Karen Clark and Company (KCC), a catastrophe risk modeller, put the tally of privately insured losses from the January winter storm at $6.7 billion, according to the firm's flash estimate released on Feb. 3.
The storm, described by KCC as "historic," spread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across portions of the eastern and southern United States. The weather system cut power to large numbers of customers, created treacherous driving conditions and disrupted flights.
KCC said the ice from the storm brought down trees and power lines, triggering widespread outages that extended from east Texas to Kentucky and into southern New Mexico. The firm highlighted a corridor of particularly high per-customer outage rates running from north Louisiana through north Mississippi and into west Tennessee.
Utilities were not the only sector affected. KCC reported substantial damage from burst water pipes, noting losses were particularly acute in southern and southeastern states where buildings are generally less prepared for extreme cold. Overall, the firm estimated the storm caused insured damage across more than 30 states, with the largest estimated insured losses in Texas and Tennessee.
Analysts at brokerage firm UBS, cited by KCC's report, drew a comparison between the January event and a major winter storm in 2021, identifying the 2021 storm as the closest comparable event in recent memory; that earlier event produced catastrophe losses for the insurance industry estimated between $15 billion and $20 billion.
KCC's findings arrive against a backdrop of rising catastrophe losses for the insurance sector. The firm noted these escalating payouts - which stem from property damage, business interruptions and liability claims - have exerted pressure on industry profits.
The report also referenced a projection from Swiss Re that annual global insured losses from natural catastrophes are expected to reach $107 billion in 2025, with drivers that study identified as wildfires in Los Angeles and severe convective storms in parts of the U.S.
Federal emergency disaster declarations were approved for a dozen states, mostly in the mid-South, and 17 states plus the District of Columbia issued weather emergencies in response to the storm, KCC said.
As insurers and reinsurers process claims from this event, the KCC estimate provides an early gauge of private insured exposure. The firm emphasized the geographic breadth of the losses and the particular vulnerability of certain regions to cold-weather infrastructure failures and building damage.
Key points
- KCC estimates privately insured losses from the January storm at $6.7 billion, with damage reported across more than 30 states.
- Power outages were widespread, with the highest per-customer outage rates from north Louisiana through north Mississippi into west Tennessee; Texas and Tennessee showed the largest estimated insured losses.
- Damage from burst pipes was pronounced in southern and southeastern states where buildings are less prepared for extreme cold.
Risks and uncertainties
- Rising catastrophe losses are putting pressure on insurance industry profits, given large payouts for property damage, business interruption and liability claims - a risk to the insurance and reinsurance sectors.
- Widespread power outages reveal vulnerability in electricity infrastructure, creating disruption risks for utilities and for businesses reliant on continuous power.
- Higher-than-expected claims in regions less equipped for extreme cold could increase underwriting volatility for property insurers serving southern and southeastern states.