N. Texas Hail Damage in the Millions of Dollars – Was Your Home a Victim?

2008 has seen the outbreak of several severe storms with damaging hail throughout the Dallas-Ft Worth area. Current estimates are that more than 10,000 homes and vehicles sustained some hail damage from these spring storms. Mike and Sarah’s two year home in Frisco was one of them. “It was terrifying” explained Sarah. “I could hear the hail hitting the roof. It made this horrible popping sound that did not stop for five or ten minutes. The windows shuttered, I thought they would break. I just hid in the bathroom.” When the storm was over a panicked Sarah called Mike at work. He told her not to worry he would be right home. On the way he called his Tri Star insurance agent. He was reassured by his agent that his Tri Star homeowner’s insurance policy provided replacement cost for any roof damage from the hail storm. The important thing was that his family was all right.

Mike and Sarah’s experience is not unique according to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. “In an average year, hail causes more than $1.6 billion worth of damage to residential roofs in the United States, making it, year in and year out, one of the most costly natural disasters.”  Unfortunately, Texas is in the middle of hail alley and a home owner can expect a hail producing storm in the area several times each year.

Mike and Sarah’s Tri Star Insurance agent asked them to check for hail damaged windows and possible roof damage. He suggested that they look at trees, shrubs, and plants near the house. If plant leaves are shredded, there is a better than average change that there is roof damage. He also suggested that they check fences and cars around their house for dents, another indicator of possible hail-induced roof damage. He told Mike to also check on the sidewalk and around the house for a significant number of asphalt granules washed from the roof. Finally, the Tri Star agent recommended that Mike visually check the roof, if he was comfortable doing that, and to call the agent back with his findings.

Mike and Sarah’s damage was severe. Although there were no visible holes in the roof, there were randomly spaced strike marks in several places, a significant loss of asphalt granules, and bruising marks on many shingles. Mike also found dents in their roof vents. When Mike talked with his next door neighbor, who had shake shingles on his roof, the neighbor reported that several of his shakes were split indicating hail damage. Mike called his Tri Star Insurance agent and reported the damage. They scheduled an insurance adjuster to come out to their house to document the damage, and discuss replacement costs and options.  

Mike and Sarah were so glad they had Tri Star insurance. Their agent was immediately available, told them what to do, and provided comforting assurance that their policy would cover the cost of replacing their roof and vents. No one wants to be the victim of a hailstorm, but they happen and sometimes frequently in hail alley. Mike and Sarah’s homeowner’s policy covered them; does your policy protect you?   Call 214-387-0600 to find out.