PR – Karen Clark & Company, an independent provider of catastrophe risk
management services, today announced the introduction of the KC Wind
Damage Scale™, a new tool for quickly
assessing the likely insured damage from tropical cyclones.
The scale is designed to give insurance companies and others a measure
of the probable wind damage to buildings, contents and business
interruption caused by a tropical storm or hurricane. The scale ranges
from KC 0, for a storm with winds less than 40 miles per hour and in
which negligible insured damage would be expected, to KC 7, denoting a
hurricane with winds in excess of 160 miles per hour, and in which all
but engineered and highly fortified structures would likely suffer
complete destruction. The scale provides a detailed Damage Description
for each category.
For each landfalling U.S. hurricane, Karen Clark & Company will also
provide the wind damage contours after landfall. The damage contours
will give insurance companies a good idea of the nature of the claims in
specific geographical areas affected by the storm.
The KC Wind Damage Scale differs markedly from the well-known
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, which is used to categorize hurricanes.
The SS scale starts at 74 mph, while insured damages are typically
experienced at lower wind speeds.
“While Saffir-Simpson is the standard
hurricane scale used for many purposes including warnings and
evacuations, the KC Wind Damage Scale is tailored specifically to the
needs of insurance company executives who need a quick assessment of the
likely insured damage resulting from a storm,”
said Karen Clark, President and CEO of Karen Clark & Company. “The
KC Wind Damage Scale provides a detailed description of the likely
claims resulting from a hurricane which helps in planning the loss
adjusting and reserving processes.”
The KC Wind Damage Scale is provided on an interactive map, allowing
users to see the tracks, and KC Wind Damage Scale designations, for
significant hurricanes impacting the U.S. since 1900. A drop-down menu
lets users select which storms to plot. The user can also choose maps
showing a Standard, Satellite, Hybrid or Vegetation view. The KC Wind
Damage Scale and maps can be accessed from the company’s
website, www.karenclarkandco.com.
