As Ames residents and businesses clean up from Monday’s flood, they are reminded of the infamous floods of 1993 and the damage left behind. Now Ames is assessing Monday’s damage and trying to recover.

Public Works Director Paul Wiegand said fewer facilities and properties were damaged on Monday than were in the summer of 1993 because people were warned early.

There were several problem areas in Ames, Wiegand said including East Lincoln Way, South Duff Avenue, South 16th Street and Dayton Avenue.

South Duff received a great deal of attention after flood waters from both the Skunk River and the Squaw Creek invaded the businesses in the area.

Save U More Foods assistant manager Todd Narber said water touched the store at about 9 a.m., four hours after they started sandbagging. Their preparatory efforts saved the grocery store from extensive damage, like it did in 1993 Narber said.

“We had a few greenhouse products float down the river, but other than that, we were pretty damage-free,” Narber said.

Dan Carney of Jerry Carney and Sons, an auto parts dealer, said this year was “nothing like 1993.” Three years ago, everything was underwater, he said. “You could’ve gone water skiing down here,” said Carney.

Starting 10 p.m. on Sunday, Carney was making calls to the National Weather Service and the City of Ames to determine whether they had to move 1000 cars. “The first few hours, it was hard to get information someone wanted to stand behind. Once the city got a grip, things went well,” Carney said.

Things did go well. Instead of six feet of water, there was only eight or nine inches in low spots, Carney said. Water only entered some cars and did not reach the buildings. The creek bank was built up after the last flood and Carney said it saved them a lot of trouble this time. One business will be closed until next Friday because of the flood. Century Cinemas on South Duff had about eight inches of water in the auditorium. “The lobby got a couple inches,” said David Nolan, manager at the movie theater.

Nolan said they sealed the doors with caulk, plastic and duct tape and then sandbagged the doors. Also, the theater was saved by sump pumps in the auditoriums and lobby that were installed after 1993, when they were virtually destroyed, Nolan said.

“It wasn’t like last time. We weren’t destroyed,” he said. In 1993, speakers were floating and people had to swim to reach the screens. The theater was closed down about six to eight weeks at that time.

East Lincoln Way businesses suffered heavy damage because the water was about a foot higher than it was in 1993, said Wiegand.

Linda Van Voorhis of Van Voorhis Heating and Cooling, also said Monday’s flood waters were higher than in 1993. “We had 20-plus inches of water,” she said.

Van Voorhis said damage this time was also more extensive. Their walls, carpet and other supplies went through two 1993 floods, Van Voorhis said, so they have to be replaced for the third time.

“Before we had a wet-dry vac to suck up water from the carpet,” she said. Now, they have to replace carpet, file cabinets and walls. The replacement has contributed to the higher damages, she said, but “you can only flood them so many times.”

Van Voorhis said they were more prepared this time and the volunteers were helpful, but businesses and residents in the East Lincoln Way area are frustrated because “people forget about the Skunk River.”

Ames parks also suffered heavy damage, according to Nancy Carroll of the Ames Parks and Recreation Department. Carroll said the North River Valley park was heavily damaged and covered in silt. The park’s fences were also filled with debris and new infields must be built. All softball games are postponed until the park can be cleaned.

“I think [the flood] was a little more destructive this time at River Valley,” said Carroll.

Brookside Park was also heavily damaged and all baseball games set to be held there are also postponed.

“There is a lot of crud and debris everywhere, we need to sanitize the picnic benches and bathrooms,” said Carroll.

Stuart Smith Park, on the corner of South 4th Street and Elwood Drive, received minimal flood damage.

Iowa State’s Veenker Golf Course was reported to be heavily damaged but no officials could comment on the extent of the damage.