When it rains, it pours – and heavily! Tornadoes and thunderstorms cause considerable damage to property apart from serious injuries. According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), each year, more than 100,000 thunderstorms occur in the U.S. with at least 10 percent of them being severe enough to be life-threatening.
On average, 1253 tornadoes hit the U.S. every year, causing damage worth millions of dollars. A Statista report shows that tornadoes caused damage worth $649 million in the U.S. in 2017.
Every year, thunderstorms affect 867,000 people with severe lightening causing 300 injuries and 60 fatalities.
Safety tips
Hails, lightning, and high-speed winds can damage buildings and assets such as cars, boats or other vehicles.
Here are some safety tips that will help protect yourself and your property during tornado or thunderstorms:
The first step is to have an emergency plan prepared and ready to protect yourself, your family members, and your precious assets. Have an emergency kit ready that includes medical supplies, food, and water.
Stay inside during a storm or tornado. Switch off electronic devices and anything that can potentially cause a fire. Stay away from metal pipes, stoves, sinks, doors, and windows. Avoid using the telephone.
Ensure you park your car or other vehicles inside the garage before a thunderstorm. Hail or falling objects due to high-speed winds can break the windshield, windows or mirrors and cause major dents on the car.
Install hurricane shutters or high impact windows in your home, and use heavy duty bolts to secure all the doors in the home. Installing these is the best way to reduce storm insurance premiums as well!
- Tie down any object that can fly away in the storm.
- Trim or cut down branches of trees that can fall on the roof during the storm.
- Storm cellars can give maximum protection against tornadoes.
- Reinforce your roof with nails, steel strap or cement.
- Clean storm drains and gutters regularly to ensure they are not blocked. Constructing barriers around the home will help prevent floodwater entering your home during a storm surge.
Stay safe with Texas homeowners insurance
While there is nothing you can do to prevent storms or tornadoes from occurring, the ideal way to minimize risks is to have a suitable Homeowners Insurance Policy that covers damage due to natural disasters such as tornadoes and thunderstorms. Many insurance companies offer a separate flood insurance policy that gives additional protection.
The Thumann Agency goes beyond the regular insurance to provide meaningful insights for optimum risk management.
Contact the Thumann Agency for expert advice and best quotes on thunderstorm and tornado insurance.