Hail in North Texas Information and Tips
Hail in North Texas comes suddenly and usually unexpected. On April 6, 2018, Quarter-sized hail was reported near North Richland Hills; at 5:41 pm., Ping-pong ball-sized hail was reported near Prosper. In Celina, it was a scary evening in parts of Denton County as strong winds, rain, large chunks of baseball-sized hail pounded the area while landing on rooftops, vehicles, and other items included people caught outdoors. People watched as the hail-damaged trees, smashed windows of cars and pounded rooftops. There was little doubt of the damage that hail in North Texas can be devastating and costly. In 2016, entire homes were written off as a total loss in Wylie. 60-mph, wind-driven hail, the size of a softball destroyed homes. Hail punctured holes in siding and shattered windows. It cut through shingles, roof decking, insulation and ceiling material, then bounced around inside homes, damaging furniture and flooring in its final impact. Hailstorms are most common in Tornado Alley, which hits North Texas and many other states.
If a person is struck by a 2-inch hail ball, “Severe bruising is a certainty, and broken bones are a possibility,” says Dr. Ian Giammanco, lead research Meteorologist at the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). “Larger hail can cause even more severe injuries. Hailstones over 3 inches can kill people and livestock.”
Be Prepared for Hail in North Texas
Preparation and safety procedures can help minimize damage. The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) offers these recommendations to provide maximum protection.
Know the rating of your roofing shingle.
Imagine firing a 2-inch steel or ice ball at a roofing shingle at 70 mph. Roof coverings with a Class 3 or Class 4 rating withstand this rigorous testing in order to receive those high ratings. When researching high-quality roofing material, if you live in a hail-prone region, IBHS recommends considering a Class 3 or Class 4 rated roof covering, such as slate or tile with a FM 4473 Class 4 hail rating; or, metal or asphalt shingles with UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating. Northwest Roofing of Tarrant County only uses top grade shingles and materials. They offer the Class 4 shingle as an upgrade.
Protect expensive equipment outside your home or business.
Think about equipment sitting outside or on the roof, such as commercial or residential HVAC units, exhaust fans and vents. Hail guards or hail netting can protect these investments and pay for itself by preventing total losses.
Find the safest places in a hailstorm.
Hail warnings are typically triggered up to 30 minutes prior to a storm, but weather apps rely on a single computer model forecast and can share inaccurate information. Local television and radio broadcast weather information can supplement these apps with the most up-to-date information about a storm’s approach and capabilities.
When a hailstorm in North Texas alert is issued:
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- Stay away from windows.
- Avoid going outdoors in a hailstorm.
- If you cannot seek shelter indoors, get under trees and branches, which may break up the hail and slow its descent or find other shelter such as a garage or restaurant or store.
- Cover your head with your arms to help protect your head as best you can while outside in the storm.
- Avoid stopping under an overpass if you are driving avoiding the threat of a serious traffic accident. A pileup under an overpass is far greater than hail damage to your car!
Northwest Roofing is an experienced roofing company with over 25+ years located in North Fort Worth in Haslet. Don Rutherford owner of Northwest Roofing is affordable, reliable and honest. He only cares about his Clients homes and ensures they get the best service possible with quality in mind.
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