Tena StetlerAuthor of Paranormal Romance/Suspense & Cozy Mysteries With Magic Spark!

Aug 9th Oh Hail!

Unexplained occurrences was to be my next topic.  Little did I know it would be over my neighborhood.

Baseball size hail can cause unbelievable chaos not to mention the damage.  Whew!  As some of my FB friends know, the area of Colorado I live in experienced orange and baseball sized hail July 28, 2016 at 10:30 at night. Can you believe it?  I always thought the clash between the moist warm air and colder air was the cause of hail.  After the night of July 28^th I stand corrected!

In the cool of the evening ominous thunderclouds still  hung over the mountains, but they’d been there all day. Bolts of lightning streaked around inside them, then suddenly as we prepared for bed, a roar then, bang, crash, sounds like someone was beating our house, and vehicles with a giant baseball bat began.   Rushed to the window to see my garden decimated, tomato plants flush with fruit smashed and mushed tomatoes strewn on the ground,  pumpkin vines obliterated, kale stripped, you get the picture. The carrots were safe. The beautiful fairy like glass yard lights shattered and tree limbs, leaves several inches thick covered the grass. Huge ice balls lay melting on the ground.

That cracking sound I’d heard earlier, yeah it was the brand new windshield we had installed a couple of weeks prior. Dents in the truck hood, side panel and roof made the metal ripple.  At midnight, our neighbors and us stood dumbfounded at the storm’s aftermath damage, smashed windows, windshields, the pretty light yellow vinyl siding, next door, looked like Swiss cheese. No really, not kidding.

At morning light, the storage place our RV called home when not rambling the mountain roads in search of a camping spot called.  The RV had sustained a broken window, major roof, side and door damage.  We rushed over to tow it home for emergency repairs. Yep, had to cancel the trip to Twin Lakes.

Now almost a couple of weeks later, the neighborhood is a buzz with insurance adjusters, roofer, construction vehicles.  Phase two of the storm aftermath, the song of air hammers, circular saws, the rumble of the machine that loads the shingles on your roof, noisy sucker.  Anyway what I learned.

Don’t piss off Mother Nature.  I didn’t think we did, but…. all evidence points to the contrary.

Keep the phone number or website of your insurance carrier handy.  They answer or allow claims via the internet 24/7.  The sooner you file, the sooner your claim gets processed, ahead of all those other damaged people.  Oops I meant people with property damage.

Our hailstorm was categorized as a catastrophic event and insurance teams rushed to survey the damage.  Even the US Air Force sustained severe hail damage to it’s fleet of aircraft based at Peterson Air Force Base. How many, you ask? Sorry that’s above your security clearance. The damage will be in the millions. Can’t just call up a body shop and say “I need repairs on my C-130.”

Keep the name of your hometown roofer on your fridge, never know when you’ll need ‘em. Aspen Roofing, bless his heart was on our roof by 10:00 a.m., that morning. The loading of shingles and roof repair is due to commence tomorrow, provided you know who, doesn’t throw another temper tantrum.

Take pictures, lots of pictures of the damage then fix what is necessary to prevent additional damage. Keep your receipts, provide them to the insurance company.

And it’s ok to feel sad, shed a few tears, when you look at your trusty vehicle all beat to *@##. Ever had a battle  with the forces of  nature?

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