Storms Damage Simonton Windows Plant in Oklahoma

Damage from last weekend's storms at the Simonton Windows glass plant in McAlester, Okla., was confined to outside structures including a recycling scrap area, a dumpster, an empty trailer and a docking station.

The storm didn't hurt the plant itself, as the plant was fully operational Monday.

While the plant escaped harm, at least one Simonton employee's home was damaged in the storm.

"We're extremely grateful that no employees were injured and the damages to homes was not more severe," company spokeswoman Kathy Ziprik says.

According to Ziprik, this was the first time a tornado or severe weather affected the facility since Simonton opened it in August of 2002.

When it opened the plant, the company employed 200 local people, while today it now employs approximately 400 people. The facility is 202,500 square feet.

A variety of Simonton products, including impact-resistant Simonton StormBreaker Plus windows, are manufactured at the facility.

"We are still assessing damage to the exterior areas of the plant and have started the clean-up process," Ziprik explains. "Fortunately, the areas damaged do not stop us from manufacturing and shipping out product from this facility."

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