Three-year Study IDs Top 5 States for Hail Losses

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recently released the results of its three-year study to determine the top states with the largest hail losses.

The NICB study involved a review of claims data from ISO ClaimSearch® which showed that there were just over 2.8 million hail loss claims from January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018. That total is for any hail damage claim, not just roof damage; however, personal property-homeowners insurance accounted for 57 percent of the total with 1,657,663 claims. Personal auto insurance came in second with 898,500 claims.

The study reported that the top five states for hail loss were:

1. Texas - 811,381 claims
2. Colorado – 395,025 claims
3. Nebraska – 163,336 claims
4. Missouri – 153,403 claims
5. Kansas – 146,206 claims

The top five cities for losses were:

1. San Antonio, Texas - 75,187 claims
2. Colorado Springs, Colorado - 67,920 claims
3. Omaha, Nebraska - 52,803 claims
4. Denver, Colorado - 48,357 claims
5. Plano, Texas - 42,659 claims

Over the three years covered by this report, May had the highest monthly average number of claims followed by June, April, March and July.  The announcement of the study also warns consumers to be wary of scams targeting those who suffered damage.

The good news is that these are states that produce a lot of work for roofing contractors. Often home and building owners are concerned about being taken advantage of in a situation where they need help right away and may not have the time to speak with multiple contractors. To help put them at ease and give them confidence in your company, start preparing now for the next hail season. You want to inform and educate your customers about your qualifications. Consider developing a brochure or sell sheet that outlines details about your business to put their minds at ease, including:

• Years in business
• Licensing information when applicable
• Association memberships
• Manufacturer certifications
• Other certifications such as certified damage inspectors
• Workmanship warranties

You might want to take some time over the winter to develop and share some posts for social media campaigns that can help potential customers learn more about your business so that when the hailstorm does hit, your company is top of mind and familiar to them when they need someone to call for help.  

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