Declarations

Life-Changing Tornado

“I had more insurance than I thought I did.”

—Bill Lant, owner of Lant’s Country Feed Store in Seneca, Mo., says an EF-4 tornado that swept through Newton County, Mo., on May 10, 2008, changed his life. The twister destroyed many businesses, including his store, Lant’s Country Feed Store, and his wife Jane’s business, Lant’s Bridal. Lant said he had one thing going for him when the tornado hit last year: plenty of insurance. “Know your agent and know your policy,” Lant said, adding that now he does an even better job of keeping his insurance agent informed of changes. AP

Bigger Than Before

“It will be bigger and better than what we had lost.”

—Frank Quigley, vice president and general manager for Empress Casino, says it’s possible the Joliet Empress Casino in Illinois, which was damaged by fire on March 20, will re-open by the end of June. The casino’s Egyptian-themed pavilion was undergoing a $50 million renovation when a fire sparked by a construction worker spread quickly, resulting in $340 million in damages. Based on 2008 figures, the casino could be losing more than a half million dollars daily. Penn National Gaming Inc., owner of the Empress, agreed to extend full pay and benefits to all 850 employees for 90 days. AP

A Much-Needed Opportunity

“This process has afforded us a much-needed opportunity to closely examine the services we provide to injured workers, and the insurance products we offer to 270,000 Ohio employers.”

—Administrator Marsha Ryan with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), announced the released of a year-long comprehensive study of Ohio’s workers’ compensation system conducted by Deloitte Consulting LLP. Ryan said the study, mandated by the 127th Ohio General Assembly, “will serve as a guide for fundamental long term improvements to Ohio’s workers’ compensation system.” The study, called for in HB 100, is available online at ohiobwc.com/deloitte.

Waiting and Watching

“We’ve been waiting, watching, waiting. It’s taking its toll, no doubt about it.”

—Gene Wicklund, a resident of Horace, N.D., near Fargo, speaks of the torture of waiting for the crest of one of the tributaries to the Red River, which flooded parts of North Dakota in late March. Wicklund lives near the Sheyenne River, which feeds into the larger Red. The Red River crested at Fargo and neighboring Moorhead, Minn., just short of 41 feet, after an intense sandbagging effort that raised levees and helped the two cities largely escape major damage. The river’s second crest was projected to reach 38 feet to 40 feet in mid-April. AP

Topics Workers' Compensation Ohio