Chelsa Nava checks out the damage to her husband’s car in the parking lot of the Colorado Mills Mall on May 8, 2017 in Lakewood. A hail storm moved through the area.
Denver-area auto glass shops say they are inundated with calls for help from the scores of people whose car windows as a major hailstorm moved through the metro.
“We’re swamped,” said Chris Lawson, who owns Speedy Glass. “We’re just taking names and phone numbers and trying to get to people.”
Lawson, speaking over two ringing phones, said people across the Front Range are frustrated and anxious to get their vehicles fixed. His business fielded 200 calls for help between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday alone.
Click and drag the above video to see the full 360-degree view.
“Voicemails are full. Emails are full. The phones keep ringing,” he said. “If we have the piece of glass we can get them squared away on the same day. It’s really hard to deal with the insurance because their phones are flooded as well.”
The intense storm blew through the metro , dropping hail so large it forced a Lakewood mall to close, broke windows and caused multiple car crashes.
The largest piece of hail reported was 2¾ inches in diameter. It fell near Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, said Scott Entrekin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Boulder. Hail from 1- to 2-inches in diameter was reported in other areas, particularly west of downtown Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Priscila Cruz, 11, left, and her mother Kissy Cruz stand outside their car, that was damaged by hail, in the parking lot of the Colorado Mills Mall on May 8, 2017 in Lakewood.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Golf ball and larger sized hail stones that fell in Edgewater, Colorado causing damage to cars, homes and businesses on May 8, 2017.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Rachel Norton hangs onto a large box as she navigates piles of hail along Larimer street on the Metropolitan State University of Denver campus after a pounding hail storm ripped through the area on May 8, 2017 in Denver.
Ken Lyons, The Denver Post
Hail piles up on Colfax Ave. outside Civic Center Park in downtown Denver Monday afternoon, May 8, 2017.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Kenny Anderson tries to keep his umbrella in his hands as the wind blows while trying to keep out of the pounding hail storm underneath the 20th street bridge on Wewatta street on May 8, 2017 in Denver.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Kenny Anderson, left, and Amanda Cress, her husband Charles and her son Charles Jr. , right, try to get out of the pounding hail storm underneath the 20th street bridge on Wewatta street on May 8, 2017 in Denver.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Workmen cover their heads as they run for cover to get out of the pounding hail storm that hit the metro area around 3:00 on May 8, 2017 in Denver.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Hail looks like snow as cars and buses drive slowly down Wewatta street on May 8, 2017 in Denver.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Amanda Cress holds on tightly to her son Charles, 9, as she and her husband Charles move quickly to get out of the pounding hail storm along Wewatta street on May 8, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Chelsa Nava checks out the damage to her husband's car in the parking lot of the Colorado Mills Mall on May 8, 2017 in Lakewood. A hail storm moved through the area.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
People navigate piles of hail along Larimer street on the Metropolitan State University of Denver campus after a pounding hail storm ripped through the area on May 8, 2017 in Denver.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
People navigate piles of hail and standing water along Larimer street on the Metropolitan State University of Denver campus after a pounding hail storm ripped through the area on May 8, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
1 of 12
Priscila Cruz, 11, left, and her mother Kissy Cruz stand outside their car, that was damaged by hail, in the parking lot of the Colorado Mills Mall on May 8, 2017 in Lakewood.
“We’re getting a lot of calls,” said Kristal Palmer, a manager at Jiffy Auto Glass in Denver. “Probably over 100 since yesterday, and that’s rare.”
Palmer said her five-member repair crew was out and “overbooked.”
Glass repair shops ask people to be patient as they try to work through the massive call volume. Some callers have reported having two or three windows in their vehicle broken.
“We’re a wholesaler so we are swamped,” said Monty Muhammad, branch manager of Pittsburgh Auto Glass in Denver.
Muhammad said he is seeing long lines and backups for deliveries. He’s expecting help to arrive from other company branches in the coming days.
“Just keep moving,” he said. “Hopefully we will stay fully staffed.”
Jeannine Wagner, owner of B R Auto Glass in Englewood, said her five repair workers are “all out.”
“Yesterday it was ringing constantly,” she said of her phone. “It’s ringing constantly right now. It’s just non-stop.”
Storms on Tuesday afternoon, forecasters warn.
The National Weather Service in Boulder say there is a possibility for severe thunderstorms, hail and localized street flooding.
