Insurance claims from Maui wildfires soar above $1 billion

KAPALUA - A breakdown of the first insurance data for the Maui wildfires shows more than 6,079 residential property and personal motor vehicle claims totaling more than $1.35 billion have been filed for losses in West Maui and Upcountry Maui.

The preliminary data released Monday by the state Insurance Division is current through Sept. 30, and was gathered from more than 200 property and casualty insurers and surplus lines carriers doing business in Hawaii that responded to a call for data from the department.

The data, which shows the depth of the losses and needs following the devastating Maui wildfires, was released the same day that Gov. Josh Green issued his eighth emergency proclamation relating to the wildfires, and added new amendments to help support survivors with housing and recovery.

According to the preliminary breakdowns, the larger Lahaina fire on Aug. 8, the deadliest U.S. fire in more than 100 years, resulted in 3,732 residential property claims of which 1,683 were total loss claims.

The claims totaled more than $1.29 billion and more than $660.4 million of them had been paid as of Sept. 30.

The West Maui fire also resulted in 1,985 personal motor vehicle claims of which 1,440 were total loss claims. Estimated total losses for personal motor vehicles were more than $25.3 million and more than $21.6 million had been paid as of Sept. 30.

The smaller Upcountry Maui fire resulted in 299 residential property claims of which 12 were total losses.

As of Sept. 30, these claims totaled more than $32 million and more than $15.8 million had been paid.

State Insurance Commissioner Gordon I. Ito said in a statement, "Behind every claim is a person, a family member, a homeowner, or a business owner. The loss we suffered as a state is unimaginable, but the Hawaii Insurance Division has been and will continue to support the people of Maui as they begin rebuilding."