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'Polar Vortex' Could Cost Ohio Big

By Tony Ganzer
Published February 27, 2014 at 8:30 PM EST
Windows iced over during the 'Polar Vortex' in January. Damage from the freeze is estimated in the tens of millions.
Windows iced over during the 'Polar Vortex' in January. Damage from the freeze is estimated in the tens of millions.

This Winter is poised to be one of the most brutal of the last 30 years according to insurance companies. A survey of 26 auto and home insurers in Ohio showed they expect huge claims just related to the Polar Vortex, from January 5 - 8 this year. Ideastream's Tony Ganzer learned more from Mitch Wilson, a spokesman for the Ohio Insurance Institute (OII), a trade group.

Polar Vortex figures, from the OII:

• Claim estimates to date: 14,748
• Homeowners: 12,959 • Auto: 305 • Business: 1,484

• Loss estimates to date: $97,815,039
• Homeowners: $76,146,856 • Auto: $487,131 • Business: $21,181,052
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Tony Ganzer
Tony Ganzer has reported from Phoenix to Cairo, and was the host of 90.3's "All Things Considered." He was previously a correspondent with the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, covering issues like Swiss banks, Parliament, and refugees. He earned an M.A. in International Relations (University of Leicester); and a B.Sc. in Journalism (University of Idaho.) He speaks German, and a bit of French.
See stories by Tony Ganzer