2009 Hail Investigation
RICOWI's Board of Directors has approved moving forward with a 2009 hail investigation, which will be targeted in the Dallas / Fort Worth, TX area.
Hail season in Dallas technically started on March 1st and runs through June 30th.
Background
The Hail Investigation Program (HIP) was launched during the spring of 2004. RICOWI deployed teams to conduct an investigation of the April 21, 2004 Oklahoma City, OK hailstorm. The published report is available here, on RICOWI's website.
Criteria
The Mobilization Criteria has been established as follows:
"An event is identified as a hailstorm with hail stones greater than 1.5" in diameter causing significant damage covering an area of 5 square miles or more on one of the targeted areas." During the investigation, we will also have a team look at areas where the hail size ranges from .5 to 1.5" in diameter to help identify the threshold hailstorm size for various roofing products and identify any minor damages that could occur.
Program Enhancement
New to the Program is the introduction of hail pads that will be installed on facilities and residences in the target area. Colorado State University (CSU operates the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), which is a low-cost approach to hail monitoring and research.
What are Hail Pads?
Hail Pads were created by CoCoRaHS, a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive website, the aim of the network is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. The network currently operates in many states across the country.
Hail pads are built from foam and foil, and record impacts from hail storms. After the storm, the project team is able to determine the number and size of hailstones that fell during a particular storm by studying the hail pads. There are numerous hail pad projects throughout the U.S. currently in progress. To learn more about hail pads, CoCoRaHS, visit www.cocorahs.org.
Following an event the hail pads will be collected and sent to CSU for analysis.
Several reasons for placing hail pads on locations throughout the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex in the initial phase of the study are to:
- Identify location- specific hail size;
- Equate hail size to damages sustained to roof coverings, rooftop appurtances, EFIS wall coverings, skylights, etc.;
- Track actual hail strikes specific to each location for assistance in determining prior storm events and noted damage during that event; reduce paying twice for same damage; advantageous to insurance carriers providing new coverage to location; provides track record of prior events along with reported hail data during their coverage period and prior periods;
- Reduce potential for larger than actual reported hail sizes;
- Provide invaluable hail research to identified hail resistant roofing products, support hail rating systems and associated discounts carriers can offer in Texas.
The results will be incorporated into the formal hail investigation report, which will continue to provide educational materials for roofing professionals to design hail-resistant roofing systems.
HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?
We are looking for volunteers for hail pad installation.
Volunteers will pick up a hail pad(s) at a specified location, which they will then set out on their property following instructions provided with the pads. If a hail storm occurs, RICOWI will notify volunteers if it intends to collect data from that storm. If that happens, volunteers will mail or drop the hail pad off at a specified location. Volunteers may be asked to inspect the hail pad occasionally to determine if it has been damaged by something other than the hail storm that RICOWI chooses to study. There may be a need to replace the hail pad with a new one as a result. Each volunteer must have access to e-mail and a telephone. There is a very detailed instruction sheet that will accompany the hail pad.
This project runs through 2009. If a hail storm does not occur in the volunteer's area, then the hail pad will not be used during the study, and that volunteer's role in the study will be complete.
Where to obtain Hail Pads
Download the hail pad form (word .doc | adobe .pdf), complete and email your request to paws01@ricowi.com or fax to 678-567-1759.