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Thursday, October 09, 2008
HAMILTON — Local governments and national insurance companies are still adding up the damage wrought by the remnants of Hurricane Ike, but it's already one of the costliest natural disasters in state history.
The storm hit Sept. 14, knocking down trees and power lines across the county and state. Butler County governments met with state and federal representatives Wednesday, Oct. 8, and estimated cleanup costs at $4.8 million.
This is the amount local governments are requesting from the state and Federal Emergency Management Agency, and doesn't include costs covered by insurance.
Debris cleanup was the most expensive component, totaling $2.17 million countywide. Hamilton asked for the biggest total reimbursement of $1.35 million.
Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director William Turner said FEMA will likely cover most of this cost, with the state and local governments carrying a portion.
Earlier this week, the Ohio Insurance Institute said the storm will cost insurance companies $553.1 million statewide, making it the state's most expensive natural disaster in three decades.
Insurers said the hardest-hit area was southern Ohio.
The Ohio Insurance Institute surveyed two dozen insurers that handled a record of nearly 132,000 claims from Ohio home, vehicle and business owners because of the storm. The survey represents about two-thirds of the Ohio auto and home insurance market, and one-third of the commercial market.
About 2.6 million Ohio utility customers lost power after remnants of Ike swept through the state. At least seven of the 72 deaths blamed on Hurricane Ike were in Ohio.
The dollar figures don't include policyholders' deductibles and uninsured property losses. The damage estimate also is likely to rise as more companies report insurance claims.
FEMA/State damage assessment
Butler County Care Facility $2,000
Butler County Engineer's Office 48,000
Butler County Sheriff's Office 38,583
Butler County Water & Sewer Dept. 309,096
Butler Rural Electric 282,361
City of Fairfield 936,000
City of Hamilton 1,352,000
City of Middletown 286,000
City of Monroe 165,050
City of Oxford 234,534
City of Trenton 71,500
Fairfield City Schools 26,100
Hamilton City Schools 230,800
Hanover Township 24,798
Miami University 439,000
Monroe Local Schools 8,000
New Miami Local Schools 10,000
Ross Local School District 9,000
Ross Township 70,500
St. Clair Township 54,500
Village of New Miami 35,000
Village of Somerville 10,050
West Chester Township 151,000
TOTAL $4,793,872
Source: Butler County Emergency Management Agency
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Comments
By Hax
October 9, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
Seems my Allstate insurance adjuster didn’t want me to fully repair my damages. I faxed $4500 in estimates from contractors and my Insurance adjuster graciously gave me only $3200 to repair my damages. I wonder how many other people in the community got short changed by their Home Owners Insurance.How would Allstate react if I didn’t send in a full payment on my policy? In this day and age of Corporate corruption, I also wonder if the Insurance company is lining their pockets on my claim money?
By Robert
October 9, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
Ok, rather than assume I called and ask. Hamilton’s estimate of cost is higher because unlike other jurisdictions they have a city owned electric utility. Cost for the utilites damaged in Hamilton were $1,037,000.00 of their total cost.
By Milford Mon
October 9, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
The sheriff claims $38,500 in cost related to the storm, that’s one expensive load of ice he delivered to his friends and neighbors in Libery Township.
By Phil
October 9, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
My thanks to all those who worked hard, for long hours, to restore our power & remove the debris!
By Sandi
October 9, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
Hamilton may have gotten the most damage as most of the area is older, high density housing, surrounded by old trees. The older trees were more likely to have had some dead, or weak spots that were vulnerable to the stresses of the high winds. Many of the trees that we saw down had significant, preexisting termite damage.
I would also suspect that the personal claims in Hamilton will be higher, as many areas of Hamilton have no off street parking options.
By Jim
October 9, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
Do you think the damage number in Hamilton is highest because the city owns all of the utilities? I would be willing to bet that Duke’s bills are higher. People shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
By shawn
October 9, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
I THINK ITS STRANGE THAT HAMILTON HAS THE MOST COST DAMAGE(DUE TO IKE) THAN ANY OTHER CITY AROUND HERE I SMELL BACON