Spring thunderstorm season is already here, but it’s not too
late to prepare. Each year, properties
are damaged by thousands of thunderstorms, with the most sever occurring storms
during the spring and fall. These storms
can produce damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes.
You may have noticed increases in insurance costs on your
home coverage recently. Over the past
few years, increased storm activities have accounted for these increased
costs. Insurance carriers pay out
millions in property losses every year resulting in higher costs for insureds.
Falling trees and limbs cause millions of dollars in damage
alone each year by damaging homes and cars and downing power lines. Windstorms are the leading cause of such
damage and injury.
Homeowners represent the first line of defense but often
times, neglect taking their surroundings into consideration when trying to
protect or prepare their property from storms.
It is important to regularly examine trees and check for damage or other
troubling signs. Good pruning can
prevent many problems, but over pruning can weaken a tree.
Some potential problems are easy to spot. These include:
- Cracks in the trunk or major limbs
- Hollow and decayed trees
- Branches hanging over the house near the roof
- Trees that look one-sided or lean significantly
- Limbs in contact with power lines
- Mushrooms growing from the bark, indicating decayed or weakened stem
- V-shaped forks rather than U-shaped ones. V-shaped are more likely to split
- Crossing branches that rub or interfere with one another
Good pruning can help to prevent many problems. Remove
diseased, damaged or dead plant parts helps to limit the spread of harmful
insects and disease as well as reduce the possibility of future storm damage. Always check local tree regulations prior to
pruning.
If it is time for a new roof, replace your old roof coverage
with new asphalt shingles making sure they have a Class 4 rating under
Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) 2218 standard.
A class 4 rating tells you a sample of the product did not crack when
hit twice in the same area by a two-inch steel ball.
What does this mean?
This means added protection when Hailstorms hit.
When a hailstorm strikes, if you are indoors, stay
there. Because large pieces of hail can
shatter windows, close your drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent the wind
from blowing broken glass inside. Stay
away from skylights and doors.
If you are outside, move immediately to a place of shelter.
Be sure to check the exterior of your home for loose siding,
gutters and roof shingles. Be sure to
repair to avoid additional damage in the future. It is always recommended to have a contractor
review and make the necessary repairs to be sure they are properly corrected.
For additional repair and safety information, review the
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety at www.disastersafety.org.
