‘It was like bullets,’ Monday hailstorm surprises Conway County residents

MORRILTON, Ark – One minute there were clouds, the next marble and quarter-sized hail were surprising many drivers heading through Conway County Monday.

“It was like bullets hitting that windshield, it was like ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta,” Dennis Decker described.

He thought he dodged a bullet, but on Tuesday, he found tiny dents all over his car. The hail started in Overcup and was near Plumerville when it hit Decker’s vehicle for about 15 minutes straight.

At that same time, Hometown Roofing said more than 1,000 houses were in the hail’s path which is why they began free inspections looking for damage. Owner Robert Branscum said roofs with low slopes, lower-grade shingles and ages older than five years are most susceptible.

“You may not see it (damage) today, the day after the storm, but you could see it three or four months down the road, so it is important to know in most cases you do have a year to act upon an insurance claim,” Branscum said.

The delay is because small damage to a shingled roof can grow with time, especially if severe weather strikes again.

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