Rains Soak Some, Profit Others : Commerce: The storms disrupt firms such as produce growers--and consumers may face higher prices. But they help companies such as tow truck operators.

The storm that continues to pummel the Southland is exacting a mounting economic toll across the region--from vegetable farmers to flower growers to delivery firms.

Although it will take time to fully assess the damage, it is already clear that shortages of some agricultural goods will lead to higher prices for consumers.

Already, in Ventura County, about 1,000 acres reserved for strawberries, flowers and sod for landscaping have been damaged. Another 1,000 acres of agricultural land are still submerged.

“In the short term, we will see price rises on these items,” said Earl McPhail, Ventura County agricultural commissioner.

McPhail said it is too soon to estimate the amount of damage to the acreage. Until the full extent of the losses is known, agriculture officials and produce brokers declined to predict how much the price on such items as nursery goods or strawberries will rise.

Growers in Los Angeles County also have taken a beating. The weather has delayed the harvesting of about 300 acres of radishes, parsley, mushrooms and herbs--making it likely that some of the crops will become soaked and spoil, said Leon Spaugy, Los Angeles County agricultural commissioner.

In Imperial County--a Southern California breadbasket--there was mounting concern about the weather. The county has not experienced prolonged heavy rain, but a storm threatens to prevent farmers from harvesting broccoli, carrots, lettuce and asparagus, said Dick Dillon, the county’s deputy agricultural commissioner.

The rains have also taken their toll on Southland service providers.

“The biggest problem is the surface streets and trying to reach our customers and trying to reach them in a timely manner,” said Janice Carpenter, airport operations manager for DHL Worldwide Express, a domestic and international package-delivery service. “Traffic is horrendous. We’re trying to put out additional manpower to reach our customers, which of course drives up our costs.”

Carpenter said the weather and construction at Los Angeles International Airport have wreaked havoc with DHL’s timetables, resulting in planes from San Diego and Santa Barbara sometimes being diverted to other airports.

But for some, there is a silver lining in the storm clouds: The rain has boosted the revenue of automobile towers, plumbers and roofing companies.

Business is booming at Van Nuys-based Keystone Towing, the official police towing contractor closest to the Sepulveda Basin, which was severely flooded Monday, ensnaring many cars in gooey muck.

“It’s been absolute insanity,” said Lisa Bradley, a Keystone dispatcher. “All of our trucks have been on-call on a constant basis.”

Roofing companies have been deluged with calls from homeowners, retailers, banks, apartment management companies and factories.

Mike’s Roofing Service handled hundreds of telephone requests for service, said Greg Torrico, a commercial sales representative for the Van Nuys firm.

“The weather has created a lot of new business, but many potential customers are so interested in low prices and immediate service that they don’t consider quality,” Torrico warned. “There are a lot of unlicensed roofers--people who work out of their garages--taking advantage of the situation.”

Plumbing firms are also profiting. Chuck Romick, president of Roto-Rooter of Los Angeles, said business has tripled since the rain began Sunday.

“We love it!” Romick said. “We get to slop around in clean water for a change. It’s a nice feeling when you save someone from the aggravation of having their home flooded from a backed-up drain.”

At the Drain Surgeon, a Van Nuys-based plumbing company, operators have been taking about 200 calls a day since Monday--five times the usual, said owner Eddie Edwards.

As a result of the rain, some truck drivers--as well as many Southland harvest workers--have been idled, said Jerry Vercruse, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 630 in Los Angeles.

“When you have this kind of downpour, they can’t harvest and nothing can be hauled from the fields,” said Vercruse.

As for less perishable packaged goods, many retailers and supermarkets have had delays in deliveries because of rain-related jams on freeways. Some companies are finding ways to cope with the problems. Vons has rescheduled deliveries to avoid some of the freeway stalls.

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