Tips for reducing storm damage claim losses for insurance agents

Thunderstorms are among the most common natural hazards, and the lightning, tornadoes, straight-line winds, hail and torrential rain that stem from these storms often result in substantial property damage and significant economic impacts. Between 2020 and 2024, the U.S. experienced an average of 23 weather and climate disasters annually. In 2024 alone, 27 such disasters caused $1 billion or more in damage.¹ 

While storms are often unpredictable, taking the right preparatory steps can help reduce the potential for expensive damage or even prevent losses, benefiting both policyholders and insurance professionals alike. 

Common types of storm damage insurance claims

Hail, strong winds, and heavy rain can all cause significant property damage. While many homeowners are required to have insurance as part of their mortgage agreement, policyholders may not be aware of how costly storm-related damage is or how their coverage responds to a claim: 

• Hail and wind—Hail and wind damage are the leading causes of homeowners insurance claims, accounting for 42.5% of losses in 2023, and about 1 in 36 insured homes experiences related property damage.² Hailstones, particularly large ones, can dent or crack roofing shingles, leading to leaks. This is not only costly, but damage from hail can shorten a roof’s effectiveness and lifespan. Hail can also dent or chip a home’s siding and paint, leading to unsightly damage and potential water infiltration. What’s more, high winds are common during hailstorms and can tear off shingles or siding or cause debris (e.g., tree branches) to fall on a house and break windows or cause significant structural damage. 

• Water and flood damage: Approximately 29.4% of home insurance claims stem from water damage and freezing.³ In fact, water damage and freezing rank as the second‑most common cause of homeowners insurance losses, and about one in 67 insured homes experience a claim.³ During periods of significant rainfall, flooding may occur, which can cause severe damage to homes, buildings, and personal property, resulting in expensive repairs. What many policyholders may not realize is that standard homeowners insurance often won’t cover floods, as these events typically require standalone coverage. It’s worth noting that, in the United States, there is an option to purchase a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is designed to provide financial assistance to those affected by floods, helping to cover the costs of damages and repairs. 

• Lightning: Annually, lightning-related damage leads to approximately $1.04 billion in insurance claims. Further, wildfires caused by lighting burn 4 million acres each year. Fire and lightning rank first in claims severity, though only about 1 in 430 insured homes experiences a related property damage claim.³  

Why storm damage claims are costly

Insured losses from severe storms are on the rise. Global insured losses from severe convective storms reached $50 billion in 2025, making it the third‑costliest year on record after 2023 and 2024. This continues the multi‑year upward trajectory in severe storm–related losses.⁴ There are several possible reasons for this increase in claims, with some experts citing population density and higher repair costs as contributing factors. 

Population growth is occurring in many areas of the country that are exposed to severe storms. This means that in the event of a storm more property is put in harm’s way. Further, as a result of inflation, the financial implications of a loss are more significant, and it costs more to make policyholders whole following a loss. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) released a new report showing that U.S. homeowners have experienced an average insurance premium increase of 24% over the past three years. According to the report, premiums grew at twice the rate of inflation between 2021 and 2024, resulting in a collective $21 billion increase in costs for American homeowners.⁵ 

Tips to help insurance agencies reduce losses from storm damage insurance claims

With the increasing frequency of storm-related losses, it’s crucial to help homeowners prepare for severe weather. Here are some valuable resources and steps insurance agents can provide to policyholders to prepare for a storm and potentially mitigate damage: 

• Share guidance to help homeowners reduce storm damage. With storm-related losses on the rise, there’s never been a more important time to help your customers prepare for a severe storm. 

Teach your customers basic tips to protect their homes from hail 
Help customers protect their homes and families from spring storms 

• Check out these additional resources from Nationwide for policyholders: 

• • Before a storm: 

• • • Review your insurance policy and assess your risks. Review your insurance policy and store your insurance agent’s contact information on your phone. Your insurance agent should be the first call if you experience damage. Consider adding an optional endorsement for Better Roof Replacement. 
    • Consider using FORTIFIED Home, a voluntary construction program, during renovations. Reduce weather risks by incorporating recommendations during renovations and repairs. For example, consider remodeling your roof, as it’s often your home’s first defense against severe weather. While you don’t need to re-roof often, when you do, ask your roofing contractor for a FORTIFIED Roof. FORTIFIED Roof was specifically designed to prevent damage that commonly occurs during high winds, hurricanes, hailstorms, severe thunderstorms, and even tornadoes. Also, ensure you choose shingles rated “good” or “excellent” by IBHS shingle performance ratings. 

• • After a storm: 

• • • Document damage. Document any damage incurred by taking photos or videos of affected areas and belongings. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the damage and start the claims process. 
    • Keep receipts. Keep receipts for any repairs or expenses related to the storm, as your insurance company may reimburse these. 
    • Beware of scams. Be cautious of potential scams or fraudsters posing as contractors or insurance adjusters. Only work with reputable and licensed professionals. 
    • Keep documents organized. Keep all relevant documents and communication with your insurance company organized and easily accessible for future reference. 

• Encourage homeowners to review their insurance policies. In addition to sharing information with your customers, you can help them prepare for storms by encouraging them to review their homeowners insurance policies. Customers will want to consider the storm forces they are most likely to experience in their area in light of their current policy selections. 
• Increase efficiency in response to claims. To manage storm damage claims more efficiently, agents should focus on streamlining the First Notice of Loss (FNOL) process. Following a storm, insurers can  face an uptick in claims and a high demand for adjusters to attend to their policyholders’ needs. Given that the severity of damage from a storm varies among policyholders, it’s essential that insurance professionals deploy claims resources strategically. For instance, for those significantly affected by storms, insurers may continue with traditional methods, such as sending adjusters in person. Meanwhile, policyholders who have suffered minor damages can be encouraged to file their claims electronically. This approach not only cuts costs associated with the FNOL process, but also speeds up the response time for more heavily impacted customers. 
• Use a triage system to speed up scoping. To improve scoping time, consider implementing a triage system that allows for a streamlined review of claims specifics (including the type of loss, severity, location, type of insured and the availability of adjusters). Using this information, insurers can better allocate resources. For example, after assessing and prioritizing a claim, insurers may rely on less experienced adjusters or third-party services for minor claims, reserving more experienced adjusters for complex cases. This approach not only reduces the time and cost involved in scoping, but also ensures that the most appropriate resources are used for each claim. 
• Calculate repair costs with more accuracy. Agents can leverage advanced technology and data analysis to accurately calculate storm damage repair costs. In particular, tools that provide precise measurements of the interior and exterior of a property allow for more consistent claim estimates. Further, by using tools that incorporate local material, labor and equipment costs into repair cost estimates, insurance professionals can provide more realistic and detailed cost breakdowns. By maintaining consistency and accuracy in estimating, insurers can facilitate smoother negotiations and settlements, ultimately reducing the overall loss from storm damage claims. 
• Utilize claim validation technology for quick checks. By integrating geographic information systems (GIS) with claims data, adjusters can quickly validate claims or identify the need for further assessment. Weather verification technology is particularly useful in this way, as it can help prevent fraud and expedite the adjusting process. For example, detailed hail data can indicate the size of hail that occurred at a specific time and location, making claims processing more straightforward.

In addition to sharing information with your customers, you can help them prepare for storms by encouraging them to review their homeowners insurance policies. Customers will want to consider the storm forces they are most likely to experience in their area in light of their current policy selections. 

Above all, agents should explore ways to expand their role as a trusted prevention partner using tools that shift every conversation from reactive to proactive so clients feel ready and cared for every step of the way. This means delivering solutions that can evolve as your clients’ lives change—solutions built around real-life member needs to create coverage that feels personal and dynamic. 

Support you and your customers can count on for storm damage insurance claims

While severe storms can be unpredictable, Nationwide’s support for you and your customers never wavers. Count on us to share valuable insights that may help protect your customers from nature’s wrath and minimize their time to return to normal should storm-related damage occur. Help your customers prepare for severe weather with Nationwide’s weather preparation customer videos and sharing content on the Nationwide Learning Center and the Emergency Preparedness site.