CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Hailstorms cause $1 billion in damage every year across the United States.
For the first time, researchers in Chester County created a full-scale, indoor hailstorm to figure out the best protection against these storms.
In an intense barrage, thousands upon thousands of hailstones punished a house, and damage appeared within minutes.
"You can see some big dents on that one," said Rock Hill insurance agent Rett Rutland.
Rutland said even the more expensive roofing would need to be replaced.
"I would say anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000," Rutland said.
It is as close as it gets to the real thing. Scientists mixed tap and seltzer water to come up with realistic golf-ball-sized hailstones. They then shot them from cannon at 80 mph.
As lifelike as it is, it doesn't totally represent the power of Mother Nature.
"There's a lot of variability in nature," said Tim Reinhold. "I would have liked to see more impacts on the walls. I'm not sure we hit the skylights with 2-inch hail. That's what it would have taken to break the skylights."
The home took enough of a man-made beating that experts said builders may need to go back to the drawing board to come up with stronger material to handle the real deal.
WSOC
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