Mason says UI flood damage could top $1 billion

Flood damage and rebuilding costs at the University of Iowa could end up totaling $1 billion, UI President Sally Mason said today.

Mason, speaking to the Legislature's education appropriations subcommittee at the State Capitol, said the UI is still in the midst of a long recovery from the 2008 flood, but officials expect the total price tag will be higher than the current official projection of $743 million.

“I think when it's all over the total number will likely be closer to a billion dollars,” Mason told the legislators.

Mason, the presidents of Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, the heads of Iowa's two special schools and state Board of Regents President David Miles met with the education appropriations subcommittee in Des Moines to discuss funding requests for next year, budgets and efficiency at the regents institutions.

The UI still has at least five years of flood recovery and rebuilding, Mason said after the meeting. The expected increase in the damage and recovery total stems partly from the UI potentially paying for a new Museum of Art, which was not included in the $743 estimate, Mason said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency ruled the museum was not damaged enough for FEMA to pay for its replacement. But because the UI can't insure art in that building on the river, UI officials are appealing FEMA's decision, and Mason said the UI's share of costs to replace the museum are a big unknown.

Costs also could be higher for some other replacement buildings, depending on how much advanced technology and design they incorporate, and how much of those costs FEMA would cover, Mason said.

The flood damaged more than 20 UI facilities and the university is replacing several of them with new buildings, including Hancher Auditorium, the School of Music and the Art Building.

“We don't know exactly how much these new buildings will cost,” Mason said. “I don't know that we'll get to $1 billion, but it's not realistic to think we'll stay at $743 million.”

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused about $1 billion in damage to eight college and universities campuses in or near New Orleans, by comparison, Mason said. The UI might claim that much damage alone from the 2008 flood.

“It's an interesting comparison, and one I think a lot of people don't appreciate,” she said.