Oklahoma's Severe Weather A Cause For High Insurance

Insurance premiums in Oklahoma are some of the highest in the nation, because we often get hit by tornados, hail storms, and other destructive weather.

Thursday, April 10th 2014, 10:14 pm

By: News On 6


Strong winds and large hail have already struck in Green Country, and severe weather season is just getting started. But Oklahoma's severe weather can also hit your pocketbook, even if it doesn't hit your property.

Insurance premiums in Oklahoma are some of the highest in the nation, because we often get hit by tornados, hail storms, and other destructive weather.

The recent hail that pounded parts of Green Country left an expensive mess for many drivers, like Eric Wells.

"The trim is actually dented surprisingly," Wells said.

Wells was in Tahlequah when the storm blew in.

"When the storm rolls in, it comes in quickly, there's no avoiding it. Sit there and get through it," said Wells.

On Thursday he was at the State Farm Catastrophe tent in Muskogee. It serves as a one stop shop for storm victims.

"They get their damages estimated on their vehicles. Their coverage's are explained to them and then they typically get paid on the spot," said Chris Coon with State Farm.

Coon travels to catastrophe centers in Oklahoma and Kansas. He said we often see higher insurance prices in these states because of how often we're hit by weather related disasters.

This same is true for home insurance. A report released by homeownersinsurance.com ranks Oklahoma as the most expensive state in which to insure a home. The site says yearly premiums in the Sooner State are almost double the national average.

4/3/2014 Related Story: Oklahoma Homeowners Pay 93 Percent More Than National Insurance Average

"What we have to deal with here in Oklahoma is, I guess, the price to pay," Wells said.

Even though there's a greater risk, Wells said he's thankful for insurance companies that set up catastrophe centers.

"I actually had a claim a few years ago, had an accident. This one is painless, comparably speaking," said Wells.

Wells learned the hail caused $3,300 in damage.

State Farm estimates it will have the catastrophe tent in service for a couple of weeks until the appointments slow down.

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