Amarillo, Texas, is U.S. hail capital, RiskMeter Online study says
John Egan
Amarillo, Texas, is the U.S. metro area most likely to get pelted by hail, according to a September 2011 study from RiskMeter Online.
RiskMeter Online’s Hail Model predicts the frequency of hailstorms for any location in the continental United States. All of the cities on RiskMeter Online’s top 10 list were in four states: Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Following Amarillo on the list of most hail-prone metro areas with a population of at least 50,000 were:
2. Wichita, Kan.
3. Tulsa, Okla.
4. Oklahoma City, Okla.
5. Midwest City, Okla.
6. Aurora, Colo.
7. Colorado Springs, Colo.
8. Kansas City, Kan.
9. Fort Worth, Texas.
10. Denver.
In 2010, more than 10,000 hailstorms across the country caused damage, Daniel Munson, founder of RiskMeter Online, says in a news release.
According to Safeco Insurance, home and auto insurance policies typically cover hail damage to roofs, walls, cars and belongings. However, your deductible will apply, the company says, and you may have a higher deductible for hail damage.
A study by Swiss Re, which is an insurer for insurance companies, indicates that five of the mostly costly U.S. insurance losses of 2010 involved hail. Even small hail stones have been known to shatter windows, smash roofs and leave pockmarks in home siding, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
RiskMeter Online is part of Boston-based CDS Business Mapping LLC, which offers mapping software, data and apps for insurers.
