 
Iowa Glass Companies
Speak Out About Recent Flooding
August 16, 2010
Rivers and creeks in central and eastern
Iowa overflowed after storms dumped up
to six inches of rain last week. In Ames,
flooding contributed to a water main break
that forced the city to shut off water
to its roughly 55,000 residents and left
Iowa State University's basketball arena
under 4 to 5 feet of water. While the
flooding did serious damage to many homes
and businesses, it has increased work
for at least one area glass business.
According to Joni Freeman, office manager
of Reflections Glass and Mirror, the recent
flooding "has been good for business."
"A lot of basements had flooding
and the pressure led to broken windows,"
says Freeman.
Freeman says that while the flooding
has provided some sad benefits for her
company, it has been tragic for others
in the area.
"A business about mile up road was
submerged in about 10 inches of water.
It all depended on how the water fell,"
she says.
Freeman says the mandatory water restrictions
were the hardest part for her business,
but is thankful that a couple of her out-of-town
vendors brought her business some bottled
water.
Amy Theilen of Ames-based Orning Glass
Company also had a hard time with the
water restriction.
"The rains ruined our water supply.
We had to boil water for almost a week.
But they lifted [the restriction] yesterday."
And while her business was not affected
by the flooding, Theilen says, "My
house didn't fair so well."
Currently navigating through the insurance
claim process, Theilen laments, "It's
hard to get flood coverage when you don't
live in a typical flood area."
But all in all she remains optimistic.
"We'll get through it," says
Theilen.
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