HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Wednesday is the one year anniversary of the large hail storm that tore through the eastern 
part of Hutchinson destroying automobiles and causing extensive damage to buildings.
With the one year anniversary comes several deadlines for those who sought claims and, depending on your insurance provider, they can vary. Most insurance companies give you one year to file a claim and one year to have your property repaired. However some give two years, but very little wiggle room if you have trouble getting repairs completed.
According to an agent with State Farm, property owners have two years to get work completed from the day of the storm. If the work is not completed, the property owner can lose the hold back money that is set aside to pay for the repairs. That is the money held back above the cash value of the damaged area of a structure, most commonly the roof in this case. Nearly all insurance companies pay out claims in this manner.
Allstate gives one year to get work completed, but they also allow for an extension to be filed. The same is for farmer’s insurance. They too give an extension, but it is for just six months. An Allstate agent said he contacted his customers well ahead of Wednesday’s deadline to make sure everything was in order and if it wasn’t, had them file the extension to give them some extra time.
Every agent asked had the same advice: if you have any questions, you need to contact your agent and make sure you have all of the needed information on your claim available at that time.
Hail from last year’s storm. Photo Credit: John Haney.