Sandy Repairs Cost Watchung Hills More Than $450K

The costs of emergency repairs and work at Watchung Hills Regional after Hurricane Sandy ripped off a gym roof and caused other damage paid now stand at $454,366, according to Business Aministrator Tim Stys.

The total includes about $54,000 in overtime for school employees who stayed at the building for several days during and after the storm, as well as the following contracted work performed:

• Repairs to Gym 7/8 roof and window, damage to a wall in Room 105, debris removal and sidewalk repairs, done by Goldcon, Inc.: $52,730.80
• A temporary roof and permanent replacement for the gym roof, done by Strober-Wright Roofing: $208,500
• Repairs to the school's fire alarm and heat detection sytem, done by Fast Fire and Security: $43,249
• Replacing heating and A/C controllers damaged in the storm, done by Liberty Controls: $29,500
• Repairs to the rooftop heating units for gym 7/8, done by Nesbit: $18,285
• Garbage bins needed to remove debris from the destroyed roof, provided by Vantage Waste and Recycling: $8,201.82
• Repairs to seven rooftop HVAC units, done by McQuay Air Conditioning: $39,900

Stys said all items have been submitted to the school's insurance company for reimbursement, and added the first insurance payment—for $230,000—was received Monday.

"That's just one of many to come, I hope," Stys said.

He said he has been in frequent contact with the insurance, sending notice of any additional claims coming. 

The school's insurance has a $1,000 deductible. Stys said all expenses related to the storm damage—including work that will need to be done to repair the gym floor—will likely be covered by insurance, with the exception of the overtime paid to buildings and grounds personnel, which should be covered by FEMA.

Stys had earlier estimated .