The estimated damage at the dealership is valued between $28 and $30 million.
Hurricane Helene destroyed 672 vehicles at Ken Ganley Kia in New Port Richey, Florida, with damages estimated between $28 million and $30 million. The vehicles included 660 new and used cars, along with 12 customer cars in for service. The dealership lost power on September 27, and parts of the lot were submerged under four feet of water. According to owner Ken Ganley, only vehicles driven off-site by staff during the Category 4 storm were spared. Of the destroyed vehicles, 500 were new Kia models, and 160 were used cars. Ganley, part of the 14th largest dealership group in the U.S., expects to pay around $3.5 million in insurance deductibles.
While most vehicles were damaged by flooding, some caught fire, and others had deployed airbags. Despite the losses, Kia responded quickly, sending 15 new cars the next day, with 300 to 400 more on the way. The dealership will also receive 100 used cars from Ganley’s Ohio stores to replenish stock.
“At around 6 a.m., I checked my phone and thought, ‘Oh, God, something’s wrong,’” Ganley said. “Some cars caught fire, airbags deployed in others, and vehicles were floating around the property. Being in Ohio, I could only watch on my screen. It’s hard to process, but we’ll ensure all our employees are paid and do our best to get through this.”
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has exceeded 130 across six Southeastern states.
