Cat modelers: Ivan's losses estimated up to $10 billion.

Initial estimated insured losses from Hurricane Ivan range from about $2 billion to about $10 billion, according to catastrophe modelers. The estimated range of insured losses takes into account Category 3 Ivan's landfall between Mobile, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla., on Sept. 16, with a maximum sustained wind at landfall of 130 mph.

Catastrophe modeler Risk Management Solutions, based in Newark, Calif., estimates insured losses from Ivan in the United States are likely to range from $2 billion to $7 billion. Additional insured losses of $1 billion are expected from damage in the Caribbean over the past week, with the majority occurring in the Cayman Islands, RMS said Sept. 16. And catastrophe modeler AIR Worldwide of Boston estimates insured losses in the United States from Ivan will be between $3 billion and $6 billion. Losses in the Caribbean likely will add another $1 billion to $2.5 billion to the total, AIR said. Eqecat Inc. estimated the losses at $4 billion to $10 billion.

The triple-whammy hits of Hurricanes Ivan, Frances and Charley combined probably produced about $13 billion to $15 billion in losses, which rivals the losses of the costliest hurricane ever--1992's Hurricane Andrew--at least before it's adjusted for inflation, said Robert Hartwig, chief economist of the Insurance Information Institute.

A lot of the Frances-related damage in Florida was caused by storm surge, which is covered under the federal flood insurance program, said Sam Miller, a spokeman for the Florida Insurance Council, but is not covered under homeowners insurance. And, the houses that were damaged by wind in the coastal areas of the western Florida Panhandle will be covered under Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state's insurer of last resort.