Mo. Commissioners Elect to Purchase Terrorism Coverage

Cape Girardeau County, Mo. government buildings have been insured against a terrorist attack, ensuring that taxpayers won’t be stuck with the cost of rebuilding.

In approving purchase of the policy late last week, commissioners acknowledged that the likelihood of a terrorist attack against the southeast Missouri county is small. But they decided the protection was worth the $2,000 price 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 damage caused by earthquakes, tornadoes, fire and other threats.

Ever since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the federal government has required 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 reconsidered this year.

Mueller said a loss under the terrorism policy would have to be certified by the federal government as a true terrorist act. A bomb planted by a disgruntled employee or a disappointed office-seeker would probably be excluded, he said.