Iowa Flood Damage Toll Hits $231 Million

The University of Iowa now estimates flood damage will cost the school $231.75 million, significantly more than the preliminary number of $75 million, the Daily Iowan reports. "To say the least, it takes your breath away," said regent Robert Downer. "I guess I had assumed, without a particular justification for it, that when the $75 million number came out, that it probably represented more than half of the damage instead of less than one third.... I wasn't prepared for a number this large."

The estimate, which was submitted to FEMA last week, includes $136 million in building damages, $56 million in damage to the buildings' contents (such as lab technology and musical instruments), and $20 million in debris-removal costs, the Chronicle of Higher Education reports. University officials expect the actual cost to rise even more because the recent estimate does not include damage to water-logged utility tunnels—some of which have not been inspected at all—and expenses associated with the week the school was closed.

With the fall semester just two months away, 18 of the 20 flooded buildings remain closed; Iowa is also rushing to clean up Mayflower Hall, the largest dorm on campus, for the beginning of move-in on August 23.