COLUMBUS, Ohio – January’s “polar vortex” is shaping up to be one of the costliest natural disasters in Ohio history, according to data compiled by an insurance industry group.
Temperatures hit new lows in several cities including Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton, between January 5 and 8, while wind chills registered as low as -49 on Jan., resulting in nearly $99 million in losses, according to the Ohio Insurance Institute.
Most of the damage resulted from weather-related mishaps like frozen pipes, ice buildup and high winds.
The institute says that probably makes the event Ohio’s second costliest winter storm, measured in insured losses, since 1993. Exact losses from the “Blizzard of ‘78” are not available, the institute said.
Preliminary insured losses are estimated between $97.8 and $124.4 million, according to a survey of the OII’s member companies, which represent approximately three-fourths of the private home and auto insurance markets and about a third of the commercial market.
Losses from the polar vortex, which affected 17 states, are estimated at over $1.5 billion with Ohio, Georgia and New Jersey reporting the highest estimated payouts.