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Hail preparedness guide: How to minimize damage to your home, vehicle, business or farm

Hail season in Canada typically occurs between June and September, often hitting the Prairies hardest in July.

Hailstones can range in size — as large as a softball in extreme cases — and fall at speeds ranging from 25 km/h to more than 170 km/h, depending on the size of the stone. As a result, hail causes extensive property damage by shredding siding and shingles, denting vehicles, shattering glass and destroying crops in a short window of time.

Acera Insurance does more than just provide coverage to protect against a variety of threats — we also aim to empower our clients with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively navigate and minimize risks to their home, vehicle, business, farm and livelihoods.

Our hail preparedness guide outlines the proactive measures you can take to minimize hail-related damage to your home, business or farm. We also explain the types of insurance policies that typically cover hail-related damages and related losses for your home, vehicle, business or farm. Lastly, we provide guidance on what steps to take if you need to file a hail-related insurance claim.

Hail information for individuals

Prepare your home and vehicle for hail

Hail can cause extensive damage in a short period of time, and the storms are typically fast moving — which is why it’s best to prepare in advance.

Hail information for businesses

Prepare your business for hail

You don’t need to have an engineering or finance background to effectively manage your business risks. Below we outline some tips that can help your business start with the careful planning and diligence required to protect your business property from potential hail damage.

  • Regularly inspect and properly maintain your roof: Have a certified roofing consultant examine your roof for any signs of wear, tear and damage at least twice a year. When replacing or updating your roof, consider using hail-resistant materials.
  • Protect HVAC equipment located on your roof: The best line of defence is to opt for exterior HVAC equipment that can withstand hail strikes. Another solution is to install protections such as hail guards, shields or wire mesh around your equipment to minimize hail damage.
  • Inspect and protect skylights: Any signs of cracks, embrittlement or discolouration due to weathering or old age could serve as signs that your skylight could be easily damaged by hail; replace your skylights as necessary. If your business is in an area prone to hail, consider using hail-resistant guards such as screens or steel wire mesh around your skylights, or install skylights that are approved as impact resistant.
  • Protect your company vehicles: The best approach to protect your vehicles from hail damage is to move them under cover. This may include delaying any trips when forecasted hail is imminent. If a garage, carport or other shelter system is not available, consider investing in hail covers to protect your company vehicles.

Hail information for farms

Preparing your farm for hail

  • Regularly clean and remove debris from your eavestroughs to ensure proper drainage.
  • Inspect the roof on various buildings around your farm at least once a year and repair any damaged or worn areas. Not maintaining your roof, particularly on your home, may result in a denied hail claim.
  • Install protective shields or screens to protect any rooftop equipment.
  • Maintain, prune or remove trees to prevent broken branches or limbs from hitting your home.
  • Create an action plan for moving your livestock under shelter, where possible, in the event of a hailstorm.
  • Ensure your farm equipment, vehicles and other valuable items are stored in a covered building, wherever possible, to avoid damage in the event of a hailstorm
  • Install hail netting on crops.

Staying safe during a hailstorm

  • Go indoors, if possible, and keep away from windows, doors and skylights.
  • If caught outdoors and unable to access safe shelter, crouch down, facing away from the wind, and use your hands to cover your head and neck to minimize any potential injuries.
  • Again, if outdoors, stay away from trees, towers, and metal fences and poles to avoid possible injury from lightning.
  • Localized flooding can happen quickly during heavy hail and rainstorms; therefore, it’s best to avoid low-lying areas and storm drains if stuck outdoors.
  • If you’re driving when a hailstorm hits, try to find a safe place to pull completely off the road (note: do not stop under bridges or overpasses as this can cause a collision). Once completely pulled over in a safe spot, face away from all windows to protect yourself should the hail shatter the glass.

Answers to your frequently asked hail insurance questions

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