Recent Twisters Spawn Claims Topping $300 Million

An insurance industry group estimates the tornadoes and hailstorms that caused scattered devastation in North Texas last week has prompted damage claims topping $300 million so far and could top $500 million.

The Austin-based Southwestern Insurance Information Service said in a statement Monday that the estimates are based on homeowner and auto claims filed so far by its member companies. President Sandra Helin says more than 350 homes were destroyed and as many as 1,000 were damaged – and that doesn’t include commercial business losses.

No deaths were reported from the April 3 storms, which did their worst damage in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.