Colorado can be the most beautiful place in the world to live… for about 45 minutes. Between the nice hot, sunny times to freezing cold, to rainy, back to sunny and then all of a sudden massive chunks of ice come falling out of the sky and destroy everything. From Denver to Pueblo, and everywhere else in Colorado, hail has hit everyone hard. Hail damage can be one of the most expensive natural disasters to strike. It demolishes cars, roofs, yards, driveways and more. The good news is, that there are some ways to prepare for, and prevent, hail damage from taken a toll on you and your property.
The most important thing you can do to prevent hail damage from destroying everything is to prepare for the inevitable.
A few things to consider that are done before a storm strikes are:
- Prepare your homes’ interior.
- Some quick easy things that can be done are;
- Make sure that furniture blocking any type of exit (i.e. a window) is moved out of the way incase of flooding or fires, have an emergency kit with non-perishable food items, bottled water, a flashlight, any important documents in a water proof bag and a list/photos of valuable items ready to go.
- Other things to consider would be making sure that all fire and carbon monoxide alarms are fully functional and working properly, anchor any large items that have the possibility of falling over to the wall or ground and close and lock all exterior doors and windows.
- Prepare your roof and gutters.
- Some ways to get that roof ready for the hail;
- Check your roof before a hail storm is expected to ensure that there are no weak spots or any deteriorated shingles.
- Keep your gutters clear of debris to lessen the chance of backwash and flooding.
- Consider replacing your shingles with ones that will withstand the damage caused by hail storms.
- Landscape preparation is key to minimize hail damage.
- A few easy ways to go about doing this are;
- Trim up your bushes and trees to remove any dead branches that can break loose under the strong winds and rains.
- Cut back any branches that are hanging over your roof or fences.
- We have all seen our neighbor’s outdoor patio furniture flying down the street in the strong winds during a storm in Colorado. So, most importantly, be sure to secure any patio furniture by either chaining it to the ground or simply moving the items into the garage or a secure location. You don’t want to be “that guy”.
- A few easy ways to go about doing this are;
- Some ways to get that roof ready for the hail;
- Some quick easy things that can be done are;
- Lastly, there are a few other tips for preventing massive hail damage from occurring that might not be so obvious.
- Do not use the phone and avoid touching metal objects.
- Avoid using candles and oil lit lanterns – they are a major fire hazard.
- Identify all escape routes and anything needed to help you get out in case of an emergency.
- Find a way to either make noise (i.e. a whistle) or visibly signal for help if you or someone becomes trapped.
- Bring pets inside and/or herd livestock into a barn of shed so that they are not harmed by flying debris.
- And of course, check with your insurance provider in advance to ensure you are covered for and damages that may occur.
- Things to make sure are covered by your insurance provider should include;
- Hail damage roof repair.
- Any other hail damage repairs needed for the property.
- Wind damage insurance.
- Fire damage insurance.
References
Blumberg, D. (2014, March 20). How to Properly Secure a Beach Umbrella. Retrieved from CondoLux: http://www.condolux.net/vacations-blog/2014/03/20/how-to-properly-secure-a-beach-umbrella/
Stewart, M. (2015). How To Prepare For Hail And Prevent Hail Damage. Retrieved from Survival Sullivan: https://www.survivalsullivan.com/prepare-hail-prevent-hail-damage/
