The boil order for the city of Ames has been lifted.

After a total of 173 water samples all tested negative for bacteria, Clark Thompson, engineer for Facilities Planning and Management; Phil Propes, superintendent of the water treatment plant; and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources determined the boil order is no longer in effect.

John Dunn, director of the department of water and pollution control, said residents should open each faucet in their residences fully and let it run until it runs cold to make sure it is completely flushed out.

“Residents should run the dishwasher once with no dishes and throw the first two batches of ice away,” Dunn said.

Dunn also said residents should run the shower turned completely to hot until it runs cold, “just like your 14-year-old just used the shower.”

Dunn became choked up when he spoke of the efforts of his staff and the community to return Ames to a semi-normal state.

“I never once heard anybody say, ‘That’s not my job,'” Dunn said.  “I have a lot of respect and admiration for them.”

Mayor Ann Campbell said she still does not know the complete extent of the damage, though it has been “very extensive.”

This morning, President Barack Obama declared Story County a disaster area, meaning the county is now able to accept individual assistance.

“This has been an unprecedented disaster but there has also been unprecedented cooperation and teamwork,” Campbell said.

Campbell also said officials from around the nation have been calling in, offering assistance.

“My phone has been flooded — well, maybe that’s not a good term to say — ringing with offers of assistance bringing in their resources,” Campbell said.

Campbell said one day a woman from a local mobile home called in, saying she had always watched national disasters on television but now has much more sympathy for the situation.

Disaster recovery:

• Call your hauler to take away damaged household items.
• Return sandbags to the sandbag stations at South Duff Avenue and Southeast Third Street or the S. Dayton Avenue and Southeast 16th Street.
• Water distribution sites will close today at 5 p.m.
• Throw plastic bottles in the regular trash; it will be delivered to the resource recovery system where all bottles will be recycled and turned into electricity.