The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance has released preliminary estimates on the number of uninsured properties affected by the F3 tornado that struck St. Louis on May 16. The tornado, which traveled 23 miles, impacted around 5,000 properties and caused damages estimated at $1 billion. It first touched down in Clayton and moved northeast through parts of North County and into Illinois.
Angela Nelson, the director of the DCI, explained that while the department gathers data from the insurance industry, it does not have precise figures on how many homes were uninsured. However, they made rough estimates based on zip code data to help policymakers understand the community’s needs.
The most affected areas are in North County, particularly the zip codes 63115, 63107, and 63113. The DCI estimates that about 90% of renters in these areas may lack insurance, while around 67% of homeowners might be uninsured. Other significant uninsured areas include the North Riverfront region (63147), the Central West End (63108), and the West End neighborhoods (63112), where approximately 63% of renters and 49% of homeowners could be uninsured.
In contrast, neighborhoods like Richmond Heights (63117) and parts of St. Louis associated with zip code 63110, which includes Forest Park and the Central West End, show lower rates of uninsured properties.
The DCI’s data collection only includes insurance carriers with over 500 annual policies, covering about 88% of the homeowner’s market in Missouri. This limitation means that the estimates may not capture the full scope of uninsured losses.
As the community begins to assess the damage and recovery needs, the DCI aims to provide valuable insights to help guide assistance and support efforts for those affected by this devastating tornado.