(by Peter Van Bruggen)

The total from hurricane damage in the quarter accounted for $21.3 billion for the U.S. property and casualty insurance companies, the newest data shows.

The third quarter was the costliest for the U.S. insurers on losses from four hurricanes and three typhoons.

Florida, which suffered four hurricane losses over two-month time this quarter, sees around 1.7 million claims, or $17.5 billion in insured losses. Two other states that suffered from hurricanes are Georgia and Alabama with $630 million and $1.2 billion in insured losses respectively.

2003 third-quarter insured losses accounted for $3.7 billion and 2002 showed no worse results of only $715 million.