What to Expect After a Large Weather Event
04/24/2026
In this industry, just like most others, you have good days and bad. The last few weeks in the Mid Ohio Valley have been very BAD. Our agency has submitted upwards of 150 home and auto hail claims since the storm that wrecked a large portion of Washington County on April 1st. We normally have on average 12 claims open at a time. We have seen dozens of contractors, roofers, paintless dent repair companies move into our region within only a few days’ time from places such as Florida, Georgia and Indiana. It has been a totally unprecedented weather event, the likes of which our region hasn’t seen since 1998.
We wanted to make our community aware of what they can expect if they have a claim and what they can expect, even if they don’t.
For those with auto claims:
Vehicles are being totaled at an alarming rate. When an insurance company determines that the cost to repair is more than 80% of the value of the vehicle, the vehicle is determined to be a total loss - this is true even when it comes to cosmetic damages as well. You will be given two options; 1. Settlement Option. Turn the vehicle and the title over to the insurance company (and COPART) and take a payout amount for your vehicles value immediately before the damage. 2. Salvage/Buyback Option.In this scenario you take a lesser payout from insurance but keep your vehicle. You are immediately issued a salvage title from the Ohio BMV and are no longer able to drive that vehicle until it is inspected by the Ohio State Highway Patrol (closest location in Cambridge) which at this time can take 4+ weeks due to the current volume.
It is our opinion that carriers requiring people to salvage their vehicles and go through this process for cosmetic damage and holding vehicles that have been totally rebuilt after structural damage to the same standard is unfair and unecessary. We have reported this both to the Ohio Department of Insurance and Ohio Insurance Agents Association and are working closely with both on a resolution. This can and will take some time. It is their recommendation that those that are unhappy with these solutions file a complaint with ODI. This can provide an individualised solution and also be a quicker process as the State has to comply with specific timetables when a complaint has been filed. You can do that here: https://insurance.ohio.gov/about-us/complaint-center/submit-insurance-complaint. For our clients, our office would be happy to assist you.
For those that have repairable vehicles, a dentless repair is a great option if you don’t require any part replacements.
For those with home claims:
Most insurance companies have two deductibles for homeowners policies and this scenario would fall under your wind and hail deductible. Most commonly, the wind and hail deductible is determined by the age and and material of your roof, regardless of where the damage has happened on your home. But some carriers such as State Farm, USAA, Travelers, Allstate, Nationwide and others use a percentage of between 1-10% of your homes dwelling cost as your deductible.
All damages are first subject to this deductible and your roof is also subject to additional depreciation based on the age and condition at the time of the loss. The older the roof, the higher the deductible, and the higher the depreciation, resulting in the smallest payout in this scenario.
Many homeowners insurance policies now offer an additional coverage called Matching of Undamaged Roof Surface, Siding, or Windows up to a certain limit which is a way to make sure that even if the undamaged siding doesn’t match due to age, it will still be replaced. Contact your local agent to find out if you have this coverage option available to you.
It is our recommendation to avoid the out of town contractors ie stormchasers. Ways to spot a fraudulent contractor are as follows: 1. They offer unsolicited inspections 2. They offer to turn the claim in for you 3. They “guarantee” a full replacement or no deductible costs 4. They require a large downpayment 5. They ask about very specific details in your policy. If you are uncomfortable with a contractor we would recommend a quick Google. If you feel inclined to report said contractor, you can do so here through the Ohio Department of Insurance.
A catastrophic event of this magnitude means one thing for certain: insurance rates are going to rise for all of us. At an already uncertain and historically expensive time, we know just how daunting that can feel. Know that we are in your corner and will do our best to make sure that our clients are taken care of their assets protected. We are your neighbors and are feeling these same burdens but just as we have done for 98 years, we will continue to serve our community with honesty and transperancy.