It's that time of year again when Texas has the potential to experience severe hailstorms.
On April 11, 2020, hail as large two to four inches fell on Val Verde County, significantly damaging roofs, cars, windows and other property.
Weather patterns during 2016-2018 illustrate that Texas has continued to lead the country in hail events and damages. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports Texas had more than double the amount of hail claims than other states during that time. We expect the 2019 and 2020 statistics to be similar.
There are a handful of things you can do to protect your buildings, vehicles and equipment and limit hail damage.
Protecting buildings
Realistically, you cannot put a temporary cover over a building each time a storm approaches; however, there are a few things we can do to help protect buildings from hail damage.
Carefully consider the type of roof to install on a new building or when replacing an old roof. Chances are, you can get a better hail rated roofing system for close to the same cost as other systems. For this reason it is important to research your options.
Properly maintain your roof to keep it in good condition help prevent hail damages. A well-maintained or newer roof is less likely to sustain hail damage from minor storms than a poorly maintained or older roof. It is also important to make sure roof-mounted equipment have proper hail guards and are properly secured.
Protecting vehicles and equipment
Vehicles and equipment like tractors left out in the open are likely going to sustain damages when a large hail event occurs. Follow weather reports and take appropriate actions when a storm is likely. Vehicles and equipment should be stored under cover when possible. Some counties have large barns or event centers with large rollup doors that vehicles or equipment could be moved into during emergencies. If you don’t have this option, consider parking vehicles or equipment close to a building on the side opposite from the direction of the storm.
Limiting or avoiding hail damage will not only save you money, but it will also save you the time involved in the claim filing and repairs process. Please contact your Risk Control Consultant or the Claims Department should you have any questions or require assistance.