DENVER — The hailstorm that shattered windows, and damaged cars and homes across the Front Range on May 8 resulted in about $1.4 billion in insurance claims, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.
The storm is “on pace to be Colorado’s most expensive insured catastrophe,” surpassing the historic storms on July 20, 2009 and July 11, 1990, the group said in a statement Tuesday.
Most expensive storms (adjusted costs for 2016 dollars)
- May 8, 2017 (Denver metro): $1.4 billion
- July 11, 1990 (Denver metro): $1.1 billion
- July 20, 2009 (Denver metro): $845.5 million
- June 6-15, 2009 (Denver metro): $389.2 million
- July 28, 2016 (Colorado Springs): $352.8 million
- June 6-7, 2012 (Front Range): $330.5 million
The group estimated more than 150,000 auto insurance claims and 50,000 homeowner insurance claims would be filed in connection with the storm.
“The enormous size of the hail hitting densely populated areas of the Denver metro during rush hour has contributed to the magnitude of damage caused by this storm,” RMIIA executive director Carole Walker stated.
Walker also pointed to “Colorado’s population boom, escalating costs to repair high-tech cars and more expensive homes” as contributing to the insurance claims.