Flooded with storm claims, insurers urge action, patience [The Monitor, McAllen, Texas]

March 31--MCALLEN -- Many insurance agent phone numbers led to busy signals here Friday morning as residents woke up to the aftermath of a Thursday night hail and wind storm that left shattered windows, downed trees and missing facades.

"All the companies have been alerted that McAllen did get clobbered overnight," said Mark Hanna, spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas, which represents some 500 insurance companies. "They're assessing the situation and they're going to get as many people down there as quickly as possible."

State Farm Insurance spokeswoman Patti Kelly said State Farm customers affected by the storm had filed more than 900 auto claims and 871 homeowner claims as of 1:30 p.m. Friday.

The company said it expected those claims to grow and would be sending catastrophe claims personnel into the area from other parts of the state to assist.

Other companies also reported an influx of damage reports.

"We've gotten quite a number of calls," said Pipo Flores, a local branch manager for Jesse Trevino Insurance Agency. "We're handling the claims as fast as we can, but right now it's too early to tell (the extent of the damage) because they still have to get an insurance adjuster out there."

Flores said he was amazed by stories of houses with some or all of the windows blown out.

"To me that's quite a storm," he said.

Hanna urged residents to report their claims as quickly as possible, but to remain patient as they went through the process.

"On the other side are agents who are being inundated with calls, and they might not be able to get to it right away," he said. "A lot of times they try to reach the people who have been hit the worst first, especially anyone whose home has been damaged so badly that they can't live in it."

Insurance representatives encouraged people to take immediate steps to secure their property and prevent further damage -- including boarding up windows to keep rain out -- but said homeowners should not make any permanent repairs until they meet with an insurance adjuster.

SHATTERED GLASS

Auto glass repair shops were also inundated Friday with customers lining up to replace windshields and windows shattered by hail.

Tony Muniz, owner of A1 Auto Glass near 10th and Fir streets, said the location was scurrying to fix a number of McAllen police cars that were there, along with more than 30 walk-in customers. The shop will be extending its Saturday hours.

Others were reportedly too busy by midday even to take on new customers.

"We've been to three places," said Mission resident Claudia Esquivel. "Some are just out and aren't seeing (new) people until next week."

Esquivel, 23, and her father Felipe Esquivel, 52, were trying to get the shattered back window of their car replaced. They said they were on their way back from buying Mega Millions lotto tickets Thursday when the storm struck and they quickly pulled into a nearby carwash to spare the vehicle the brunt of the hail.

"Instead of hitting the jackpot, the hail hit us," Felipe Esquivel said in Spanish.

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Elizabeth Findell covers Pharr, San Juan, Alamo, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at [email protected] and (956) 683-4428.

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TWITTER

Follow Elizabeth Findell on Twitter: @efindell

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AFTER THE STORM

>> Tips for dealing with damage to homes and vehicles

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