Hail on way: insurers offer a heads-up from the heavens

INSURANCE companies hope to avoid millions of dollars in claims by sending text alerts to warn car owners of hailstorms.

Craig West became an early user of the system when he was watching his boys play cricket one afternoon.

A text message popped up on his mobile phone. It was his insurance company warning that a thunderstorm was approaching his home at Oatley, in south-west Sydney. There was a high-percentage chance it contained damaging hailstones. He was advised to move his car under cover. ''I had the car with me, of course,'' Mr West said. ''But I thought afterwards, well, what a clever idea.''        Read More