The 2009 tornado season is off to a fast start. February tornadoes in Oklahoma killed nine people and prompted the declaration of a federal disaster for three of the state’s counties, while the tornadoes in Georgia caused insured losses of up to $35 million, early estimates indicate. The Insurance Information Institute says that peak tornado season in the United States usually runs from March through May. The annual U.S. tornado count over the past decade has averaged around 1,270; however the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that 1,685 tornadoes hit the U.S. in 2008. The I.I.I. is out with tornado safety and insurance tips, in time for the peak twister season.

Peak Tornado Season Begins in March (I.I.I. 3/9/09)

March 10, 2009