AIR estimates insured losses from storm outbreak in Southern US as high as $5.5 billion

AIR Worldwide estimates insured losses arising from the severe thunderstorm outbreak that struck the southern United States on Apr. 22-28 could range between $3.7 billion and $5.5 billion.The estimate includes damage to residential, commercial and industrial properties and their contents; automobiles; additional living expenses for residential claims; and business interruption losses.The death toll is currently estimated at 354 across seven states; thousands have been left homeless. It is the second-deadliest severe thunderstorm outbreak in U.S. history, after the Tri-State tornado outbreak of 1925.The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service has reported more than 475 eyewitness tornado sightings over the four-day period. Of these, more than 200 tornado touchdowns have been confirmed by NWS damage surveys, including two F-5s (characterized by wind gusts of more than 200 mph).