Weekend hail storm damages property

March 26-- Mar. 26--Large hail hammered Edmond rooftops late Saturday afternoon leaving residents in need of roof and car repairs. Early daffodils lost their petals and residents took shelter.

"It lasted about five or 10 minutes, and they were golf ball size, ping pong size, and the whole front yards, the side yards were all covered," said Kathy Croasdale, who lives east of Memorial Road and Bryant. "It hit the skylights. It's a miracle it didn't come through the windows. Our patio furniture was destroyed. I'm sure our roof is totaled."

Hail as hard as ice cubes slammed her husband Rick's Mercedes as they tried to leave for one of their grandson's baseball games at about 5:30 p.m.

First came quarter-size hail followed by "gigantic" hail, she said. The storm then left as fast as it moved in.

The Croasdales aren't the only ones who had pounding ice Saturday. Jason Martin of Elliott Roofing spent his 38th birthday responding to emergency calls. He found 18 of 20 residential roofs were totaled.

"In Forest Oaks, alone, I had a lot of neighbors where I went out and tarped off skylights," Martin said.

On Monday more inspections came his way. The storm caused significant property damage, he said.

The Oklahoma Roofing Contractors Association offers a member contracting directory for registered and insured ORCA member contractors who can help with residential and commercial roofing needs at https://www.orcagroup.org/membership/membership-directory/contractor-members/.

TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

The Oklahoma Insurance Department offers the following tips for homeowners when seeking assistance for storm damage:

--Don't let anyone inspect your property without you watching. Some unscrupulous companies will cause damage to drive up the repair cost, and your insurance company will likely not cover the additional cost;

--Never pay the entire repair bill in advance. Pay in full only when the work is completed according to your agreement;

--Be suspicious of anyone who offers to get you more money for your insurance claim;

--Look for an established, licensed company and request references;

--Ask to see certificates of insurance to be sure both liability and workers compensation insurance coverage is carried and are in force during the time the repair work is being done;

--Insist on a detailed, written estimate clearly stating the quantity of materials needed (labor charges, work specifications) which include approximate starting and completion dates, payment procedures and that any necessary building permits are secured. Some scammers will trick you into signing a contract by saying it's an estimate.The homeowner's signature is not required to receive an estimate;

--Carefully review and understand any warranty and watch for conditions that would void it;

--Use caution and ask questions before accepting a bid substantially lower than other bids covering the same repair work;

--Avoid high pressure sales tactics;

--Don't allow a roofing company to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. That can only be done by a licensed public adjuster; and

--If you do use a licensed public adjuster, make sure they do not have any financial interest in a roofing company.

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