Hail

Learn these hail safety tips to help you stay safe during severe weather
Hail can occur in any strong thunderstorm, with chunks of ice falling at 120 mph, even in the summer. The size of the hail can range from the size of a pea to the size of a grapefruit.

When hail hits, it can shred roof coverings and lead to water damage to your ceilings, walls, floors, appliances and personal possessions. Just one hailstorm in Kansas City in 2001 caused an estimated $2 billion in damages, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

But you can take these hail safety steps now to prevent damage to your home during a hailstorm.

For your home
The biggest material concern during a hailstorm is damage to your roof. If there is hail to your patio furniture or your car, you should have your roof inspected as well. Here are a few more hail protection tips:

No roofing material is hail-proof, but you can find hail-resistant shingles. Look for a Class 4 rating from the Underwriters Laboratories. This rating means that a sample of the product didn't crack when hit twice in the same area by a 2-inch steel ball.
Find information on what type of roof is appropriate for your area with help from the Institute for Business and Home Safety.
Most roofing jobs are not for the do-it-yourselfer. Unless you have lots of experience in replacing roof coverings, hire a professional roofing contractor to handle it.
For your car
Hail can damage your automobile so severely that it may cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to repair, so take steps to protect your car if a thunderstorm approaches. Consider these car hail protection tips:

If weather forecasters are predicting a severe thunderstorm, park your car where it will be protected, such as a parking garage.
If you are driving and it starts to hail, drive under an overpass or to a garage or carport if you can. If there's no time, pull to the side of road, cover your face with clothing to protect it from possible broken glass and wait until the hail stops. Most hailstorms last five minutes.
During the storm
If you're inside when a storm with large hailstones strikes, 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're outside, move immediately to a place of shelter.
This hail protection information is meant to help you make decisions that may reduce your risk. Of course, we can't note every possible risk, and we can't guarantee that these tips will work for you. However, we hope that if you use some of them, you'll better protect your family and yourself.