April 20th Hail Storm Causes Significant Damage in York County
Apr 22, 2024
On April 20, 2024, a huge storm blew through South Carolina. Spanning over 22 miles, the storm resulted in major damage throughout communities such as Rock Hill, SC, Lancaster, SC, and York, SC. While the storm was so aggressive that some suspected it was a tornado, the damage was actually the result of softball-sized hail and winds reaching up to 90 mph. In fact, the largest hail stones reported in 13 years were found in Rock Hill, which was pelleted by hail stones measuring up to 4 inches in diameter.
What Types of Storm Damage are Being Reported?
Hail left an astounding snow-like covering across the area as well as significant damage to local homes and public properties. Windows, fences, cars, and roofs all took a beating. In addition to damage caused by the hail stones, high winds are reported to have torn apart roofs and siding, leaving many homes without protection. According to Fox Weather, numerous trees were also downed on both residential properties and streets.
Fortunately, no deaths have been reported related to the storm, and only a few minor injuries occurred. However, the damage done by this storm will not be forgotten anytime soon. Herald Online has reported that the storm caused over $5 million in damage, according to recent calculations. A county assessment in York County revealed that five homes were completely destroyed, hundreds were left with damaged windows and holes in their roofs, and 17 suffered from other major forms of damage.
Has There Been a Disaster Declaration?
Despite the extensive damage, neither the local government nor local residents qualify for federal disaster assistance, which is only available following $11 million of public damage or the devastation of 100 or more homes. As calculations are being made, local officials are encouraging residents to notify them of any damage that has occurred to their homes. In the meantime, homeowners are scrambling to navigate insurance claims and get the prompt repairs they desperately need to return to life as normal.
How to Navigate the Insurance Claims Process
If you are faced with hail or wind damage to your home due to this storm, you may be wondering what steps you need to take next. The first thing you should do is get in touch with an experienced roofing contractor that offers both prompt storm damage repairs and assistance with the insurance claims process. After contacting them, be sure to review your insurance policy to understand the types of storm damage coverage you have access to. Pay close attention to any deductibles, limits, and exclusions listed.
Once you have made an appointment with the roofing contractor, they will send an experienced specialist to your home to conduct a comprehensive inspection of your roofing system, gutter system, and siding. It is important to have an expert manage this process to ensure that any and all damage is accounted for. Following the inspection, you will receive a detailed assessment of the damage and the specialist’s recommendations for any repairs or replacements that may be necessary.
The next step is to contact your insurance company, who will send over an insurance adjuster to examine the damage. While the roofing contractor cannot represent you in the insurance claims process, the details revealed during their inspection will be vital to acquiring proper compensation. The roofing contractor can even be present when your insurance adjuster visits to help ensure nothing is missing from the resulting report.
After both you and the roofing contractor have reviewed and approved the report, you can submit your claim with your insurance company. When it is approved, you may schedule the needed repairs with the roofing contractor. Following the completion of these repairs, you can finalize your claim and make any other payments necessary.
As most of the harm that has occurred from this storm has been the result of hail and wind, we will now take a look at what to expect from these two types of damage when it comes to your roofing system.
Hail Damage
Typically, hail that is two inches or more in size is considered to be “large” and is known to cause obvious damage to roofs. After exposure to 4-inch hail, it is no surprise that local homeowners have reported extensive hail damage ranging from broken roof shingles to actual holes in their roofs. In many of these cases, a full roof replacement has been necessary. As frustrating as this can be, a roof replacement offers the opportunity for an upgrade to your roofing system that will provide your home with decades of protection even in the face of hail and high winds.
Wind Damage
After those 90 mph winds, local residents have described roof shingles being blown off completely and roof damage resulting from windblown debris. In some instances of wind damage, roof repairs are enough to bring the roof back to a functional state. In others, the integrity of the roof is impacted to such an extent that a full roof replacement is necessary.
Final Thoughts
As members of the local community ourselves, we at Merritt Roofing know firsthand what a huge impact this storm has had on the residents of York County, SC, and beyond. We have proudly been providing trusted roofing services since 2009, and we are working hard to help ensure local homeowners have the resources they need to get through this difficult time. If your home has suffered damage from this recent storm, you can count on us to assist you with everything from emergency repairs and reliable roof replacements to assistance with the insurance claims process.
We have locations in Charlotte, Fort Mill, and Greenville, SC. Our original and main office is in York County and we offer 24/7 availability and some of the highest-quality roofing services in the region. To get started with our roofing services in York County, SC, or a nearby community, simply call (704) 610-1689 and schedule an appointment, or reach out to us online for a free estimate.
