May 11, 2023 – Tornado and severe weather warnings sounded the alarm from Northern Colorado Tuesday down through the Front Range yesterday: Severe weather season has arrived in Colorado. Hail and heavy downpours first pummeled northern corridor neighborhoods around Erie, Windsor, and Greeley, then returned for round two Wednesday hitting the South Metro area with large amounts of hail and rain. 

"Mother Nature is just warming up her pitching arm as Coloradans brace themselves for severe weather season," says Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Association. "The best way to prepare financially for potential hail, tornado and flood damage during the peak Spring and Summer months is to do an insurance check-up on your coverage, policy limits and deductibles." 

If you are waking up to damage from this week’s storms start the day by contacting your insurance agent or company representative immediately to report damage resulting from the storm. 

RMIA recommends documenting damage to provide to your insurance carriers and do temporary repairs to prevent further storm damage. Hold on to repair receipts as they are likely reimbursable if you file a claim.  

How to file an auto claim: 

Hail, wind, fire, or flood damage to vehicles is covered if you carry comprehensive insurance on your auto policy. 

How to file a property claim:  

Homeowners insurance covers damage from hail, fire and wind. Property damage resulting from rising water is covered by a separate flood insurance policy. 

Selecting a Reputable Contractor & Avoiding Roofing Scams:

Every big storm brings with it unscrupulous contractors who often go door-to-door attempting to get victims to let them repair their roofs or other hail damage. These fraudsters will often make false promises, insist on full payment upfront before work is completed, and sometimes even create damage where none occurred. Coordinate with your insurance company in hiring a contractor to make sure you understand your settlement amount and are working with a reputable company.

Download RMIA & National Insurance Crime Bureau Hail Fraud Guide 

For more consumer information on insurance topics, logon to www.rmiia.org..

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