A firefighter stands on the roof of a house submerged in mud and rocks Jan. 10 in Montecito, California. Damage from the January mudslides resulted in more than $421 million in insurance claims, the state’s insurance commissioner said Monday. (AP file photo)
A firefighter stands on the roof of a house submerged in mud and rocks Jan. 10 in Montecito, California. Damage from the January mudslides resulted in more than $421 million in insurance claims, the state’s insurance commissioner said Monday. (AP file photo)

Mudslide losses top $421 million in hard-hit California town

By: The Associated Press April 2, 2018 4:32 pm 0

LOS ANGELES — California’s insurance commissioner says more than $421 million in insurance claims losses have been filed since deadly mudslides blasted through the community of Montecito during extremely heavy January rains.

Commissioner Dave Jones announced Monday that insurers have received more than 2,000 claims for residential and commercial losses.

The claims include $388 million for residential personal property, $27.2 million for commercial property and $6.7 million for auto and other lines of insurance.

The Jan. 9 storm dumped a large amount of rain very rapidly on unstable land that had been burned by largest wildfire in recorded California history.

Torrents of water flowed down hills carrying mud, boulders and debris.

Hundreds of homes were destroyed or damaged, 21 people were killed and two remain missing.

 
Like this article? Gain access to all of our great content with a month-to-month subscription. SPECIAL: Start your subscription with our low intro rate of just $14.95.