Bad Weather Good For Business At Pasadena Insurance Firms, Auto Repair Shops

PASADENA (CBS) — The city may still be working to clean up the debris left in the aftermath of some wicked winds last week, but some Pasadena business owners are profiting from the recent storm.

KNX 1070's John Brooks reports insurance agents and auto body repair shops are among those who have seen a surge in business recently.

Nearly two weeks after a series of wind storms roared through the San Gabriel Valley, owners like Ron Baker of Baker's Auto Body on East Walnut have seen their operation pushed to capacity.

And as wet weather makes its return to the Southland, Baker expects the rush to continue for some time.

"People always think that we get real busy when it rains because there's more accidents, and there's a few more accidents, but when there's wind damage, there's a lot more cars that are damaged from the wind than there is from accidents from the rain," Baker said.

The majority of damage stems from trees falling onto vehicles, he added.

Dominique, an insurance appraiser with Mercury Insurance, has also seen her workload surge since the storm.

"We're overwhelmed," she said, adding that recent claims have ranged from "anything from just a few minor scratches to 2,000-pound trees laying on vehicles and they're smushed to the floor," she said.

Hardware stores, lumber yards, hotels and motels in the region also reported a marked uptick in business while power was out for nearly five days to much of the city.