Hail Basics & Collateral Damage Assessment is a foundational concept in the field of property inspection, roofing, and insurance claims. It refers to the process of understanding how hail forms, recognizing the types of damage hail can cause, and conducting a thorough assessment of both direct and indirect (collateral) damage resulting from hailstorms. This knowledge is critical for professionals who inspect buildings after storm events, such as roofing contractors, insurance adjusters, and field inspectors. The purpose of this assessment is to determine the full extent of hail-related damage so accurate repair decisions and insurance claims can be made.