GRANBURY, Texas – Habitat for Humanity spent years in a North Texas subdivision, helping build many of the 110 homes in the low-income area. But its work was largely undone during an outbreak of 16 tornadoes Wednesday night that killed six people and injured dozens.

On Thursday, authorities combed through debris in Granbury, while residents awaited the chance to see what was left of their homes. Witnesses described the two badly hit neighbourhoods as unrecognizable, with homes ripped from foundations and others merely rubble.

Granbury, about 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth, bore the brunt of the damage. The National Weather Service’s preliminary estimate was that tornado had wind speeds between 166 and 200 mph. Other tornadoes spawned from the violent spring storm damaged nearby Cleburne and Millsap.

“I tell you, it has just broken my heart,” said Habitat for Humanity volunteer Elsie Tallant, who helped serve lunch every weekend to those building the homes in a Granbury neighbourhood and those poised to become homeowners.

Hood County Commissioner Steve Berry said Thursday he couldn’t tell one street from another in Granbury’s Rancho Brazos Estates neighbourhood because of the destruction. Half of one home was torn away while the other half was still standing, glasses and vases intact on shelves. Trees and debris were scattered across yards, and fences were flattened. Sheet metal could be seen hanging from utility wires.

The weather service said the preliminary storm estimate for the Granbury tornado was an EF-4, based on the Fujita tornado damage scale. An EF-5 is the most severe.

Of the homes in the Rancho Brazos Estates, 61 of them were built by Habitat for Humanity, according to Gage Yeager, executive director of Trinity Habitat for Humanity in Fort Worth. He said most of those homes were damaged, including at least a dozen that were destroyed.

Raul Rodriguez was among the lucky few: His Habitat for Humanity home was still standing. The 42-year-old mechanic rode the storm out in a closet with his wife and three children. They heard the windows shattering outside but realized their fortune when they emerged to see a heartbreaking scene.

“Injured people, bloody people, started coming to our house, asking us to call 911,” said Rodriguez, who has lived in the neighbourhood for more than two years. He assessed his own home, finding only shattered windows, lost roof shingles and a collapsed garage.

“My neighbours to the right, they lost everything,” he said.

Habitat for Humanity homes, built for low-income buyers using volunteer labour and donations, are financed with affordable loans. The non-profit selects homeowners based on their level of need, willingness to become partners in the program and ability to repay their loan. Homeowners invest their own time into building the homes as well.

Habitat for Humanity volunteer Bill Jackson said the damaged or destroyed homes were insured and can be rebuilt. But that doesn’t alleviate Tallant’s pain. She’d gotten to know the people who had waited for years to become homeowners.

“We were going to dedicate a house this weekend, and her home was destroyed,” she said.

Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds said Thursday afternoon that two of the dead were women and four of them men; one man and one woman in their 80s.

“Some were found in houses. Some were found around houses,” Deeds said. Six or seven people have not been accounted for, he said at a news conference.

“I’m very confident we’ll find those people alive and well,” Deeds said, adding 37 injured people were treated at hospitals. “We’re going to keep looking. We’re not going to give up until every piece of debris is turned over.”

Harold Brooks, a meteorologist at the weather service’s severe storm lab in Norman, Okla., said May 15 is the latest into the month that the U.S. has had to wait for its first significant tornadoes of the year. Brooks said he would expect 2013 to be one of the least lethal tornado years since the agency started keeping records in 1954.

Earlier Thursday, about 20,000 homes and businesses in the region were without power. By the evening, it had dropped to nearly 3,500 homes and businesses.

Another tornado cut a mile-wide path through Cleburne on Wednesday, storm spotters told the National Weather Service. The weather service said it was estimated as an EF-3, which has winds between 136 mph and 165 mph.

Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain said Thursday morning that no one was killed or seriously hurt in the city of about 30,000 some 25 miles southeast of Granbury. Nine people suffered minor injuries, and upward of 150 homes were damaged and another 50 were destroyed.

Cleburne resident Derrek Grisham, 26, said he ran to his mother’s home to check on her and his 10-year-old son, who was staying with her.

“I had to kick in the front door to get them out,” he said, explaining the two had taken shelter in a bathtub.

On Thursday, he went through his mother’s damaged home, salvaging items before the home is likely torn down. The roof had been ripped off and he said her belongings were a jumbled mass, but crosses had stayed in place on the living room wall.

Brown reported from Granbury, Texas, and Stengle from Granbury and Cleburne, Texas. Associated Press writers Diana Heidgerd and Terry Wallace in Dallas; AP videographer John Mone in Granbury; and freelance photographer Mike Fuentes contributed to this report.

© Copyright 2013

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No need to struggle deciding which repairs you will make to your Granbury roof damage – you have enough to think about. Your insurance will cover the cost of your Granbury roof repair. We are the Granbury roof company that knows the complete ins and outs of what needs to be done to completely take care of your Granbury roof repairs. At Go Go Green Roofing and Restoration we will take care of the whole insurance process for you. Call us today at 214.838.3500 for your free evaluation.

If you notice a leak during a rain storm, hold off on your inspection until things dry out. Fixing a leak can take some time and walking on a slippery roof is extremely dangerous. Once the roof has dried, you can set about making repairs.

TIP! Don’t wait when you need to have shingles replaced. You might think it’s okay to wait on fixing something, however, the damage will worsen over time.

Most roofs are built to protect a home anywhere from 10 to 15 years, but it can’t do everything by itself. You have to be sure to maintain your roof as best as you can. Keep reading to find out some helpful advice about roofs.

As far as roofing goes, you need to think about the climate. If you’re in a dry climate, a clay roof is a good way to keep your home cool. However, using clay tiles on a roof in a wetter, rainy climate can lead to quicker deterioration of those tiles. If you’re not sure, ask.

TIP! If you’re working on a leak, do it right the first time. This means you’re not going to want to only stop on the first place you locate that has problems.

While leaks sometimes do come from problems with your shingles, be sure you look at your roof’s foundation too. Water can get into many areas that dry rot has occurred. You should examine all entry points so that you can find the problem.

First ask people you know whether they have used a roofing contractor recently and whether they can recommend him to you. Ask those you trust if the work they had done was good quality and whether they think the price was reasonable. Also find out what kind of warranty their roofer gave and whether he cleaned up the job site.

TIP! When you have your contractors narrowed down, ask them about the warranties they provide. You want one that is about 3 to 5 years, and longer is preferable.

When fixing roof leaks, make sure you fix the problem the first time. This means you’re not going to want to only stop on the first issue. Check every square inch of your roof so that you can see if there are more problems that you’re going to have to take care of.

Sometimes a contractor with his own workers can be more cost effective than a contractor who has no workers. A good team working in unison can achieve good results more quickly. But, if just one person is doing the job, make sure they don’t overcharge for labor.

Rubber boots should be worn when working on your roof.

When choosing a roofing contractor, consider how long they have been in business. If the company has been in business for quite some time then they probably are able to keep people happy. Anyone that is unknown could be looking to scam you for your money.

TIP! Speak with people you know to see if they know of any roofing companies that are good. They can recommend a contractor to you or warn you against one, based on their own experience.

There are several important questions you need to ask the roofer before you hire him. One important question is the amount of nails that need to be inserted into every shingle. Three nails are usually will not get the job done.Ask detailed questions regarding their procedures and ensure you are satisfied with their answer satisfies you. If you do not, then seek out another one.

All roofers need to create a safety plan when starting a project, so says OSHA. This plan is necessary for a properly completed project. Always ask whether a prospective contractor currently follows such a plan. If they can’t provide one, find someone else to do the job.

TIP! Given the number of variables you have to consider, you should weigh your choice of roofing contractor very carefully. Ask loved ones for recommendations.

If you plan on hiring a roofing contractor, reach out to family and friends to find out if they have any suggestions or experience to offer. Ask how well contractors cleaned when they finished the clean-up job that was done after work was completed and if they offer warranties are offered.

A total roof replacement is an excellent idea — as long as it is needed, that is. You should call a professional who can come inspect your roof before deciding to invest in a new roof. Lots of times, folks get full roof replacements when they only needed some repair work.

TIP! Safety should be your main priority when fixing your roof. Roofing is a hazardous undertaking.

If you’ve already tried to get someone to come out to fix your roof but they won’t be there for a while, there are temporary repairs you can undertake. Get yourself a piece of heavy plastic material and you can nail it up.

Choose materials for your roof according to the climate. As you choose materials, weather is a prime consideration. For example, you would not want to use wood shingles in a desert environment. Synthetic materials do not last very long in hot climates. A metal roof doesn’t do well in the cold. Consult a professional (like a contractor) to make sure you make a smart choice.

TIP! If the roofing contractor you are considering cannot provide you with a license from the state registrar, then you should not hire him. If the job turns out poor, there will be zero recourse.

Insurance is crucial in this type of work. If you hire a roofer that is not insured, you will have to foot the bill. Don’t simply ask if your contractor is insured, have them provide the insurance documents saying that it is comprehensive and current.

If you are getting a contractor to work on your house, look for someone who has a lot of experience in roofing. Ask your contractor for their license information so you can find out more about their skills. Keep in mind that roofing specialists have licence numbers that start with a C and general contractors have numbers that start with a B.

TIP! Though big trees may look wonderful, they’re bad for your roof. Large branches on or near your roof can cause serious damage during storms.

The age of your roof is a major factor in deciding whether it needs to be replaced. Most roofs only have twenty years before they must be replaced. If your new roof is installed over the old one, you really do need to replace it.

You shouldn’t choose a roofer just because of the estimate they give you over the phone. The final costs are always going to be different. Quotes are simply a rough estimate of what the cost may be. You cannot evaluate repairs without an inspector first taking a look at the damage and providing a professional opinion.

TIP! If you’ve recently installed or repaired your roof and it has started raining, inspect your attic for raindrops. This will let you know whether all of your leaks are repaired or not.

Get references from roofing company you may hire. A company that is honest is going to always be glad to give you several good references. If a company is reluctant to do so, you should look into another company. This is a sign of trouble ahead.

It is essential that you begin with a written estimate prior to work commencing. This should include the work involved, all materials, their cost, the cost of labor and the time required for completion. Having a written contract that lays out the well thought-out plan will make the experience easier, and possibly avoid problems, for you and your contractor. Paperwork also helps fix any disagreements or confusion that may arise.

TIP! It’s worth the modest effort it takes to maintain your roof properly. Your roof is a very large piece of your home’s exterior.

Don’t try to get too miserly when purchasing roofing materials. The initial cost savings of low priced materials cannot outweigh the best option as they can end up costing you more money down the road.

Have the roof of your home inspected at least once per year. You can hire a professional or do this yourself, but you must inspect it once a year to ascertain it’s not damaged. If you don’t, you could end up with huge problems, costing both time and money.

TIP! Realize when a job it too big for you. Unless you have a background in roofing, many repairs are going to require the services of a professional .

Your whole house will be safe when you have a safe roof. It can be said that your roof is a very important asset to your home. Remember the advice here, and use it when you need it.

Treat any algae or moss you see on your roof to keep it nice. Ugly growths like these can harm shingles and other materials, which can cause more frequent repairs. You should put diluted bleach on the area that is affected. Let the bleach absorb and then rinse the area with a pressure washer. If you would rather, you can hire someone to do it.

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Insured thunderstorm losses are much higher than they have ever been, and there is no sign that they will return to lower levels any time soon.  Moreover, the current state of the insurance industry—from the focus on heavy marketing to standard replacement cost coverage on roofs—exacerbates these losses, creating a real “roof problem”.  

We conducted over 100 hours of interviews to identify the best practices to solving the roof problem, which we detail in a white paper and in this three-part series for Claims Journal.

In part 1, we described the depth of the roof problem and the structural difficulties within the insurance industry that make solving it both really hard and critically important.  Part 2,detailed a four-step path that the most adept carriers have followed to solve the roof problem.  And in this final part, we discuss the two types of problems that many carriers have seen with their roof problem solutions, as well as the current approaches to addressing these new problems in detail, highlighting key takeaways.

The Problem with the Solutions

The most insightful interviews we conducted identified two different categories of issues with the above strategies that threaten their viability as ways to solve the roof problem: ACV-specific problems and data validation problems.

The main concerns we heard about offering ACV coverage on the roof revolve around customer satisfaction and verifying roof repairs.  The customer satisfaction issue—made more important due to the static nature of the homeowners’ insurance market—is that customers will not properly understand that they may have to pay significant amounts of money out of pocket to properly repair their roof after damage.  Given the aging housing (and roof) stock in the U.S., a very likely scenario is that a customer will need $10,000 for a new roof, but will only get $4,000 from her carrier after depreciation and deductible.  Most consumers may not know what “ACV” is, and some interviewees were concerned that insurance agents may not be explaining it properly to their customers.

The second concern we heard about ACV coverage was a concern that where the cost of a repaired roof significantly exceeded the loss payment, customers would “take the money and run” and leave the roof unrepaired—or partially repaired by an unlicensed contractor (“Uncle Bob”).  This problem is made worse by the storm chasers, who will have even less incentive to do any significant repairs on the roof with a partial payment.  There is a potential for ACV coverage on roofs to open carriers up to significant future risk by insuring roofs that are damaged, where future events may compromise the roof and significantly damage the rest of the structure and the contents.

Dallas Roofing

The other category of problems with the above solutions is data validation: When a carrier is underwriting and/or rating on roof characteristics, the underwriters need to be able to verify that a particular claimed roof characteristic is in fact the accurate roof characteristic.  We heard from our interviews that 60 percent of Florida’s wind mitigation credits were unwarranted.  This problem is compounded by the fact that homeowners do not provide reliably accurate information, and that agents are very good at figuring out which carriers are lax on validation and how to get questionable roofs through validation.  For example, we heard from several agents who talked about which carriers “blocked” certain zip codes, certain ages of home and certain roof ages.  This means that an underwriting policy that carriers put in place to address 90 percent of current roof problems may end up only addressing 30 percent of future problems as agents find that 10 percent hole and make it much bigger.

Key Takeaway: ACV is not a panacea and verifying that roof repairs are done properly is essential.

Fixing the Solution

We heard about a variety of current and planned fixes to the ACV and validation problems mentioned above.  The most agile carriers we spoke with saw the current and future of the roof problem as an iterative process, where the problems get smaller and smaller as carriers are able to target issues with more granularity and with better data.

On the ACV front, forward-leaning carriers are tackling potential customer satisfaction issues by focusing more on “soft skills” training for agents, inspectors, and adjusters. These soft skills are especially critical with the fine-grained and nuanced ACV determinations that are being made about the roof.  Some carriers are also monitoring or validating repairs with inspections, imagery, and/or building permits in order to eliminate the “take the money and run” problem.  And every carrier we spoke to that has been successful in beginning to solve the roof problem also emphasizes the importance of the claims department working closely with underwriting.

Many of our innovative interviewees believe that the future of data validation lies in expanding the “inspection strategy” to an overall “data validation strategy,” where, depending upon the data point, location of the property, coverage details, and other factors, either a specific type of inspection is ordered, or a particular data source is consulted.  Additionally, some carriers see a role for adjusters in this data validation strategy, providing data from the field.

Key Takeaway: Expand inspection strategy to validation strategy and soft skills are critical.

A white paper by BuildFax co-founders, Holly Tachovsky, CEO and Joe Emison, chief technology officer. BuildFax collects and organizes construction records on millions of U.S. properties.

Emison oversees BuildFax’ cloud architecture and frequently speaks on cloud architecture, scaling in the cloud and cutting costs in the cloud

No need to struggle deciding which repairs you will make to your Dallas roofing damage – you have enough to think about. Your insurance will cover the cost of your Dallas roofing repair. We are the Dallas roofing company that knows the complete ins and outs of what needs to be done to completely take care of your Dallas roofing repairs. At Go Go Green Roofing and Restoration we will take care of the whole insurance process for you. Call us today at 214.838.3500 for your free evaluation.