Wind, Hail, and Tornadoes: Preparing for Severe Spring Weather

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Wind and hail storms remain some of the most frequent and severe causes of property damage. While hail storms most frequently impact the Great Plains and Midwest, every state in the nation is susceptible. See how your state compares to others when it comes to wind and hail claims.

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Damage caused by wind and hail cost State Farm policyholders more than $3 billion in 2013. The top 10 states with the most wind/hail State Farm claims:  

1. Texas               42,000 claims
2. Illinois              26,000 claims
3. Georgia            25,000 claims
4. Oklahoma        17,000 claims
5. Minnesota        15,000 claims
6. Indiana             15,000 claims
7. Louisiana         14,000 claims
8. Ohio                  14,000 claims
9. Mississippi       13,000 claims
10. Nebraska          12,000 claims

Preparing Your Home, Preparing Your Family - Tornado
Tornadoes are among the most destructive forces of nature. While no state is immune to a twister's violent winds, there are places where they touch down more often. The highest concentration of tornadoes is in Oklahoma and Texas, and Florida.

• If you do not have a safe room or a tornado shelter, you should identify what might be the safest area of your home or business during tornadoes. This is usually the basement or a small interior room without windows.
• Head to the center of your home or basement, away from windows and preferably under something sturdy like a workbench or staircase or in a bathtub with a mattress over top of you.
• Don't open your windows! This won't save the house and may actually make things worse by giving wind and rain a greater chance of getting inside. Get to the safest place possible, away from glass that can break and injure or kill you.
• Closing interior doors will also help to compartmentalize the structure and provide more barriers between you and the storm.
• Don't try to ride out a tornado in a manufactured home. Even manufactured homes with tie-downs overturn in these storms because they have light frames and offer winds a large surface area to push against.

Outside (No Shelter):

• Never try to outrun a tornado. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.
• If you can safely get lower than the level of the roadway, such as in a ditch, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
• Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.

Preparing Your Home, Preparing Your Family – Wind and Hail
High winds due to thunderstorms, tornadoes and other wind events are not just a coastal issue and cause millions – and often billions – of dollars in property damage each year. Roofs are frequently damaged in high wind and hail events.

• If you are indoors when a storm with large hailstones strikes, stay there. Because 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 weather conditions are prime for hail storms, pull cars, boats, RVs, lawn and patio furniture into a covered area.
• Good tree pruning can prevent many problems. Prompt removal of diseased, damaged, or dead plant parts helps reduce the possibility of future storm damage.
• When building or remodeling, consider impact resistant roofing to reduce hail damage to your home. State Farm currently offers insurance premium discounts to homes with qualifying impact-resistant roofing products in 26 states and one Canadian province.

After the Storm – Recovery
The period following a natural disaster can be disorienting and dangerous. Below are a few tips that may help relieve some of the uncertainty and help you stay safe, secure your property, and begin the claims process in the aftermath of a major event.

• Use your emergency water or boil tap water before drinking until you are told the water supply is safe. Food that came in contact with water may be contaminated and should be discarded.
• Visually inspect your home for structural damage and take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. For example, board up holes with plywood and cover leaks with plastic sheeting.
• If a major disaster was declared for your area, federal housing assistance may be available. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers post-disaster housing programs. Otherwise, organizations such as the American Red Cross may offer help.
• Your insurer will require you to document any damage to your property and provide receipts for recovery-related expenses. Be sure to save all receipts for home repairs, vehicle towing and repairs, temporary housing, meals, and other living expenses. Also, photograph and list all damaged, spoiled, or contaminated items, including quantity, description, and age.

About State Farm^®:
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 44 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.

SOURCE State Farm

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