Claims for damages from Hurricane Ernesto, which hit the island as a category one storm, have not been as bad as first feared, according to insurance companies.

Ernesto brought hurricane or tropical storm force winds for 36 hours as it slowly passed the island, knocking out power and closing the airport and Causeway.

However, insurance companies told The Royal Gazette that while they are seeing claims, they are not as much as initially feared — with some people managing losses that are close to their policy deductibles.

Angus Crumley, assistant vice-president of claims at Argus, said: “We have received claims primarily related to structural damage, roof issues, and water intrusion driven by Ernesto’s intense winds and heavy rainfall.”

However, he noted that claim volumes often rose in the days following such events as property owners continued their inspections and discovered additional issues.

“In particular, we anticipate more claims related to water damage which can sometimes take longer to manifest, especially in basements and other low-lying areas,” he said.

Angela Ambrosini, head of operations at Freisenbruch Insurance Services, credited Bermuda’s architecture with warding off more damage.

She said they were seeing a mixture of claims, with some related to seawater encroachment.

“Ernesto was a powerful and prolonged hurricane when it made landfall in Bermuda, and the front side of the hurricane had wind gusts up to 100mph with very heavy seas and rain,” Ms Ambrosini said.

“However, Bermuda construction is built to withstand these types of events. Thus overall, there has not been as much property, or boat damage, as we initially modelled.”

She said the storm was early in the Bermuda hurricane season and hopefully would be the only one impacting the island this year.

“However we do have a least another two months of the hurricane season,” she said.

“We always want to ensure that during these critical times we are always there for our community when it matters most,” added Ms Ambrosini. “Even days after Ernesto, we had a dedicated team handling all related claims.”

Larenzo Ratteray, group head of consumer solutions at BF&M, said: “As the hurricane approached the island, BF&M was pleased to see customers engaging with us as they ensured their premium payments were up-to-date, reviewed their coverage details, and confirmed insurable locations for their vessels.

“BF&M’s post-Ernesto claims experience has been positive so far, and early indicators suggest that claim volumes will remain low.”

Mr Ratteray added: “After prolonged periods of sustained winds and heavy rainfall, the damage reported includes a mix of water ingress, ceiling issues and minor property damage.

“To a lesser extent, we have also seen vessels and vehicle damage. In many cases, customers are managing losses that are close to their policy deductibles.

“As loss assessments and adjudication continue, our team of underwriters and claims employees are readily available to assist customers with any concerns regarding potential claims.

“Bermuda’s construction methodology remains a testament to our resilience.”

• This story has been updated to correct the name of Freisenbruch Insurance Services, which we incorrectly referred to as Freisenbruch-Meyer Insurance Services