SAN ANTONIO – After the storms we've had in the last year, San Antonians can get understandably nervous about hail in the forecast. Three devastating hailstorms in Spring of 2016 caused more than $2 billion in losses. That's the most in U.S. history, according to the Insurance Council of Texas.
Remember these images from a Northeast side neighborhood?
Recommended Videos
Check out the hail damage in this Northeast side neighborhood (near FM 78 & Walzem). It was one of the areas that was hit hard during Tuesday night's storms.
Posted by KSAT 12 & KSAT.com on Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Sites like this were all too familiar. Even one of our KSAT photographers had his home windows shattered due to hail.
Another unreal image of Tuesday's storms. Video of hail shattering the dining room windows of KSAT photographer, Azian.
Posted by KSAT 12 & KSAT.com on Tuesday, April 12, 2016
So with hail a possibility overnight, many may be wondering how they can protect their vehicles from the dents and broken windows.
If you’re driving and it starts hailing, the obvious thing is to find some cover. You could pull under an overpass or find a parking garage or covered pavilion nearby.
If you’re home and you don’t have the luxury of being able to park in a garage, there are still a few things you could to that may help.
RELATED: Common low-water crossings in Bexar County
The first solution may be inside your linen closet. Find the thickest towels and blankets you can find.
They may provide enough cushion to prevent some of the dings and scratches on the body of your car.
But it’s probably best to put them over your windshield. Your car will be still be drive-able with some dents in the hood, but it won’t if your windshield is shattered.
Tips to protect your car during hailWe have some tips for sparing your car from hail damage if you don't have a garage. Here are some of the solutions we've come up with --> http://bit.ly/2nJKhZz And if you have other solutions, be sure to leave them in the comments.
Posted by KSAT 12 & KSAT.com on Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Strong winds could be associated with severe weather so duct tape blankets at the bottom of the vehicle.
The tape will leave a sticky residue, but most likely will not damage your vehicle.
If you don’t have any blankets to spare, you could use your floor mats. Put the rubber side down so they’ll stay put a little better on your windshield. They’ll cushion the blow and possibly spare you from a shattered windshield.
RELATED: Click here to see live doppler radar
And finally, if you find yourself worried about the threat of hail damage to your vehicle often, you could invest in a protective covering.
They’re sold online at places like hailblankets.com or you can find them on Amazon ranging in price from around $50 to nearly $500.
Also remember to sign up for severe weather alerts to keep you updated throughout severe weather.
KSAT offers weather alerts through the news and weather apps.
Download the KSAT Weather app for iPhone and Android.
The National Weather Service also sends out constant alerts during severe weather.
Above all, make sure to seek shelter for you and your family first and not put yourself at risk during a hail storm.
Hail damage is usually covered in an auto insurance policy and it’s not worth putting your life at risk to protect a vehicle during a hail storm.