NORMAN, Okla. (August 24, 2001)Property insurers pay out an average $1.5 billion per year for hail-related claims, which are typically the slowest claims to be filed. In an effort to help improve the accuracy of hail claims, Weather Decision Technologies (WDT), Inc., announces the availability of HailTrax (www.hailtrax.com), an advanced hail claim verification report.

The key to HailTrax is a patent-pending Hail Verification Algorithm that integrates National Weather Service, NEXRAD Doppler Radar Data and observed hail data. Coupling state-of-the-art weather profiling from the Radar data set with actual sightings (when available) assures a more uniform and statistically viable data set from which the HailTrax algorithm can determine the hail size and geographical regions where hail fell. Scientific evidence indicates hail detected and reported using the Hail Verification Algorithm to be conservatively 92% accurate at estimating the size of hailstones and greater than 96% accurate at detecting hail events.

The greatest benefit HailTrax offers the claims adjuster is the scientific approach to hail verification, eliminating the guesswork and ambiguity associated with human observations. Until the advent of HailTrax, the only information available from the National Weather Service (NWS) and commercial weather companies, were records of hail, as reported by NWS meteorologists augmented by sightings reported from weather enthusiasts.

"HailTrax reports were developed based on the feedback of hundreds of claims managers and adjusters, who for years have been struggling with the availability of reliable hail data," says Mike Eilts, president of WDT. When ordering a HailTrax report, the client specifies the address, date and time of the loss. The resulting HailTrax report includes two color maps, one showing hail swaths over a 100 by 100 mile area, the second a close up of the loss site (15 by 15 mile area) with more detail. A plain English text report is also included.

HailTrax reports start at $295 each and are delivered to clients via email within 2 business days. Searches prior to January 1, 2001 are available for an additional fee and require approximately ten business days to deliver.

About Weather Decision Technologies
Based in Norman, Okla., Weather Decision Technologies, Inc. was created by a team of leading experts in developing automated systems that predict weather phenomena. WDT has developed, and/or exclusively licensed a number of unique patented techniques that automatically predict hazardous weather phenomena up to 60 minutes in advance that provide an unmatched ability to minimize downtime and reduce operating costs. Current clients include American Airlines, Williams Energy Marketing & Trading Company, Western Resources, Salt River Project and Greater Harris County (Tex.) 911. Find more information at www.wdtinc.com.


Released: August 24, 2001