The Best Protection

Depending on where you live in the United States, hail storms may be a frightening threat or something that rarely crosses your mind. Known as “Hail Alley,” the region from Wyoming to Texas receives more hailstorms compared to the rest of the country. In 2020, Texas experienced 601 hail events, followed by South Dakota (377), Kansas and Oklahoma (each 341), then Nebraska (313). Hail storms are known for causing significant damage, wreaking financial havoc on individuals and business owners. Altogether, 2020 claims resulted in $14.2 billion in losses. 

While you can’t predict the unexpected, business owners can better prepare themselves with preventive measures against these dangerous storms. At Society Insurance, we have compiled best practices for bars, restaurants and other types of food and beverage establishments to protect their businesses against hail storms and other natural seasonal disasters to avoid costly storm damage insurance claims.

Inspect your Roof Every Year or Two to Prevent Indoor Storm Damage

Not only does a regular roof inspection extend the life of your roof, saving you money long-term, it allows you to troubleshoot and remedy any issues such as split shingles, loose or broken roofing material, rusty metal and sagging. It is much easier to fix a small roof problem than a collapsed roof or burgeoning leak that can cause even more damage inside.

Address Drainage Problems Prior to Storm Season

Check your gutters and building drainage before the storm season begins. If your gutters are due for a cleaning, contact a local gutter company to complete the job. Additionally, if your roof has been damaged, so have your gutters most likely. Neglected gutters spell disaster as they accumulate debris and standing water. Standing water can easily overflow into your foundation, potentially flooding the basement and shutting down your establishment.

Secure Outdoor Items to Prevent Wind Damage

Grills, picnic tables and lawn furniture can become projectiles in high wind scenarios. “Batten down the hatches” as they say—you don’t want your patio umbrella to go spiraling through the air in the midst of a summer storm. Consider securing patio furniture with steel security cables if you cannot safely store furniture.

Trim your Trees to Prevent Storm Damage

While dead trees and dead branches are a liability all of the time, dead branches are more likely to fall during heavy storms and gusting winds. This can be hazardous to you, your employees, patrons and the building. From tree limbs falling on the roof to dead branches getting tangled in power lines, a well-maintained property will, again, help you avoid costly storm damage insurance claims.

Proactive Approach

With the worst of this year’s hail season still ahead of us, there’s never been a better time to prepare for a possible hail storm, especially if you call “Hail Alley” home. Business owners can mitigate damage to their building, payroll and bottom line if they invest a little bit of time into preventive measures.

Jarrett Wagner is a risk control representative at Society Insurance. He began his career at Society Insurance in 2008 in the property, auto and liability claims department. During his tenure at Society Insurance, he earned his AIC and AIS designations and has spent the past three years in risk control. Wagner has a B.A. degree in criminal justice from Illinois State University. For more information on Society Insurance, visit https://www.societyinsurance.com/