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Stay safe during a hailstorm.

We're here to help protect you before, during and after a natural disaster.

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How to prepare for a hailstorm

Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against hail. Check out our tips to help protect your roof from water damage.


To stay informed on weather in your area, sign up for emergency alerts. If a hailstorm is on the way, park your car in a garage or under cover and move your outdoor furniture to a covered area.

How to Be Prepared for a Hail Storm

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The sound of hail hitting your house or car might leave you feeling on edge. And depending on the size and the speed of the hailstones, they can pose a danger to people and property alike. They often leave dented vehicles, broken windows, cracked vinyl siding and roof shingle damage in their wake.

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But you can take action to get ahead of hailstorm damage before it occurs. If a hailstorm is in your immediate forecast, here's what you can do.

Stay weather aware. Find a reliable source for local weather forecasts and subscribe to emergency alerts.

Cover up. Park your car in a garage or other covered parking, if possible.

Keep your home's exterior clear. Move, cover or secure outdoor items that could become flying debris in high winds.

Once a hailstorm starts, safety should be a priority.

Watch out for windows. Close drapes, blinds or window shades during a severe hailstorm to keep wind from blowing broken glass inside that can cause injury.

Avoid sheltering under trees. They could be struck by lightning or drop heavy branches that might fall on you.

Be careful behind the wheel. If you're driving when hail hits, get off the road and stop driving. Stay in your vehicle and cover your face and head while keeping your back to the windows.

So, before a severe hailstorm ever carves a path in your direction, be aware, be prepared and above all, stay safe

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Hailstorm safety tips

Indoor safety

Keep your family and pets indoors and away from windows, glass doors and skylights. Move to a smaller interior room away from outside walls if possible. Avoid using landlines or electrical appliances.

Outdoor safety

Stay out of ditches and areas that may suddenly fill with water. Don’t seek shelter under trees. You could get hit by lightning or falling branches. If you can’t find something to protect your entire body, at least protect your head.

Driving safety

Keep more distance from the vehicle in front to avoid a rear-end collision. When it's safe to do so, stop driving to prevent damage to your windshield or windows. Keep your face away from the windows and shield small children.

What to do after a hailstorm

Know your rights and protect finances.

Your policy will cover the reasonable costs of repairs after a covered loss whether you work with a USAA-preferred contractor or not.


If you want to use your own, ask friends and family for recommendations and read reviews. And make sure you read and understand any documents before signing.

Inspect property and assess damage.

If you find damage, take photos and file a claim. Check for water leaks, especially in ceilings. Save receipts for temporary repairs and avoid permanent repairs until your claims adjuster checks the damage.

File claims for vehicle damage.

If there’s damage, take photos before removing debris or making temporary repairs. For auto glass damage, file an auto glass claim. For other damage, file an auto claim. Save receipts for temporary repairs to get reimbursed.

How to file a natural disaster claim

Try to report your claim as soon as possible. This helps you secure a contractor early, avoiding long wait times to hear from them.

Steps to complete How to file a natural disaster claim

  1. Report your claim

    Tell us what happened. Get started on usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.

  2. Get more details

    We’ll review what happened and check what your policy covers. You can also add more details in My Claims Center.

  3. Evaluate the claim

    We’ll go over the details and figure out what to pay based on your coverage and deductible.

  4. Settle the claim

    If covered, we’ll make a payment to you or a third party.

Ready to report your claim?

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Related footnotes:

  1. Safety guidelines are not intended to be all inclusive, but are provided for your consideration. Please use your own judgment to determine what safety features/procedures should be used in each unique situation.

  2. Property and casualty insurance underwritten by United Services Automobile Association (USAA), USAA Casualty Insurance Company, USAA General Indemnity Company, Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company, NOBLR Reciprocal Exchange, based in San Antonio, Texas; USAA S.A. (Europe), and USAA S.A. UK Branch (United Kingdom) and is available only to persons eligible for property and casualty group membership. Each company has sole financial responsibility for its own products.

    Coverages subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.

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