Tips to protect homes from hail & winds

Quinn recommends that homeowners in all parts of the country consider taking a few simple steps to help protect their homes against harsh hail and wind storms including:

Prepare your home's exterior. Take the time to reinforce roofs before storm season hits. Hurricane straps or clips can be installed to help secure the roof-to-wall connections.
Secure your windows with storm shutters. Don't have shutters? You can make do with soft protective coverings, like blankets, in your home away from windows. You can also use them to help shield yourself from any flying debris.
Consider bringing outdoor items inside to protect them. If you can't get them all inside remember to protect glass tables and secure lawn furniture/umbrellas and trash receptacles.
Stay inside during a hailstorm, if possible. Try to stay away from skylights and doors. Close drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent the wind from blowing shattered window glass inside. Be sure your family is safe and don't forget to bring pets inside, too.
Keep materials on hand to cover any broken windows or other openings to your home. It's important to keep wind and water out of these areas to prevent further storm damage.

Spring water claims

In addition to hail, nearly 20 percent of claims due to wind or tornado damage occur in spring, as well as 17 percent of all water claims, which includes things like sewer and drain damage, which typically increases due to melting snow coupled with increased rain. Notably, the number of backed up sewers is increasing at a rate of approximately 3 percent annually, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Special Reports /

Top spring hazards homeowners face in each of 8 U.S. regions

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