Prepare to protect your property from hailstorms
Hailstorms cause a staggering $1 billion in damage annually throughout the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and it’s that time of the year again when severe weather is a common occurrence in the Lone Star State.
“The jet stream is typically in a favorable position across the southern portion of the U.S. to bring frequent disturbances to our area, which provide the necessary ingredients for severe thunderstorms to develop,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Gale said. Severe weather season runs through May.
Although tornadoes and straight-line winds cause significant damage, they are relatively rare compared to hail, which often accompanies strong thunderstorms and can be highly destructive, affecting a large portion of the country.
The most common hail size is pea-size, but hailstones can grow as large as golf balls and baseballs. In extreme cases, hail can reach the size of a softball or grapefruit, just like the massive 6.4-inch wide, 1.26pound hailstone that fell in Hondo on April 28, 2021. This hailstone was confirmed to be the largest ever recorded in Texas.
How to protect your property from hail?
To protect your home from hail damage, you must choose a hail-resistant material for your roof. Steel and metal roofing materials are the most effective in resisting hail damage, according to roofing experts at National Home Improvement.
As for your car, the best way to safeguard it from hail damage is to park it in a garage or carport. If that is not possible, here are a few ideas:
• Find a structure to park it under, even a canopy of trees will work. Be sure to fold your side mirrors in because they can crack easily.
• Use a hail protector or thick blankets to wrap around your car and to cover your windows.
• Flatten cardboard boxes and place them on your windshield, under the wipers.
• Use your car’s floor mats as a windshield cover, by putting down the softer, carpeted side on the window and the hard rubber side facing up.
• Place plywood on the top of your car’s roof rack or crossbars. This will offer a little more protection from hail dents.
What to do after damage to your house or car?
If you have wind and hail coverage on your home policy or comprehensive coverage on your auto policy, your insurance company should pay for your hail damage, according to the Texas Department of Insurance.
The first step is to call your insurance company to report the damage. Next, document the damage by taking pictures and video, and don’t throw anything away until your insurance adjuster tells you. You should also make temporary repairs to prevent more damage, like removing any standing water and covering broken windows and holes.
Keeping a list of everyone you talk to at your insurance company will be helpful when you have questions and need to reach someone. Then, keep all the receipts, as you could get reimbursed for temporary repairs and any living expenses you need while out of the house.
It’s important to avoid fraud by getting more than one repair estimate, checking references and phone numbers, and not paying up front.
How harsh was hail in 2023?
Hail caused more damage across the United States in 2023 than tornadoes and straightline winds, according to data compiled by information services company Corelogic. Their report states that large hail struck on 141 days last year — the highest number in two decades.
Also, a hailstone of at least 1 inch fell on 10 million homes and apartments across the United States, and Texas was the state hit the hardest. In June 2023, severe storms with 4-inch hail caused an estimated $7 billion to $10 billion in the Dallasfort Worth area. A few months later, a supercell thunderstorm produced destructive softballsize hail along the Interstate 35 corridor between Austin in Travis County and Georgetown in Williamson County, north of the state capital, in September 2023. This resulted in more than $600 million in losses, which is the costliest hail damage ever recorded.
Is climate change making hail worse?
A warming climate will cause more water to evaporate into the atmosphere, leading to heavier rainfall and snowfall in storms, according to Gale. But it’s still unclear if climate change is affecting the severity or size of hailstones and the frequency of hailstorms.
“A growing population and infrastructure is going to mean more reports and more damage whenever severe thunderstorms occur, so this, along with inflation, would be the main reason for the growing number and damage cost of severe storms,” Gale said.
What’s Austin Hail Day?
March 25 is a significant day for Austin, especially if storms are in the forecast. Over the past 30 years, four major hailstorms have pummeled the city on that day in 1993, 2005, 2009 and 2021. Notably, three of these events were the costliest in the city’s history. It’s safe to say that March 25 has earned the notorious nickname “Austin Hail Day.”