Storm damage claims hit $350 million
Workmen clear storm-strewn debris from a yard near Vivian Elementary School.
LAKEWOOD – Last week’s hail, wind and heavy rain caused an estimated $350 million in insured damage, making it Colorado’s second most costly storm, according to figures released Monday by the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.
Most of the damage was in Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and Arvada, said Carole Walker, RMIIA’s executive director.
“This summer Mother Nature has reminded Coloradans that we live in ‘hail alley’ where strong storms can cause hundreds of millions of dollars in insured damage,” Walker said. “This season is reminiscent of the mid 1980s and early 90s, giving us a real wake-up call that now is the time to be thinking about how much insurance coverage you have to fix your car, repair or rebuild your home and replace your personal belongings.”
Walker’s estimate includes only claims for insured damages to homes and cars. Estimates of commercial property damage and uninsured damage are not available.
“I can’t begin to tell you what commercial losses there were. They are just very difficult to get any kind of accurate total number (for),” Walker said.
When combined with the damages from June storms, the metro area took a combined $511 million hit in the past two months, Walker said.
The state’s most costly storm struck Lakewood and the surrounding area June 11, 1990, leaving more than $625 million in damage claims in its wake. And in 2004, hail and wind that riddled Lakewood and nearby areas caused $140 million in insured damages to homes and cars.
Those storms and most other severe storms hit the metro-area in late afternoon, usually about rush hour, Walker said. But last Monday’s storm struck at night, after most people were home from work. Because of the timing, insurance adjusters are seeing fewer claims for automobile damage from this storm, she said.
Insurance companies reported 32,900 claims for residential damage and 19,500 claims for damage to vehicles after last week’s storm, which left as many as 90,000 homes without electric service.
It took five days to restore power to the hardest-hit areas
The heavy, widespread damage drew crooks who already were operating storm-damage repair scams around Lakewood the day after the storm, Lakewood Police said, in an alert issued last week warning residents about a loose-knit group known as ‘Travelers’ operating home-repair scams.
Police spokesman Steve Davis warned storm victims to avoid making up-front payments for repairs, check references if you don’t know the contractor, be wary of crews with out-of-state license plates and make sure the work is done properly. Scam victims often don’t know they have been conned until the thieves are long-gone, according to Davis.
Anyone who suspects they have been scammed or to report suspicious ‘contractors’ call Lakewood Police at 303-987-7111.
No serious storm-related injuries were reported.
City Hall has arranged free drop-off of tree limbs and leaves at the Rooney Road Recycling Center through Tuesday. Residents must show their drivers license as proof they live in Lakewood when they arrive at the center located at 151 S. Rooney Road.
Repairs also continue at more than 40 Jeffco schools, where damage at those totals at least $500,000, according to school district estimates.
More than 15 skylights were broken in a gym at Lakewood High School and 20 were shattered at Fletcher Middle School.
The district expects all schools to be repaired by the start of classes on Aug. 24.
