Hailstorm Home Preparation Checklist: Cars and Windows

Quick answer: For a hailstorm home preparation checklist, park vehicles in a garage when time allows, close and latch windows and skylights, bring pets and loose items inside, and follow grill fuel-storage rules. During hail, shelter in a sturdy building away from glass. Afterward, document visible damage from the ground without climbing.

Hailstorm home preparation checklist: before, during, and after

Make the property decisions early: put the car under substantial cover if it is safely available, close and latch windows and skylights, bring pets and loose patio items inside, and do not bring a propane cylinder indoors. Once thunder, strong wind, or hail is close, stop outdoor tasks and shelter in a sturdy building.

Before the storm

• Choose a place for the car. An enclosed garage is the best available household protection from hail. Move to another substantial covered structure only when there is ample time to travel safely.
• Close the house. Close and latch operable windows and skylights. If you have existing shutters designed for the windows, close them according to their instructions while conditions are still safe.
• Bring in loose belongings. Move cushions, lightweight furniture, toys, tools, hanging décor, umbrellas, and small planters indoors. Do not struggle with heavy objects or continue working outside as conditions worsen.
• Handle the grill by fuel type. Follow the product manual for shutdown, movement, disconnection, and storage. The CPSC gas-grill safety guidance says never to use or store an LP-gas container indoors. Do not roll a propane grill with its cylinder into a house or garage as a routine hail precaution.
• Bring pets indoors. Keep leashes, carriers, and essential supplies where they can be reached without making another outdoor trip.
• Stop when conditions deteriorate. Do not install plywood, arrange covers, or move large objects once thunder, hail, or strong wind is near.

During the storm

• Stay in a sturdy building with people and pets away from windows, exterior glass doors, and skylights. The National Weather Service advises taking shelter in a sturdy building during severe thunderstorms and staying away from windows.
• Do not shelter in a carport, shed, porch, or open garage doorway.
• Do not go outside to adjust a cover, retrieve an item, or move a vehicle after hail begins.

After the storm

• Wait until hail and thunder have passed before going outside. Stay clear of downed power lines, broken glass, unstable branches, and visibly damaged structures.
• Photograph visible damage before cleanup or nonurgent repairs when it is safe to do so. Use this home inventory for insurance guide for a broader recordkeeping approach.
• Do not use a ladder or climb onto a wet, damaged, or questionable roof. Arrange a qualified inspection if roof, skylight, or structural damage is suspected.
• Follow directions from local authorities, utilities, insurers, and product manufacturers when they are more specific to your situation.

Garage, carport, or no cover?

Blankets, tarps, and other improvised coverings do not have a reliable general protection level. Securing them can also create unnecessary exposure as a storm approaches.

Should windows be taped or opened?

No. Close and latch windows; do not open them to “equalize pressure,” and do not rely on tape to strengthen the glass. FEMA’s natural-hazards guidance states that tape offers no strength to glass in flying-debris conditions. Although that statement is not a hail-specific glazing test, it is a clear reason not to treat tape as window protection.

Close curtains or blinds only while it remains safe to approach the window. They are not structural protection. When damaging weather is near, move people and pets to an interior area away from windows and skylights.

Outdoor furniture, planters, and grills

• Move small, loose items into the house, garage, or another enclosed storage area before the storm. Ready.gov thunderstorm guidance specifically advises securing outside furniture.
• Fold or retract umbrellas and awnings according to their manufacturer instructions.
• Move lightweight planters early. Leave large or awkward containers alone if moving them could cause injury or delay sheltering.
• Never move a hot grill. For propane equipment, do not store the LP cylinder indoors; follow the grill manual for safe shutdown and outdoor cylinder storage.
• Do not use temporary tents or lightweight canopies as hail shelter for people, pets, vehicles, or equipment.

What damage can be photographed without climbing?

Start with wide views that show where damage occurred, then take closer photos from stable ground. Note the location of each damaged area and keep images before cleanup when possible.

• Vehicle body panels, glass, mirrors, lights, and trim
• Windows, exterior doors, screens, shutters, and siding
• Gutters, downspouts, vents, and detached building materials
• Fences, outdoor equipment, furniture, grills, and planters
• Visible roof edges, skylights, and roof surfaces photographed with camera zoom from the ground

The Nebraska Department of Insurance recommends checking ground-level objects and photographing damage before urgent repairs. Granules near a downspout or marks visible from below may justify further evaluation, but they do not prove that a roof has hail damage.

A ground inspection cannot certify the roof’s condition. Leave roof-level diagnosis and suspected structural or skylight damage to a qualified professional when conditions are safe.

Hailstorm checklist FAQs

Where should a car go if there is no covered parking?

Move it to a legal, substantial covered structure only if there is ample time before conditions worsen. Otherwise, park legally away from trees, power lines, signs, and other falling hazards, then go inside. Do not drive into a hailstorm or stay outside arranging covers.

Can I inspect hail damage from a ladder?

No. Document what is visible from stable ground, including vehicle damage, siding, gutters, downspouts, windows, roof edges, and detached materials. Do not use a ladder or climb a roof that may be wet or damaged. Seek a qualified inspection for suspected roof, skylight, or structural damage.