Cape Girardeau Co. buys terrorism insurance

If terrorists attack any building owned by Cape Girardeau County, taxpayers won't be stuck with the cost of rebuilding.

County commissioners Thursday voted unanimously to pay $2,119 to include the possibility of a terrorist attack in the county's building insurance policies for 2007. Overall, the county will pay $98,196 for coverage to protect taxpayers' $21 million investment in buildings from damages caused by earthquakes, tornadoes, fire and other threats.

In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the federal government requires insurance companies to offer the terrorism insurance, said Doug Mueller, an agent for the W.E. Walker-Lakenan LLC brokerage. Commissioners turned down the coverage when they purchased the policy last year, but in discussions Thursday decided that the protection was worth the price.

Mueller cautioned commissioners that to be eligible for reimbursement, a loss under the terrorism policy would have to be certified as a true terrorist act by the federal government. For example, a bomb planted by a disgruntled employee or a disappointed office-seeker would probably be excluded, he said.

"You could blame it on the insurance company for being one of those nasty exclusions," he said.

While the likelihood of a terrorist attack against the county is small, the cost is also small, Commissioner Jay Purcell said, adding that the premium was "not a lot of money for what we are getting in return."

The discussion prior to approving the policy included questions about which scenarios would be covered. "Let's say we don't have terrorism coverage and somebody drives into the side of the courthouse because they are mad at me," Commissioner Larry Bock said. "Would that be covered?"

The first claim for the damage would be against the driver's automobile insurance, Mueller replied and the rest would have to be recovered from the driver. And it would be unlikely that the county would be covered in the event of a bomb planted at the courthouse in response to a controversial court case -- a scenario posed by Purcell -- unless the federal government certified the act as a terrorist act, Mueller said.

For advice, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones turned to County Clerk Rodney Miller. "Do you think it would be a good investment?"

Miller replied that the chances of an attack are remote, but added: "For the present cost, it is a good investment."

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126