Hail storm takes a toll of $175 million in Louisville; thousands of new Ford Escapes damaged
Nearly a month after the worst hail storm to hit Jefferson County in several years bashed cars and homes with hail as large as baseballs, the resulting cost is climbing past $175 million.
Ford Motor Co. was hit particularly hard, with about 3,500 new 2013 Escapes damaged as they awaited shipment to dealers. The new line is expected to be one of Ford’s strongest products, and the company has retooled its plant on Fern Valley Road to ramp up production.
Thousands more Escapes are parked around town as Ford officials prepare for a scheduled launch to dealers around mid-June, said United Auto Workers Local 862 building chairman Steven M. Stone, adding that damaged vehicles “will not be sold to the public.”