From Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 29, 2008, the U.S. National Weather Service received more than 13,700 reports of hail sightings and 15,166 reports of high or excessive winds. While not every storm is able to inflict reportable damage to a policyholder, the level of exposure involved with each storm is enormous. This creates an opportunity for claim professionals to provide customer service and management skills with regard to the most exposed portion of the home: the exterior, particularly the siding and roofing.

Making a Match

Direct physical loss to roofing and siding are common causes for property claims. If even 10 percent of the storms noted in 2008 were severe enough to inflict reportable damage, 7,240 areas could be affected. That means the possibility of thousands of claims in each area, each with the potential to become a catastrophe.