Whether you're ready or not, hail season is here! If you live in a state that is prone to major hail events like Colorado, Texas, Kansas, or any of the other states near the little-known area called "Hail Alley", then you need to be prepared in case of hail-related damage to your business or personal property.
In Colorado alone, hailstorms have caused more than $3 billion in insured damage in the last 10 years, and April - August is the peak catastrophe season.
With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you prepare for hail season:
Before the Storm
- Make sure you read and understand your insurance policies as well as the difference between Replacement Cost and Actual Cash Value. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your policies.
- Make sure you know how to file a claim, and the timeline in which this must be submitted with your carrier. Some carriers require that you file the claim immediately after noticing any damage.
After the Storm
Assess the damage
- Check trees, shrubs, and plants around your house or business. If they are stripped of foliage, it's possible that your roof is also damaged.
- Be sure to also check other parts of your property like patio covers, screens, soft aluminum roof vents, as well as any vehicles and take pictures of any damage!
Protect your property from further damage
- If you find signs that hail has caused damage to your property, take action to protect it from further damage.
- Cover any broken windows or holes in your roof to prevent water damage. Be sure to carefully clean any broken glass from the interior of vehicles and cover any broken windows to prevent water damage.
File your claim
- Claims should be filed as soon as you notice any damage. At the very least, hop on the phone and talk to your agent about when your claim needs to be submitted as this will vary depending on your insurance carrier.
Selecting a contractor
- After an insurance adjuster has surveyed the hail damage to your property, select a reputable roofing company, auto body shop, or other applicable contractor to make repairs.
- Only work with licensed and insured contractors and be sure to get estimates from multiple companies.
- Get everything in writing and be wary of out-of-town roofers as they could leave town before the job is done.
- Don't make final payment until your roof has been inspected and is deemed satisfactory.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there were 4,610 hail events in 2018 throughout the country. We have already had numerous hail-related claims from 2019-2021, and there is no doubt we will see many more.
Wishing you a fun, safe, and hail-free summer! Please feel free to Contact Us for more information!