Catastrophes Unlike Anything in Past Decade Wallop U.S. Insurers

  • Allstate says disasters cost $906 million in second quarter
  • Travelers profit misses estimates after hail storms, tornadoes

Houses and vehicles stand in floodwaters due to Hurricane Harvey in Spring, Texas, on Aug. 28, 2017. 

Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
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Wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, hail storms, Nor’easters and mudslides. A string of disasters has pummeled the biggest U.S. insurers over the past year, and the second quarter was no exception.

Allstate Corp. estimated its pretax catastrophe losses at $906 million for the period, the most in a year, and Travelers Cos. reported its sixth-straight quarter in which such costs rose above $300 million.