdowns and more than 400 reports of hail and damaging winds,” the report says. “The state of Kansas endured the worst effects, with at least 777 homes and 165 businesses damaged or destroyed just outside the city of Wichita alone after an EF-3 tornado crossed the metro region.”

Another outbreak occurred during the first week of April across northern sections of Texas. At least 21 tornadoes touched down during the event, which resulted in more than 1,100 homes sustaining damage in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Large hail and damaging winds also left widespread effects.

Aon-Benfield estimated the total economic losses as a result of the U.S. storms would amount to approximately $1 billion.