“My siding looks like a machine gun hit it,” said Greg Benge.

Benge works at Russ Mikels’ GM dealership on the north side of Bloomfield. The worst damage was concentrated on the south end of town, up to the town square. Hail on the north side was smaller, but it still hit Mikels hard.

Every car on the lot had scores of dents ranging from small dings to craters that looked like someone took a ball-peen hammer to the car. A few stones fell just right and shattered rear view mirrors.

Mikels worked the phones Monday morning. He had not gotten an insurance adjuster out to the dealership, but that was coming. Once the adjuster arrives the next step becomes possible.

“We will have a hail sale later,” he said.

Mikels’ comment was one of several that showed people had a dark sense of humor about the damage. More than one person remarked that Mother Nature had provided a stimulus package for area contractors.

There will be plenty of work for a while.

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com

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On the Internet

For more photos of storm damage, go to www.ottumwa.com.

More photos of storm damage also on Page B6.