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Hail is one of the most common and costly weather hazards in the United States, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to buildings, vehicles and crops every year. Help guard against the damaging effect of a hailstorm by following these steps!

Make a plan

A hailstorm can disrupt electrical service and is often accompanied by other severe weather events, such as tornadoes. Prepare your family for the hazards and inconveniences of a hailstorm by creating a disaster preparedness plan. Make a disaster survival kit with a flashlight and battery operated radio (don’t forget fresh batteries) along with an emergency evacuation plan.

Stay informed

Hail often occurs during severe weather patterns, such as a strong thunderstorms. When severe weather threatens, tune in to a battery powered radio for updates.  A severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are right for thunderstorms to become severe. A severe thunderstorm warning means that a storm poses an immediate threat to the people and property in its path. This warning may be accompanied by a siren or other community alert system.

Move inside, stay inside

Hailstones vary greatly in size, but even small ones – driven by gravity and strong winds – pose a danger to anything or anyone caught in a storm. As a storm approaches, put vehicles in the garage and bring pets inside. If you are outdoors, go inside immediately.

Once you are indoors, close all drapes, blinds, or shades to prevent broken window glass and hailstones from entering your home. If possible, move to a basement, cellar or other level of the building not directly below the roof. Stay indoors until the storm passes.

Here’s what to do if you drive into a

Hail is one of the most common and costly weather hazards in the United States, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to buildings, vehicles and crops every year. Help guard against the damaging effect of a hailstorm by following these steps!How

Stay inside the vehicle. Hail falls at fast speeds, and it can cause injury to those in its path. Stop driving and pull to a safe place so hail doesn’t break the windshield or any windows – driving compounds hail’s impact with your car.  Stop under an overpass, and don’t forget to pull out of traffic lanes and onto a shoulder.  Avoid ditches due to possible high rising water. Keep your car angled so the hail is hitting the front of your car.  Windshields are reinforced to withstand forward driving and pelting objects. Side windows and backglass are not, so they’re much more susceptible to breakage. Lie down, if possible, and keep your back to the windows. If you have a blanket, cover yourself with it to prevent possible debris from hitting you.

After the storm

Inspect your vehicle for damages. Most hail damage can be seen under flourecent lamps and other lighting. If your car becomes an unlucky victim of hail damage, you’ll most likely need repair work done to remove the dimples left by the hail. Contact your insurance company for further instructions. Repair options include the conventional method or what is termed, PDR (paintless dent removal), or a combination of both. PDR repair is a process involving specially molded metal tools that massage the underside of a damaged panel until the dent is removed. This doesn’t disturb your vehicle’s factory finish and generally can be completed within days.

Choose a local repair shop

After most major hail storms, traveling Paintless Dent Repair companies will “spring up” on almost every street corner. Our advise to you is to not use these traveling repairers. The reason for this is because if you have an issue later, they won’t be here to resolve your problem, and your insurance company will not address any issues because “you chose them.” Choose a local reputable repair shop that can handle both the paintless dent repair along with the conventional repairs that require painting. That way if you have an problem later, someone is here locally to resolve it. Also, don’t  choose a repair shop based on them “saving your deductible.” Most insurance companies do not put extra money on their estimates, so if you use a company that will save your deductible, they have to provide lesser quality repairs to make up for the loss of repair money. Ask family and friends for referrals. And remember “you have the right to choose your repair shop”, the insurance company has no right to make you use any particular repair shop.