Black families in Altadena say insurance assistance is lacking.
More than a year after the deadly Eaton Fire, Black families in Altadena say their insurance companies are not paying out claims because of rising cleanup costs.
While wildfires and hurricanes grab the headlines, another type of severe weather can pose unexpected risks to homeowners and insurance companies.
More than 43.5 million U.S. properties are at moderate or higher risk from hail damage, according to a new report from real estate data provider Cotality. Hailstorms can now cause economic losses comparable to Category 4 hurricanes, and the damage could cost up to $17.84 trillion to rebuild, the report concludes.
In 2025, the United States will record 142 days of hail damage, seven more days than in 2024 and well above the 20-year average of 122 days, according to Kotality. During these disasters, more than 600,000 homes were hit by hailstones of 2 inches or more.
Beyond changing climate patterns, the report said, the aging of the housing stock is also making homes more at risk. Older roofs are more fragile than new ones and can break when hail hits your home.
The increased risk also stems from the choices Americans make about where they live.
The report says Texas has the most properties in the nation at risk, with nearly 8 million properties at risk, and potential rebuilding costs of $3.09 trillion.
The massive storm system that occurred in Texas in June 2023 demonstrated the enormous potential for hail damage. “From June 11 to June 15, hail of more than 1 inch affected more than 680,000 homes. Kotality estimated that these storms resulted in $7 billion to $10 billion in insured losses, 95% of which was due to hail.”
Demographic data also highlight deeper risks in other parts of the Midwest. “Secondary markets such as Minneapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Denver are located dangerously close to major weather collision zones and are often targeted by severe spring and summer storms,” the report said.
Importantly, Kotality’s early research shows that many of the more affordable regions, such as the Midwest, where the youngest buyers live, are hardest hit by hail.
These tradeoffs come with risks, Cotality analysts wrote in May 2025.
“What began as a quest for affordability may end up in losses, not because of bad decisions but because of systems that have not kept up with the environment. Resilience is no longer an ideal, but a requirement,” the report says.
