A sudden severe storm cell dropped a thick coating of hail on some parts of Lexington County on Oct. 14. Hail can cause significant damage to homes and cars. If this happens to you, you’ll need to know what to do.

After a storm, it is important to talk to your insurance agent first and ask for advice on how to proceed in getting repairs made. Make sure you understand the deductible you must pay to get the repair work done.

Here are other tips:

• Do not be rushed into signing a contract with a particular company. Get business cards and ask for written estimates for the work.

• Beware of a company that puts the main emphasis on how the homeowner can get a new roof paid for by the insurance company.

• Investigate the track record of any roofer or contractor you consider hiring. Look for companies with a good reputation in your community. Call your Better Business Bureau for help, get references and do not give anyone a deposit until you are sure they are reputable.

If you haven’t seen a major hailstorm pass through, be cautious if a repair company’s claims that you have storm damage. Make sure to get verification of a hailstorm in your neighborhood. The National Weather Service or your neighbors are good independent sources.

Some other points to consider:

• If there was a storm, find out how large the hailstones were. It usually takes hail at least 1¼ inches in diameter to cause damage, with golf ball size or larger causing serious damage. Doppler radar indicated the hail that fell last week in Lexington County was dime- to quarter-sized.

• Look around your property before climbing on your roof. Is there hail damage to vehicles, siding or shrubbery? If not, damage to your roof is unlikely.

• The homeowner should be aware of which way the storm was moving. Most S.C. homes have roofs with various angles or pitches, which means that the angles facing the storm would receive the most damage.

• Hail damage is random. Unscrupulous repair companies may use a teaspoon, small rocks or hammers to fabricate damage.