Hail Storms-Make Sure Your Insurance Will Cover You

The largest hailstone on record slammed into Aurora, Nebraska on June 22, 2003. At 7 inches in diameter, it beat the previous record of a 5.7 inch diameter hailstone that fell in Coffeyville, Kansas in 1970. Imagine the effect a 6 or 7 inch hailstone (or even one a fraction of that size) would have on the roof of your house or your car's windshield. People who live in areas which are prone to hail storms know these effects all too well. Take for example, the residents of Colorado's Front Range, located in the heart of what has become known as "Hail Alley," because they receive the highest frequency of large hail in North America (and most of the world.)

From mid-April to mid-August, this group of Colorado residents can count on three or four catastrophic hailstorms every year. A catastrophic hailstorm is defined as one which causes at least $25 million in insured damage. Even after this amount of damage is spread across everyone in the region, it can still add up to an expensive individual repair bill for each resident to fix their homes, automobiles and businesses. And the repairs are needed year after year. In fact, over the last 10 years, hailstorms have caused more than $1 billion in insured damage in the state of Colorado. Up to one-half of a homeowner's insurance premium for residents of that state go toward hail and wind damage costs as a result.

New Mexico is another state which is prone to hail storms and hail damage. For example, tornadoes and hail resulted in $16.5 million dollars in insured damage around Clovis, Roswell and Logan in just one day in March of 2007. The good news for residents of Colorado, New Mexico and other regions, is that hail damage is covered by almost all insurance companies if you carry comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy. Practically all home insurance policies cover hail damage as well.

In the event you are the victim of a hailstorm, stay indoors (obviously) until the storm has subsided before venturing out to check damage. If trees, shrubs and plants around your house are stripped of their foliage, there's a good possibility that your roof has become damaged. Windows, vents, and awnings could also be damaged, as well as your automobile's body and windows or windshield. If there is a possibility of additional storms coming through your area, cover broken windows on your home or car and holes in the roof to protect against further damage from rain, wind, or more hail.

You may wish to make a record of the work you do and take photos to show to your insurance agent as well. Keep receipts of any repairs you make to submit along with your insurance claim. An adjuster will be sent to your property to assess the damage done by hail to your car or home and will recommend repairs. If your roof is damaged, you may want to use a company which is an expert in hail damage to assure that the job is done properly and also to have hail resistant roofing materials installed to protect you from damage done by future hail storms. Finally, if your insurance didn't cover enough of your hail damage to either your home or your car, speak to your agent about adjusting your policy to increase your coverage, lower your deductible, or add more comprehensive coverage.