$144M estimated damage to Jacksonville via Irma

Preliminary estimates regarding the financial impact of Hurricane Irma to Jacksonville are in, and the city will take a budget hit.

“I saw a report a couple of days ago sent out by the EOC to our directors,” said Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa to the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee Tuesday morning.

The rough estimate, per Mousa: $144 M — a number that covers public, private, and individual assistance.

$30M was Mousa’s estimate for the hit from individual assistance.

If there is a positive side, costs for Hurricane Matthew last year have been adjusted downward, per Mousa: “refined to $47M and $20M is debris.”

$30M debris costs from Hurricane Irma, said Mousa, is “a reasonable assumption.”

“There’s a heck of a lot of more debris out there than from Hurricane Matthew,” Mousa cautioned

While there is “still assessing going on,” Mousa said, “we’re getting close” to knowing the full fiscal impact.

Jacksonville is still waiting for $26 million in federal reimbursements from Hurricane Matthew.