Midland and Smith Top Allstate’s Stormiest Counties List

IRVING, Texas, May 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas storms clobbered more Allstate insured homes in Midland than any other part of the state over the past five years, while Smith county saw the highest frequency of lightning. Allstate tallied the top 25 Texas counties affected by severe weather; identifying areas with highest frequencies of wind and hail, and lightning related homeowner property damage claims from 2009 through 2013.  

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Highest Frequency of  Wind and Hail Claims 2009-2013 by County
1	Midland
2	El Paso
3	Dallas
4	Lubbock
Johnson
6	Williamson
7	Hidalgo
8	Randall
9	Parker
10	Denton
11	Tarrant
12	Smith
13	Travis
14	Bexar
15	Collin
16	Bell
17	Fort Bend
18	Montgomery
19	Harris
20	Webb
21	Galveston
22	Nueces
23	Brazoria
24	Cameron
25	Jefferson
Highest Frequency of Lightning Claims 2009-2013 by County
1	Smith
2	Jefferson
3	Montgomery
4	Johnson
5	Parker
6	Lubbock
7	Denton
8	Collin
9	Williamson
10	Brazoria
11	Dallas
12	Tarrant
13	Galveston
14	Harris
15	Bell
16	Fort Bend
17	Bexar
18	Travis
19	Midland
20	Randall
21	Webb
22	Hidalgo
23	Nueces
24	Cameron
25	El Paso

Rankings
Midland, El Paso and Dallas top the list for the frequency of wind and hail homeowner property claims over the past five years. Smith, Jefferson and Montgomery saw the highest frequency of lightning claims. Counties with the highest frequency of claims range from north, south, east and western parts of the state; demonstrating few areas in Texas are safe from severe weather. 

"Texans are exposed to more types of natural disasters than any other state," said Pam Nichols, an Allstate agent in Midland. "It's important for families to take precautions to protect themselves and their belongings for Texas-sized severe weather threats."

How can Texans be prepared for natural disasters? Allstate recommends a few steps:

Before the Storm:    

• Clean Out Your Garage: Take steps to reduce risks of damage to your property like having a spot for your car during a hail storm and removing dying tree limbs and outside furniture that can go airborne during a wind storm.
• Make a Plan: Create a safety plan with your family and know prepared areas to take shelter in case of a tornado. Visit emergency management government Web sites to help you come up with a plan before a catastrophe.
• Take Stock of Your Stuff: Walk through your home with a video or still camera to create a record of what you have and where it is in your house. You can also download an App like Allstate's Digital Locker (TM) to help create an inventory.
• Call Your Insurer: Locate your current insurance information and reach out to your insurer for a yearly coverage check-up. Review your policy with your agent to make sure your coverages meet your current needs.

In the unfortunate event of a storm, Allstate recommends the following tips to help customers begin the recovery process.

Storm Recovery:

• Make Temporary Repairs: Make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Save the receipts for temporary home repairs as these expenses may be reimbursed as part of your homeowner's policy. Your adjuster will need this information.
• Document Damages: Inventory your home and list damaged items before your adjuster arrives. An inventory can help facilitate the claim process after a disaster.
• Research Contractors: Be wary of contractors who solicit door-to-door. Work only with licensed, bonded and insured contractors and have them provide you with documentation. Check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against contractors you are considering.

About the Data
To collect the data, Allstate measured the frequency of hail and wind and lightning homeowner property claims from 2009- 2013 to tally the top 25 counties which all had at least 3500 Allstate policies. 

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate^®, and are widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." In 2013, $29 million was given by The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 200,000 hours of service across the country.

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company