Area auto shops overwhelmed with service calls, repair hundreds of vehicles after storm
5:32 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Manhattan — “And I looked towards the windows toward the south, and it was like nighttime out there. It was so dark! And I knew, I knew then that we’re in for something,” says Trisha Damron, who was surprised by the Monday morning thunderstorm.
She saw the storm while working at the K-State Student Union.
Damron is one of hundreds of Manhattan residents affected by the thunderstorm that shattered windows and flooded the streets of the Little Apple. She is one of many customers who went to auto shops to get their cars repaired.
Her daughter’s car got the worst damage, then located near the Manhattan Regional Airport.
“It’s pretty devastating when you’re single and you have one vehicle,” she said. “And I said the important thing is that you’re safe. You can always replace a windshield or whatever. You know, the car is just not as important.
A 49 News viewer captures the sights and the noise as hail pelts cars and the pavement in Manhattan on Monday. See this video here.
Literally dozens of customers have come here to Auto Glass Center to get their windows replaced after the recent thunderstorm. But to help meet that demand, the staff has increased their numbers from three to nine.
Area Manager Tim Zordel has recruited team members from Iowa, Nebraska and other states to help seal windows, vacuum up cars and get safe vehicles back to their owners.
“It’s been pretty wild,” Zordel says. “You know, I think it’ll trickle on for a while, but this week we’ll wrap up the worst of it, I think, especially with as many people as we have here.”
Zordel says costs to repair a car can vary by the person’s car insurance plan and car type, but customers can pay up to $500 to replace one windshield.
He also says the store has ordered about 300 parts to repair the damaged vehicles. But with the 90-degree heat, working with metal and glass can be exhausting.
“It’s very hot,” Zordel says. “We’re keeping them hydrated, but these guys are very good. And qualified people here to do it. We’re getting them out here as fast as we can. We’re turning out quite a few cars here a day.”
The auto store staff repaired more than 40 cars within half a day. Through the support of his team and understanding customers, Zordel says they hope to restore cars within days.
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