Paying claims
In the first days after Harvey and Irma made landfall, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions received more than 200 loss notices. Each was assigned to claims handlers and acknowledged to our clients and brokers within one business day. In the meantime, we set up a command centre so our claims experts, natural catastrophe specialists, underwriters and risk engineers could work together to identify other potentially impacted areas and quickly assess our clients’ exposures.
788
hurricane-related claims have been received to date. We have made millions of dollars in advance payments, helping our insureds to begin to get back to business and their lives.
Category scale and destruction
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane intensity scale and lifetime storm maximums:
CAT 1
Very dangerous winds will produce some damage.
CAT 2
Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage.
CAT 3
Devastating damage will occur: well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends.
CAT 4
Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months (Harvey).
CAT 5
A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months (Irma, Maria).
Source: www.nhc.noaa.gov