Ohio’s losses from 2011 storms already top $500 million

Associated Press

AKRON

A handful of major storms that damaged parts of Ohio this year have caused more than a half-billion dollars in insured losses, and that number is expected to increase.

Five storms have led to an estimated 125,000 claims and losses of $537 million or more, and more than half that came when a series of tornadoes struck in May, the Akron Beacon Journal reported Sunday. The claims and damage estimates are expected to increase once the Ohio Insurance Institute, an industry group for property and casualty insurers, finishes gathering data about a sixth storm that rolled through earlier this month.

“This has just been an unprecedented year in terms of storm systems affecting Ohio,” said Mary Bonelli, a spokeswoman for the Columbus-based group.

“It’s been a big year. A really heavy duty year for losses. Very unusual.”