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Auto, window repair workers busy after Austin storms

06:48 PM CDT on Friday, May 16, 2008

By MELISSA MCGUIRE
KVUE News

Thousands of insurance claims are pouring in from Austin area storm victims. Like thousands of car windshields, business is busy at auto repair shops.

“Probably about 200 percent at least,” said Bob Youngberg, B&B Body and Paint.

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KVUE's Melissa McGuire reports
05/16/2008
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The spider-web of cracks on car windshields almost looks like a cruel joke.

“We're seeing a lot of damage with cars that are just pulverized,” said Youngberg.

Hail and debris pelted Winston Harwood's car.

“It had been parked on the street underneath some pecan trees,” Harwood said.

Cars are lined up at B&B Body and Paint in North Austin.

Workers are doing what they can to pop out the dents as insurance companies prepare to pay up for the work.

“One particular insurance company -- State Farm -- 5,000 claims alone as of today have already been reported,” said Youngberg.

Harwood says he's glad he's insured.

“I've lived here for 55 years on West Lynn, and we've never had a storm like that - never,” said Harwood.

At B&B Body and Paint, you'll have to wait until mid June for an estimate. Experts ask for patience as they work to repair cars just as slammed as business is.

Window panes are also really living up to their name.

“It was just awful,” said Gay Clifton, Central Austin resident.

For Clifton, it's more than a pain, it's a fortune.

“It's probably between $20,000 - $30,000 worth of damage,” she said.

Hail destroyed “46 windows” in her home. She also needs a new roof and a new paint job.

“No the house didn't look like that before -- the house has to be repainted,” said Clifton.

One of the most common sites on her street is window work.

“We took a call from guy who had every west facing window in his home broken,” said Mike Shanahan, owner of Glass Doctor. The company is working double time to keep up with demand. “We took more orders yesterday that we probably have taken in our largest week.”

They're even having to turn business away

“We had UT campus call -- we couldn't even -- they had more work than we could handle,” he said.

They're doing the best they can with hundreds of customers.

“It was 60 mph wind with 3 to 4-inch hail coming in horizontally,” said Shanahan.

Most of their calls are coming from Central Austin. That's where Clifton's home is.

“There was ice piled up this high at my front door,” said Clifton.

And she's ready for this pain to be over.

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