Property Claims Skyrocket As Texas Thaws Out

Even as power has flickered back on, the deep freeze San Antonio was cast into last week continues to cause problems in the form of burst pipes, collapsed roofs, and water damage.

As costs begin to tally, many are utilizing their homeowners insurance at predicted record amounts.

‘This will be the largest non-hurricane insurance event in the history of Texas,’ said Mark Friedlander, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute, a trade group for the industry.

The majority of these claims, insurers said, have been for damage related to burst pipes and power failures.

At the end of last week, San Antonio-based USAA reported more than 30,000 claims related to the recent winter weather – the majority being in Texas – and said it expected that number to climb as the state thaws out.