Minnesota has a split personality when it comes to weather. We endure some of the coldest winters in the continental United States, and then in June, we enter severe storm season — hail, high winds, tornadoes, and the kind of deluges that can overwhelm drainage systems and flood basements.
The Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs see meaningful severe weather every summer. The I-35 corridor from Burnsville through Shakopee and down to Prior Lake gets hit regularly. Scott County has had multiple significant tornado touchdowns over the past decade. Hail events that cause widespread roof damage happen every few years.
The good news is that most storm damage is either preventable or manageable if you go into the season with your eyes open. Here's how to think about protecting your home.
Before the Storms: What to Inspect Now
Your Roof
Your roof is your home's primary defense against everything that comes from above. A roof that's already compromised — worn shingles, damaged flashing, failing sealant — will fail much worse in a hail event or high-wind storm.
In early June, before the worst of storm season, it's worth getting eyes on your roof if you haven't recently. Specifically:
- Shingle condition — shingles that are curling, cracking, or losing granules are more vulnerable to impact damage from hail
- Flashing — the metal flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vents is a common failure point in heavy rain; make sure it's tight
- Gutters — clogged gutters mean water overflows at the roofline and against your foundation during heavy rain
If your roof is more than 15 years old, a pre-season inspection is genuinely worth doing. An inspector can tell you whether your roof has useful life left or whether you're one bad hail storm away from a full replacement.
Sump Pump
If you have a basement in Minnesota, you likely have a sump pump. And if your sump pump fails during a significant rain event, you will have a wet basement.
Test your sump pump now:
- Pour a bucket of water into the pit — the pump should kick on and run until the water is cleared
- Listen for unusual noises (grinding, rattling) that indicate a pump near the end of its life
- Make sure the discharge line is clear and terminates well away from the foundation
- Check that the float mechanism moves freely
A sump pump that's more than 7–10 years old should probably be replaced proactively rather than waiting for failure. A new pump is a few hundred dollars. A basement flood with damaged flooring, drywall, and belongings is thousands.
Consider a battery backup pump as well. The most common time for sump pump failure is during a major storm — exactly when the power is most likely to go out.
Windows and Doors
Older windows with compromised seals or cracked frames can allow water intrusion in severe storms. Walk around your home and check:
- Caulk around window and door frames — anywhere it's cracked or missing is a water intrusion point in heavy rain
- Weatherstripping on exterior doors — gaps mean wind-driven rain can push water inside
- Any cracked window panes — these become a vulnerability in high winds
Trees and Large Branches
One of the most common causes of storm damage to homes in our area is overhanging trees and dead branches. Before storm season:
- Look for dead or dying branches over your roofline, driveway, and power lines
- Note any large trees that lean toward the house
- After every storm, walk the yard and pick up any dropped branches before the next one — they become projectiles
Tree work is a separate trade from what we do, but it's worth getting on a local arborist's schedule early in June when demand is lower.
Your Garage Door
Garage doors are one of the weakest points in a home's structure during high winds. A failing garage door in a severe storm can allow wind to pressurize the interior of the garage, which in worst-case scenarios can damage the roof structure.
Make sure your garage door:
- Closes completely with no gaps at the sides or bottom
- Operates smoothly and the springs are in good condition
- Has properly functioning auto-reverse safety features
After a Storm: What to Do
After a significant hail or wind event, here's the sequence:
1. Document Immediately
Walk your property and take photos of anything you observe — roof damage, broken branches, siding damage, window damage, anything. Timestamp matters for insurance claims, and the sooner you document, the better.
2. Check the Roof
After any hailstorm, it's worth getting a professional to check your roof even if you can't see obvious damage from the ground. Hail damage to shingles is often subtle — the impact crushes granules and creates soft spots that aren't always visible until you're up there. Insurance adjusters and roofing contractors know what to look for.
3. Contact Your Insurance Company
If you have visible damage, contact your insurance company promptly. Most homeowner's policies cover hail and wind damage, but there are deadlines for filing claims, and the longer you wait, the more complicated it can become.
A word of caution: After significant hail events, you'll get visits from out-of-town storm chasers — contractors who follow severe weather events from market to market. Some are legitimate; many are not. Be cautious about signing anything from a contractor you've never heard of, especially contracts that sign over your insurance rights. Work with local contractors who will be around after the job is done.
4. Address Water Intrusion Immediately
If a storm caused water to enter your home — through the roof, windows, or flooding — act fast. Mold can begin developing within 24–48 hours of water intrusion. Get the affected area dried out as quickly as possible.
We're Here When You Need Us
Hasselquist Contracting handles storm damage repairs throughout Shakopee, Prior Lake, Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Burnsville, and the surrounding area. Whether it's a post-storm inspection, siding replacement, window repair, or interior damage remediation, we're local and we're not going anywhere.
Contact us if you have storm damage concerns or want a pre-season inspection before summer weather arrives in full force.