Damages to homes, businesses at $1.56 billion, mayor says

With 99 percent of all damaged private property assessed, repairs from last week’s flooding are expected to total at least $1.56 billion, Mayor Karl Dean said Monday.

The dollar-figure, which has risen as the surveying process has unfolded, came after evaluations from Metro’s codes, planning and other departments. It doesn’t include the cost to repair public infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks and bridges.

According to Dean, Metro Public Works has conducted an initial assessment, and “the news is very good.” Still, he doesn’t know when Metro officials will have a final cost projection for damages to public infrastructure, but said the process is “almost done.”

“There’s been very little sidewalk damage overall and no significant structural damage to approximately 40 Metro bridges checked so far,” Dean said. “There are two bridges — Tucker Road and Morrow Road — that suffered extensive damage and are still closed.”

Dean said flooding left many of Nashville’s streets with “pavement and roadway-shoulder problems.” He said the majority of these have been addressed with temporary repairs.

Public Works Director Billy Lunch said his department should be done assessing all roads and bridges within the next five or six days. In addition, Metro officials are looking at damaged city buildings.

Metro schools assistant superintendent Fred Carr said the school district has valued its flood-related damages at $1.6 million, which includes the loss of 11 buses. He said the figure could increase as property assessments continue.

As for damaged private property, Metro Codes Director Terry Cobb said all flood victims hoping to repair damaged homes must still obtain a building permit. Fees to acquire building permits have been waived, and Cobb said the department has taken steps to expedite the process.

“If you’ve got flood damage, and you want to make a repair, you must first secure a building permit,” Cobb said.