Barger & Associates urges North Texas homeowners to prepare for hail season

Barger & Associates is warning Southlake-area homeowners to review insurance coverage and document property before more severe weather hits North Texas. The agency points to above-average hail risk this May, recent storms in the metroplex, and a second severe-weather peak in October.

Why it matters: - North Texas hail can damage roofs, windows, gutters, skylights, solar panels and satellite equipment. - Homeowners often discover coverage gaps only after a storm, when damage has already occurred. - A policy review and photo documentation can help speed up and support a future claim.

What happened: - Barger & Associates is urging Southlake-area homeowners to prepare ahead of the next round of storms. - The warning comes as the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center graded May at above-average risk for severe hail across the area. - The metroplex has already seen several hail-producing storms this spring. - On May 9, golf-ball-sized hail moved through northern Tarrant and Denton counties, including Southlake, Keller, Trophy Club and Westlake.

The details: - North Texas hail season typically runs from March through June. - The heaviest concentration of damaging storms usually falls in April and May. - Forecasters expect the threat to continue into June because the dryline that fuels these storms remains active west of the metroplex. - Barger & Associates recommends an annual policy review so coverage reflects current home values, recent renovations and any detached structures. - The agency also recommends building a dated photo record of the property while conditions are calm. - Homeowners should photograph the roof, windows, skylights, gutters, solar panels and satellite equipment. - A dated set of before-storm images can help substantiate a claim. - Joshua Barger said, "The worst time to learn about a coverage gap is the morning after a hailstorm. We tell every Southlake family the same thing: photograph your roof now, while the sky is calm." - When damage occurs, the agency's fully licensed team coordinates with the carrier to clarify documentation requirements, track the claim and resolve disputes that could delay settlement. - Barger & Associates was founded in Southlake in 2012. - The agency says its model centers on naming a real person who knows each client's policy rather than routing storm-season calls through an anonymous line.

Between the lines: - The advice is aimed at reducing delays and disputes in a period when call volume spikes after widespread hail events. - The reminder to review coverage now is also meant to carry homeowners through North Texas' second severe-weather peak in October. - That fall peak typically arrives when cooler fronts collide with lingering Gulf moisture.

What's next: - Southlake residents who want to check current coverage can contact the agency's Southlake office for a policy walkthrough. - A review completed now is meant to protect homes through the rest of the severe-weather season. - Barger & Associates says its local team will continue offering claims advocacy and annual policy reviews.

The bottom line: - North Texas homeowners have a narrow window to get coverage and documentation in order before the next hailstorm hits.