Alabama Tornado Damage Could Approach Record $2 Billion

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Damage from Alabama's deadly tornadoes could approach the state's record of $2 billion from Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Alabama's insurance commissioner said Wednesday.

Insurance commissioner Jim Ridling said early insurance industry estimates put the damage across the South at $2 billion to $5 billion. He said Alabama's numbers won't be available for a few days, but he expects the numbers to exceed the $1 billion in damage to insured property during Hurricane Katrina in 2004 and approach the $2 billion in damage to insured property during Ivan a year earlier.

"I've never seen anything this violent and this widespread," he said during a news conference with the governor and executives from five large insurance companies.

(CLICK HERE to see photos of the aftermath.)

Gov. Robert Bentley said state officials learned during Ivan and Katrina that about 70 to 75 percent of Alabama's homeowners are insured for their losses. For those who are not, help is available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said.

(CLICK HERE to see how you can help relief efforts.)

Bentley said insurance companies have placed more than 20 mobile claims centers in 12 towns and are working to keep their commitments to Alabama policyholders.

Alabama has 38 of its 67 counties declared as disaster areas.

Bentley encouraged residents who suffered losses to contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency so that Alabama can have an accurate count of the damage. But he noted that historically, Southerners are reluctant to apply for aid because they think others need it worse than them.

The governor said he has been pleased with the response with everyone from President Obama, who approved disaster assistance, to emergency response workers. But he said if there are any problems, the buck stops with him.

"The governor is responsible for this. I have to make sure everything runs smoothly," he said.

Comments

[BD2205]

02:01 PM on 05/09/2011

Can I send my State Farm Insurance bill to Southern Company or BP? It has increased by $100 a year for the past two years due to extreme weather conditions

[cornel]

05:26 PM on 05/06/2011

2 B is what we spend in 1 week in Afghanistan prepping up mountain goats ! Time to come home and help the people here for once.

[roudy]

06:11 PM on 05/08/2011

Agreed. Fanned

[Gordon Soderberg]

06:25 PM on 05/08/2011

I said the same think after Hurricane Katrina. But got scolded for it by a bunch of people from Alabama. I bet they feel differently now. BTW was the Alabama national guard in Afghanistan during this storm like the Louisiana National Guard was in Iraq? I hope not.

[marbiol]

03:26 PM on 05/15/2011

Alabama is a problem state for us--http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110514/us_nm/us_weather_tornadoes_alabama

We will NEVER again win in this state if we cant get in there to provide services before these people demonstrate their so-called "self-reliance". The Administration needs to help AL whether they want the help or not; we must convince them they NEED federal help [and screw the governor!]. If we can make the election a bit closer there in 2012 it would be great!!

[eurotom]

01:56 PM on 05/06/2011

Can't the Koch brothers give that 2 billion to help Alabama? I mean the government there is their base and face it, it's only 5% of their combined wealth.

[Caroleeena]

04:42 PM on 05/08/2011

The Koch brothers are not from Alabama and have nothing to do with Alabama. To hold Alabama or the south in general responsible for the Koch brothers is ridiculous.

[JackWhistle]

11:23 AM on 05/05/2011

Considering that all those "Pray for them to die!" people pop up in the south, it's kinda hard to not find it deliciously ironic when god goes and gives them the finger. To all those complaining about bigotry and how unprogressive such sentiment is, understand, this is human nature. Your region is the bulwark/bedrock/keystone of all the worst elements of our nation. Innocence is everywhere, which is why we donate to the Red-Cross (or at least you better) but know, its been decades since your area began its assault on all things the G.I. generation built. There is a large amount of animosity. I am not pretentious enough to believe I have a prescription for this, just enough to preach to you :P
Beyond that, there is already so much misery, I use to be crushed by it, now I just laugh about it. You can't be very productive the other way.

[simpleperson]

01:18 PM on 05/05/2011

"Your region is the bulwark/be­drock/keys­tone of all the worst elements of our nation."

So you have never been to Detroit.

[dimplasm]

08:43 PM on 05/05/2011

So you have nothing proactive or relevant to add to the conversation.

[Beelzabubba]

08:50 AM on 05/05/2011

Dear Pakistan,

You know that $7,500,000,000 check y'all were expecting in the mail? In light of recent events, the taxpayers of America think the good folks in Alabama need it more.

Good Luck,

Uncle Sam

[JackWhistle]

11:24 AM on 05/05/2011

Awesome

[BannedNBoston]

03:52 PM on 05/05/2011

Check this out;

http://www.osixs.org/Rev2_menu_r2vtp.aspx

REVOLUTION 2.0 vs. TEA PARTY

Progressives have been relatively silent while the so called conservative Tea Party has organized and made their voices heard. It is our turn to organize and then mobilize for affect to bring about real fundamental changes. The time for talk and carrying around silly signs is over.

Revolution 2.0 is the progressive answer to the Tea Party movement and a government that is out of control. But it is much more than that. Eventually, the American people will realize that our government in its present form is not capable of meeting their needs. Revolution 2.0 is the vision to pick up the pieces before or after the collapse. The tea parties can do neither.

Tea Party conservatives are fed up with government but they don’t know what to do about it. That's because conservatism has never been about real change. Conservatism has always been about fear. Fear of what is unavoidable, the future. For the most part, conservatism is about holding on to dreams of the past and power. So when they find themselves in a time where real change is critical, they are lost.

Where there is no vision the people perish.
- Proverb 29:18

Progressives are fed up with government also, but we have the neXus. We have the technology, ideas and the vision to move beyond our old decrepit government when the time comes.

[Shifu]

08:45 AM on 05/05/2011

I think Alabama should return any and all federal aid. You know "keep the government out of our business"

[Danko]

10:10 AM on 05/05/2011

Very original post. Did you come up with that all by yourself?

[dimplasm]

08:44 PM on 05/05/2011

Him and about 500 others.

[captain hooker]

10:32 AM on 05/05/2011

Haven't seen the government do anything around here. So far it's the people of this great state who've stepped up to help each other.

[ewb2001]

11:08 PM on 05/04/2011

How many double-wides can 2 billion buy?

[leftinbama]

11:28 PM on 05/04/2011

Hey, dip-wad. Do you realize that billions of defense dollars are spent (Boeing, Dynetics, Teledyne Brown and many others) and Shuttle missions are supported in Alabama, or that we have a huge Arsenal (look up Redstone Arseanl) that makes us a big-target for terrorists? We don't all live in Mobile Homes. We have running water, are educated, and not so ignorant at some I could name...

[Danko]

07:27 AM on 05/06/2011

Hey, look a little closer. I did not reply to your comment. I relied to ewb2001 because i saw he was from New Orleans. In another thread he was crying about Katrina victims but he comes here to bash on the people of Alabama.

[Danko]

12:03 AM on 05/05/2011

Your city smells like urine and vomit.

[amphibious1]

09:58 PM on 05/04/2011

I work for the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles. I am being deployed there tomorrow to help reunite separated families. I hope you keep these people in your prayers and remember that no matter what side of the aisle we prefer, we are all Americans.

[eurotom]

01:59 PM on 05/06/2011

I gave money to the American Red Cross specifically earmarked for helping victims in Japan. I can't support the South. But then again, by making a contribution, another donation that is not earmarked can probably be routed to storm devastation in the south.

[Caroleeena]

04:54 PM on 05/08/2011

Do tell. What state are you form? I'm sure you have someone from there who once said something stupid that I can hold you responsible for?

[orygunrain]

09:43 PM on 05/04/2011

37 comments...... That's sad.

[BlueBuffalo]

09:45 PM on 05/04/2011

It's not L vs R.

[orygunrain]

06:47 AM on 05/05/2011

Didn't say it was .

[Zilo]

10:56 PM on 05/04/2011

What's there to say??

[ILoveFiction]

09:24 PM on 05/04/2011

It's only money. The loss of life and trauma of the survivors is the sad part.

[abbeyroad]

09:14 PM on 05/04/2011

Ending the Bush tax cuts will provide the U.S. with plenty of Federal money to help the victims.

[dimplasm]

08:47 PM on 05/04/2011

Okay, this is from Missouri and has nothing to do with tornadoes, but it is about extreme weather. It's a short vid of two guardsmen rescuing a 93 year old woman from her car stranded in flood water.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/raw-video-guardsmen-rescue-93-year-old-from-car-25119113

[mrk65]

08:20 PM on 05/04/2011

Well, like the Republi-thugs demand, you need to pull yourself up by your boot straps. Oh, you don't have boots anymore? Don't ask the Republi-Cons for any help.

Maybe they're right.

And, I would NOT go asking for help from the Feds, that would be waaay too embarrassing for "you all"

[BlueBuffalo]

08:27 PM on 05/04/2011

Let's understand one thing here. I am as liberal as they come. Anybody who has been here for any length of time knows that from my comments. I live in Alabama. If I had experienced damage from the tornadoes, why should I be denied help from the federal government?

[mrk65]

08:32 PM on 05/04/2011

Maybe you're the exception, "hot-shot."

[dtallwalk]

08:36 PM on 05/04/2011

You should not be denied help from the fed it is just matter who has the white house
A ( D) or a ( R)……. a (D) will help..... a (R)…will well remember Katrina
Not much help there

[dimplasm]

08:31 PM on 05/04/2011

I'm from the South and also Progressive. I don't get the animosity towards fellow American citizens? What gives?

[M4dwoman]

08:40 PM on 05/04/2011

It's as if people think that the anti-big-government crowd only exists in the south. Seems to me that a lot of the damage being done to this country is coming from the north and the west too.
Just saying...

[BlueBuffalo]

08:53 PM on 05/04/2011

I'm not originally from the South. I have lived in Alabama for the last 29 years, come this September. I'm not fond of being lumped in with the Rs here.

[Dosadi]

07:50 PM on 05/04/2011

I can't help but wonder why the trolls are not up in arms trying to prevent Alabama from accepting any outside help.

That is the message isn't it?  "By your own bootstraps."

So where is the indignation?  Where are the pundits who tell the rest of us that line on a regular basis?

Well it seems they are not very good at taking their own advice.

president Obama said we will come together as a nation to insure our fellow citizens are helped.

That is the only true American spirit that has ever existed.  We are all in this together.  we all suffer when just one of us suffers. And the notion that self reliance is the answer is pure folly.  Nothing but a propaganda lie.

This is America, United we stand, divided we fall.

And it is high time the GOP stopped trying to divide us.

[GonzoFactor]

07:56 PM on 05/04/2011

United we stand, divided we're owned.

[Dosadi]

08:02 PM on 05/04/2011

Oh, you are soooooooooo fanned and faved.

Good one, and acxcurate too.

[BlueBuffalo]

08:15 PM on 05/04/2011

Here in super red Alabama a majority of the voters constantly rant about smaller government. They are the first in line to get federal funds when a disaster happens.

[dimplasm]

08:39 PM on 05/04/2011

A majority of voters or the ones everyone hears from? I have a suspicion that Alabama is like most states everywhere in that we hear a lot from a few people. The majority of people don't vote--anywhere. I suspect there is a very large reserve of quiet, non voters who disagree with Republican policies. I also suspect many don't understand the larger issues and since no one addresses the issues that matter to them, they don't get the point of participation.

[ramal]

11:29 PM on 05/04/2011

A friend of mine who lives in Alabama tells me that the constant joke there is about those in their twenties and thirties who are "retired." In other words, Social Security Disability for one cause or another. Another friend who lives in South Carolian tells me that people there refer to it as their "crazy cheque." Again, SSD for one misplaced reason or another.

[M4dwoman]

07:28 PM on 05/04/2011

I just received some amateur photos of one of the big tornadoes - surely an EF4 or EF5. What a monster.
My heart goes out to these people, no matter what their political or social beliefs. I'm sure there is someone in Alabama who deserves my tax dollars if they ask.

[BlueBuffalo]

08:17 PM on 05/04/2011

The tornado that ended up in the Huntsville area was an EF-5. The one that struck Tuscaloosa and Birmingham was an EF-4. Several others were EF-4s.

[M4dwoman]

08:34 PM on 05/04/2011

Not sure where these were from (probably a university knowing the source), and I'm glad they're ok.
But my first thought was wtf were they doing outside taking pictures?! Those weren't just tornadoes - those were the finger of god.

[dimplasm]

08:48 PM on 05/04/2011

I was stationed at Redstone Arsenal many years ago. An EF5 is a mon ster.