Skip to content

Fox Insurance Agency Blog

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Insurance

Stay Safe on the Portland and Beaverton Roads During a Hailstorm in Oregon

It may sound surprising, but there are approximately 3,000 hailstorms in the United States each year which of course includes Portland, Beaverton, and the rest of Oregon. The size of hail can widely vary – from golf-ball size to softball size. And when it starts building up size, hail can cause not just severe property and vehicle damage, but also bodily harm and even death. On average, hailstorms annually cause over $1 billion in damage to property, approximately 1,500 injuries and 80 deaths annually.

One of the most frightening places to be during a hailstorm is on the road in your car. Obviously your vehicle is at great risk of damage, but even more importantly, you are in danger in the event you can’t see well enough to drive or your windows are broken in by the power of the storm.

Here are some pointers for navigating a hailstorm while on Oregon and Washington roads:

  • Make sure you have a blanket in your car at all times. It can help protect you from glass injuries in the event the hail breaks your windows or windshield.
  • Turn on your low-beam headlights, and slow down.
  • Make sure you have more distance than usual in front of you so you have ample space to brake if necessary.
  • Turn on the local weather radio station to stay apprised of the status of storms.
  • If there is enough space on the shoulder of the road, pull over.
  • Turn on your hazard lights, regardless of whether you are pulled over or moving slowly; this will help other vehicles to see you and avoid accidents.
  • If there is a covered shelter to pull underneath, do so; this will reduce the damage sustained by your vehicle.

At Fox Insurance, we hope you stay hailstorm-free this season!

Contact Us!

At Fox Insurance, we can work with you to make sure you’ve got the auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and other coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable.

Call us at 503-277-2300, check our insurance website, or send us a note at info [at] foxinsure [dot] com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what’s important to you is protected!