As bad as Mother Nature walloped us with hail stones last June, you'd probably figure South Dakota ranks near the top when it comes to states with hail damage, right?

Wrong! However, we did make the top 10.

According to State Farm Insurance, South Dakota ranked 9th when it comes to the top 10 states with hail damage in 2014.

Last June's hail storm in Sioux Falls helped contribute to 12,367 claims in South Dakota in 2014.

Damage to homes and cars as a result of hail cost State Farm policyholders more than $2.4 billion in 2014.

In the Midwest, hail ends up being one of the most frequent causes of property damage.

“While nothing can stop hail from falling, there are ways to reduce the amount of property damage,” according to State Farm spokesman Justin Tomczak. “When building or remodeling your home, consider impact-resistant roofing products to reduce hail damage to the roof. Your home’s roof is like a helmet. Just like a helmet protects a person’s head, the roof is your home’s first line of defense against hail damage.”

After a hail storm, always visually inspect your property, take pictures and move personal belongings to prevent further damage. Then call your insurance agent or claims office.

Here is State Farms Top 10 States for home and auto hail claims in 2014:

  1. Texas 51,193 claims
  2. Illinois 43,821 claims
  3. Colorado 42,365 claims
  4. Missouri 23,019 claims
  5. Nebraska 21,326 claims
  6. South Carolina 20,170 claims
  7. Pennsylvania 19,088 claims
  8. Iowa 12,869 claims
  9. South Dakota 12,367 claims
  10. Kansas 11,562 claims

Source: Argus Leader

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