$45 Million Insurance Claim On Escambia Jail Denied

April 28, 2015

Part of Escambia County’s insurance claim on the Central Booking and Detention Center at the Escambia County Jail has been denied.

The county’s insurance provider has agreed to pay a $25 million flood claim on jail, but denied a $45 million “all-peril” claim related to the late April 2014 flooding and natural gas explosion that destroyed Central Booking and Detention Center. Two people were killed at nearly 200 were injured in the explosion.

The county plans to appeal the insurance denial.

Escambia County is also looking to FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for assistance to pay for a new jail. The price tag for a new facility has been estimated at $120 to $180 million.

NorthEscambia.com file photos.

Comments

10 Responses to “$45 Million Insurance Claim On Escambia Jail Denied”

  1. Lorraine on April 30th, 2015 9:10 am

    I don’t see where our jail could have been valued @ 45 millon. I agree with several of the comments but the one that bothers me the most is the BCCC knew the condition of our jail yet they failed to make the decisions to correct the issues at that time. Thier decision on trying to invest our money other places cost us not only the jail but lives as well. Our BCCC have made one bad decision after another costing our county money that is needed in other areas. We as citizens do not get to say where our money or how out money is spent it is in the power of the commissioners. Maybe the beginning should be with how the board is ran and the money they are paid for the job they do/don’t do. I wonder how many of ppl in our area that are taxpayers can’t afford a t.v. or a gym membership or how many work everyday yet still worry about having electricity or food to eat. Sounds like when the new jail is built it will have more comforts then some taxpayers will be living with on the outside and some wonder why we have those who don’t care about going to jail. Smh, ppl in jail shouldn’t ever live better then the way they would have to live while on the streets. Looks like yet again because of wrong decisions by high paid commissioners our taxes will go up yet again.

  2. James Broel on April 29th, 2015 10:36 pm

    Haley I think Mark rightfully so is calling out the hypocrisy of the tea party beliefs which he’s spot on in my view too.

  3. haley on April 29th, 2015 7:47 am

    Hey Mark, why the bitterness? You don’t think republicans are entitled to social security/medicare since they have paid their taxes, worked all their lives to earn this?

  4. Mark on April 28th, 2015 9:19 pm

    This is a county jail for county inmates. It should be paid for by the citizens of Escambia and not the federal gov! All these tea partiers got no problem taking federal money when it is convenient to them-most take SS and Medicare too! Raise property taxes and pay for the jail yourself. Also since the flood caused the explosion it is covered under a flood policy- just like a homeowners policy. The jail should have been replaced years ago and because the BOCC failed to properly fund the jail it is going to cost the taxpayers millions more.

  5. paul on April 28th, 2015 5:46 pm

    The insurance companies are always lookin for an easy out but I can’t see where that jail was ever valued at 45 mil.. If it was up to me jail wouldn’t have Any comforts.. No T.V., weight rooms, basketball courts or what ever they have(I don’t know).. @Michelle.. I like my PBJ’s, that’s giving them a treat :)

  6. c.w. on April 28th, 2015 2:45 pm

    @Jane, You hit the nail on the head. Insurance companies are in business to collect money, not to pay it out.

  7. Michelle on April 28th, 2015 12:41 pm

    120-180 million dollars to rebuild the jail just sounds ridiculous ! The inmates don’t deserve anything nice and need to live in horrible conditions while their in jail. I think we make it to easy on them. I say no TV, no internet …let them sit there in their cell or have them work to pay their debt to society. Make the male inmates wear BRIGHT PINK and feed them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches EVERYDAY !! Teach them a lesson !!

  8. Bob C. on April 28th, 2015 6:48 am

    Hope the insurance appeal results in a complete settlement for the county & jail loss.

    Surely, the folks in the County will explore (should have been on it already) all Federal and State resources before having to turn to the taxpayers of the County.
    Of course, we Escambia County taxpayers are the ones from whom the Federal and State monies would come from.

    With Rick Scott saying he has a huge multi-millions of dollars Budget Excess why would part of that not be used to cover the complete cost of replacing the jail?

  9. Gman on April 28th, 2015 5:22 am

    And when its all said and done, the good ol tax payers will have to eat the cost.

  10. Jane on April 28th, 2015 4:10 am

    Insurance companies are not in business to pay out large amounts. I am not the least surprised.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News