(AJC) — The deadly storms and tornadoes that ripped through Georgia last week caused at least $75 million in insured losses, Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said Monday. State officials predict that figure will rise in coming weeks as the scope of the damage becomes clear and homeowners and businesses file claims. ”These are very preliminary numbers,” Hudgens said. Hudgens said his office arrived at the figure after surveying the top 10 insurance companies in Georgia, which represent about 75 percent of the state insurance market. But residents and claims adjusters are only now starting to assess the damage in the more devastated areas of northwest Georgia, where authorities spent the first few days searching for victims and clearing debris.
