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Widespread flooding in America's heartland has knocked out thousands of businesses, including their ability to make sales. But Atlanta-based processor Global Payments Inc. says it has heard of little impact on its merchants in the region. And a First Data Corp. spokesperson says no clients have contacted the processor directly for assistance. "When asked in the past during crisis situations, First Data has worked with our customers to divert authorization traffic, call volumes, etc., to our operations," she says. Business owners in Iowa, where the Iowa and Cedar rivers overflowed last week, reportedly are just now able to return to their businesses. Merchants appear less concerned about their payment terminals and more concerned about the general condition of their stores, according to news reports. Global Payments says merchants' insurance most likely would cover damaged payment equipment.
