Storm Damage

IF YOU NEED HELP DON’T HESITATE TO CALL JMS BUILDING CORPORATION, WE SPECIALIZE IN INSURANCE RESTORATION AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO IN THESE SITUATIONS. WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE STEPS WHILE PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS AND RIGHTS AS A HOMEOWNER BY RETURNING YOUR HOME TO ITS PRE-LOSS CONDITION.

Hurricane Damage

Florida has been visited by some of the most destructive and devastating hurricanes on record in the United States causing well over $450 billion in damage since the early 20th century. The value of insured property in Florida against windstorm damage is the highest in the nation and on the rise. The frequency and severity of hurricanes affecting Florida are examined from the best set of available data and the damages are related to characteristics of the storms at landfall. Results show that normalized losses are increasing over time consistent with small increases in hurricane intensity and hurricane size. The best predictor of potential losses is minimum central pressure.

Hurricane size alone or in combination with hurricane intensity does not improve on the simpler relationship. An estimate of potential losses from hurricanes can be obtained using a formula involving only a forecast of the minimum pressure at landfall. The ability to estimate potential losses in Florida will increase the ability to estimate losses in other areas of the United States, and will also allow policy makers and insurance companies to provide relevant information to the concerned public.

Tornado Damage

Most tornado damage is done by high winds, up to 300 MPH, and flying debris. To prepare your home for tornado season, it is always a good idea to trim back tree branches away from the roof, or large windows, as fallen limbs and broken tree branches can do a substantial amount of damage to your roof, windows and exterior.

In a tornado, there are 5 factors that determine storm damage:

• Wind Speed


• Wind Direction


• Wind Duration


• Flying Debris


• Strength of the Structure

Since the roof of any structure is highly susceptible to tornado damage, here are a few smart tips to limit the amount of damage a tornado will do to your roof, by shingle type:

• Shake: Reinforce with extra nails


• Slate: Seal with cement or mortar


• Tile: A steel strap placed over the tiles and tied into the roof (tile roofs can also be reinforced with mortar and cement)


• Asphalt: Get a full damage inspection after the storm, but nothing can be done in advance to strengthen an asphalt roof

Tornado winds are measured on the F-Scale (Fujita Scale) which rates the degree of intensity of the wind, and likelihood of damage. So, if you hear a report of an F-3 tornado heading your way, you can be assured that it will cause serious damage to the structures in its path, whereas an F-0 tornado is much less likely to cause serious damage.

• F-0 40-72 Light


• F-1 73-112 Moderate


• F-2 113-157 Considerable


• F-3 158-206 Severe


• F-4 207-260 Devastating


• F-5 261-318 Incredible Damage

When assessing damage after a tornado, you'll want to look for signs of damage on your roof, windows and exterior. It is common for tree branches and flying debris to do serious damage. Missing shingles are common, along with split seams. Also check for bent, missing or damaged rain gutters. Look for broken, chipped or cracked windows and damage on the exterior of your home. As with any storm, it is always smart to have a full storm damage inspection performed by a reputable contractor who has experience working with insurance claims.

Wind Damage

High winds are a fact of life for many property owners. With recorded wind speeds reaching upwards of 300 MPH, the damage done by severe windstorms, wind-driven hail, flying debris and tornado damage results in billions of dollars in damage every year.

To prepare your home for high winds, it is always a good idea to trim back tree branches away from the roof and large windows, as fallen limbs and broken tree branches can do a substantial amount of damage to your roof, windows and exterior.

If a tornado or windstorm is approaching, make sure to secure storm shutters over panes of exposed glass, or use pieces of pre-measured, pre-cut plywood to protect windows. Since most wind damage is done by flying objects, bring in outdoor furniture, toys, pots and gardening tools. Shut your garage door and make sure doors and windows are secured. For updates on wind conditions, tune in to local TV or radio.

In a severe windstorm there are 5 factors that determine storm damage:

• Wind Speed


• Wind Direction


• Wind Duration


• Flying Debris


• Strength of the Structure

Roof Damage Caused by Storms

When a storm hits, the roof is most susceptible to costly damage. Fallen tree branches, flying debris, hail and wind are common causes of roofing damage. Signs of damage include holes in the roof, missing shingles, split seams and cracked, broken or curled shingles. If you have asphalt shingles, look for dents or bruises. Because asphalt shingles are coated with tiny metallic granules that protect your home from damaging UV-rays, look for an accumulation of granules in your gutters and downspouts. Loose granules often precede more serious problems, including roof deterioration, leaking, flooding and structural compromise.

Common Signs of Roofing Damage

• Holes in the roof


• Split seams


• Missing shingles


• Bruises or dented asphalt shingles


• Cracked or broken tile, slate, or concrete shingles


• Granules collecting in gutters or downspouts


• Leaks in your roof or ceiling


• Dents on vents, gutters, or flashing

Exterior Storm Damage

Strong winds, flying debris, and wind-driven hail do the most damage to the exterior of your home. Many types of exterior damage can be identified if you know what to look for. Here is a quick overview of the most common types of exterior damage.

Siding Damage

While durable, low maintenance and attractive, vinyl siding can be seriously damaged during a storm. The three most common types of damage sustained by vinyl siding are:

• Cracking: Splits or cracks that run parallel to the siding, often in half-circles, most often found mid-way between the valley and ridges of the panel.


• Chipping: A chip is a small piece of siding that has been broken off - typically in the shape of a half-circle at the bottom of a siding panel ridge, where the siding has no inward flexibility to absorb a direct hit. Can best be seen when looking up, from underneath a panel section.


• Breaking and Holes: In severe storm damage situations siding can break or holes can be punched into the siding by large hailstones and flying debris. If your siding is broken or has holes in it, then it is no longer protecting your home from the elements and will need to be inspected by a reputable contractor as soon as possible.

If you have aluminum siding, the most common signs of storm damage are dings and dents in the siding. In a severe storm, it is common for pieces of aluminum siding to be ripped off entirely. If your home has been hit by a hailstorm and there doesn't appear to be damage at first glance, you'll want to inspect your aluminum siding closely when the sun is low in the sky either in the early morning, or late evening, which will make the damage easier to see.

Paint Damage

The most common signs of storm damage to exterior paint are chips, cracks and discoloration. Chipping is caused by wind driven hailstones or flying debris that causes paint to chip, crack, discolor, or peel away, sometimes in large sections. After a severe storm or hailstorm, you may notice small black marks on your paint.

Stucco Damage

While stucco is typically resistant to light and moderate weather, severe storms such as large hail, flying debris and tornado-speed winds can cause serious damage to stucco. The most common form of damage is holes punched into the stucco. Some holes are large and easy to recognize, while others may be smaller and require closer inspection to be detected. Stucco damage is a serious problem that comprises the exterior of your home.

Remember, if the stucco on your home has sustained storm damage, there is an excellent chance that other parts of your home, including the roof are seriously damaged as well. If you have holes in your stucco caused by hail, wind or a tornado, you will want to contact a reputable insurance restoration contractor right away, for a full property inspection.

Brick Damage

Many owners of brick homes overlook damage to their home until it is too late to file an insurance claim. While brick stands up well to most storm damage, the trim, window casings, gutters, metal flashing, vents and roof are highly susceptible to costly damage. Since storm damage is covered under most insurance policies, if you have a brick home, make sure you get a full property damage inspection from a reputable contractor as soon as possible.

What is Hail Damage?

In many parts of the US, hailstorms are a way of life. For many homeowners it's not a question of whether a hailstorm will hit, but when damaging hail will hit. Many areas in the U.S. receive hail six or more times a year and many homes are damaged every year. By definition, hail damage is any damage resulting from hailstones and hailstorms. Hailstones that are 0.75 inches or greater are large enough to cause substantial damage to homes, automobiles & property. For comparison, 0.75 inches is the diameter of a penny.

How to Identify Hail Damage

You may think that just because you can't see any signs of damage, or because your roof isn't leaking, you don't have damage. Remember, hail damage can be particularly difficult to identify and many homeowners discover major roofing damage years down the road, after it's too late to file a storm damage claim with their insurance company. If you have any reason to suspect hail damage after a storm, you should have a full property damage inspection performed by a reputable contractor, right away.

Roof Hail Damage - Roofs are the most commonly damaged part of a home or business in hailstorms. A damaged shingle may allow water to seep through the roof causing additional damage to the roof deck, support structure, interior walls, or windows, and can cause leaking, staining on walls and flooding inside your home. Leaking roofs lead to costly damages and many insurance policies have strict time limits on submitting claims after hailstorms, so it's in your best interest to act fast after hailstorms and start the repairs process, if necessary.

Asphalt Shingle Damage - On an asphalt roof, hail damage looks like a dark spot, or bruise, where the roofing granules have been knocked away (look in gutters for accumulation of granules). In some cases you may find holes, cracking, or missing shingles on roofs with hail damage. This can result in leaking and serious water damage, which can lead to mold formation and wood rot, which can compromise the structural integrity of your roof resulting in collapse. In severe wind storms, it is common for shingles or sections of the roof to be missing altogether.

Other Types of Shingle Damage - Shake (wood), metal, tile, and slate roof shingles can all suffer damage from hailstorms. Due to the materials, each type of shingle shows unique signs of damage from hail. If shingles are cracked, missing, torn or split at seams, you should definitely have a damage inspection performed. Similarly, if you notice leaking inside your home after a hailstorm, get an inspection right away.

Reference:
http://stormdamagecenter.org/index.php
http://myweb.fsu.edu/jelsner/PDF/Research/MalmstadtEtAl2009.pdf