Residents Survey Aftermath Of Hailstorm
As flood waters receded and hail melted Thursday, property owners saw the full impact of Wednesday’s intense hailstorm on the city’s east side.
Roofing companies and insurance adjusters assessed damage while residents inspected roofs and vehicles for damage and swept and raked debris from yards. Sandra Daily was relieved after a free inspection determined she had no roof damage.
“That’s a big relief,” said Daily, who lives on Santa Rosa Street. “I just bought this house in February. It’s a relief not to have a big expense right now.”
A mile west on Monteagle Street, an elderly woman learned she’d need a new roof. Fortunately, she’s covered by insurance.
“I actually came out and inspected it last week from a previous storm,” said James McKean of Peak Roofing Team. “The damage from last week to today was like night and day.”
Insurance agents said standard policies cover damage from wind and hail but not from flooding. Only a separate federal policy covers flood damage, agents said, one that many residents don’t have. That could mean significant out-of-pocket expenses for those residents.
Mackenzie Bruce said he expects to pay a $500 deductible to repair $4,000 in hail damage to his 2006 Mustang.
“There’s so many people going in for repairs that I had to skip my appointment and reschedule it,” said Bruce. “Having a nice car seems like a struggle (just) to keep it clean. An act of God seems a little bit much.”
Piles of melted hail, mixed with leaves and other debris, remained several feet high on Chelton Road west of Citadel Mall, the area hardest hit by the hailstorm. A steady stream of spectators drove past the area to view the scene and stop to take pictures.
Because hail is the source of many damage claims and is common along Colorado’s Front Range, one agent wants homeowners to take more preventive measures.
“Put on hail-resistant roofs,” said Dave Powel, an agent with State Farm Insurance for 34 years. “They’re about the same price as a regular composition shingle, and they look about the same. You’ll save money and hassle.”
