Thousands of Claims Already Filed After Storms

State Farm officials received about 3,500 claims from Midwest customers

Two Illinois-based insurers say they've received about 6,000 claims so far from Sunday's tornadoes and they expect that figure to climb.

State Farm officials said they've received about 3,500 claims from customers in Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. About 1,800 claims came from Illinois policyholders.

Meanwhile, Country Financial officials say they've received about 2,400 homeowners and auto claims from their Illinois customers.

Both insurers are headquartered in Bloomington.

The Illinois Department of Insurance is offering one-on-one counseling starting Tuesday morning in the Tazewell County city of Washington, which was among the hardest hit communities in the state.

Sunday's storms killed at least six people and damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings.

Agents with the Federal Emergency Management Agency are in Illinois and other states affected by Sunday's tornadoes, but it isn't clear if it will mean more federal help for storm victims.

Gov. Pat Quinn has issued disaster declarations for 13 counties. That's meant to make it easier for state resources to help communities raked by the Sunday storms that killed at least six people.

FEMA says it has sent emergency teams and liaisons to affected states.

FEMA spokesman Mark Peterson in Chicago says local officials are assessing property damage, including how much of it will be covered by insurance.

Once that's all determined, affected states can request FEMA's help in verifying those numbers and decide whether to seek a federal disaster declaration.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us