The devastating winter storms that blanketed Texas last month could end up being the largest claims event in the state’s history, according to the Insurance Council of Texas (ICT).

The council did not provide any loss estimates but says the disaster resulted in possibly hundreds of thousands of property insurance claims from broken pipes and the resulting damage, leaking roofs, fallen trees and vehicle accidents on icy roads.

ICT says it is gathering information to assess the extent of insured losses and claims costs.

Catastrophe modeller Karen Clark & Company has estimated insured losses of approximately $US18 billion ($23.2 billion) from the disaster, including for damage in other surrounding states, a spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

The spokesman says the loss includes home, motor, commercial, industrial, and business interruption. In dollar terms, the majority of losses will be commercial, covering 20 states with more than half of the total in Texas.

Ratings agency AM Best predicts the damage in Texas and other states could leave insurers with record property catastrophe losses in the first quarter.

“AM Best believes the heaviest volume of claims will be in the homeowners, commercial property and auto insurance lines of business,” the agency said.

“Industry observers believe the ultimate damage and volume of claims stemming from insured losses will be substantial, as will the stress brought to bear on the state’s infrastructure, number of available contractors and associated resources could be substantial.”