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Going Out on the Water? Take Boating Precautions!

May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
boating

Bodies of water are the second most common scene for accidental deaths in the United States, the first being highways, and of that the top boating accidents are from collisions which involve recreational vessels and fixed objects. Many boaters believe that because they are in the open water it would be nearly impossible to be involved in a boating collision. This is not the case.  Boaters must always be alert to floating debris, underwater rocks, and other boats or you could easily get yourself into a dangerous situation. Here are a few guidelines to follow to improve your safety while on the open water:

  1. Take a Boating Course- New York has specific requirements for operating boats and personal watercraft (Wave runners). Educating yourself with the rules and regulations of our area is above all the most important in staying safe.
  2. Don’t drink and boat – Just like drinking and driving, drinking while boating is very dangerous! Alcohol use is the foremost contributing factor in lethal boating accidents, accounting for every 1 in 5 reported fatalities. Operator distractions, irresponsibility, and extreme speeding are the main contributing factors in all reported accidents.
  3. Wear a life jacket that fits you well – Life jackets are being made more attractive and comfortable to wear. However, this means nothing if the life vest you wear doesn’t fit you well enough to support your individual body weight and has a possibility of slipping off of you.
  4. Check the forecast-Weather can look beautiful one minute and then vicious the next. Listen to the weather channel on your VHF (Very High Frequency) radio and use caution if the weather calls for storm warnings.
  5. Have fire extinguishers on board (it’s the law!) - Just because you’re surrounded by water doesn’t mean you’re safe from fires! Shipboard fire extinguishers need to be effective against fires from flammable liquids and it’s best to keep extinguishers at front and back areas of the boat.
  6. Fuel up correctly- Gasoline vapors are heavier than air and can spread rapidly into enclosed spaces. Make sure to run your vessels blower for at least 5 minutes after fueling up to remove gasoline vapors; you wouldn’t want your personal watercraft to disappear into a flaming ball of fire!

With warm weather come more boaters. Boating may seem like a walk in the park, but accidents occur daily and some are fatal. If you do not have any experience in boating then don’t think you can just head out on the water. Make sure you are educated on how to operate your water vessel and being aware of your surroundings to stay safe.  And like your automobile or motorcycle, be sure you contact a local Trusted Choice Independent insurance agent to discuss your insurance alternatives for boats, wave runners & yachts!

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Seely & Durland Hits 100 Year Milestone with Travelers Insurance!

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Travelers 100 Year Recognition

From L to R, Garrett Durland, Allan Saunders, Cheryl Caiozzo, Joseph Latella, Sharon Callender, Lorenzo Jackson, Toni Kallenburg, Stuart Durland, and Joan ‘Seely’ Durland. Joan is Harry Seely’s daughter.

Travelers Executives visited our office earlier this week to help us celebrate our 100th year of involvement with the Travelers Insurance Company.   The event took place at Grappa Ristorante in Warwick, NY.  Harry “Poppy” Seely began with Travelers Insurance in their New York City office in 1912 at the age of 22.  He moved up with the company and took a position in Worcester MA somewhere around 1918.  He was then hired by a very large Travelers brokerage firm in Montreal Canada, who wrote marine insurance on the large steamship lines in and around the Great Lakes.

He decided that with young kids it was time to move back to his roots, being born and raised in Goshen NY.  So they settled in Warwick on
Grand St. in 1934 and he opened our Agency with four insurance carrier partners, Travelers being the lead company.

As business grew…he needed a partner and offered our Dad and his son-in-law, Kenneth L. Durland, Jr., a position in the business with him.  They moved up from Washington DC in 1959 (with my older brother and sister) and moved into the Grand Street house which Harry had built in 1948.  He and my grandmother built an addition/apartment onto the house and we took over the main house, where the business was also run on the ground floor.  The business thrived over the next few years and Harry offered our Dad a partnership; Seely & Durland, Inc. was incorporated in 1962.

Harry passed away in 1966, prematurely at the age of 76 in a car accident while visiting his favorite place in the world,
Banff Canada.  It was a tough time for Ken after Harry’s passing, but he forged ahead and continued to grow the business.

I joined the firm in December of 1980; Stuart joined in April of 1990 after 12 years working with Travelers in Hartford CT and Norcross, GA starting right out of college.  Ken retired at the end of 1996 after seeing the business triple in size during the previous 6 years.  The business moved to its’ current location at 13 Oakland Ave. in 1979 and continues to grow and thrive today.

We are proud of such a long term relationship with a great company, and also that they gave Harry Seely the opportunity to start and nurture a 79 year old business!

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Ways to Best Protect Your Business from Theft

February 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
wi-fi-drive-by-and-burglary-net-thieves-3-million-and-prison-time

Has your business been a victim of theft? Hopefully this has not happened to you, or anyone you know for that matter. If it hasn’t, then you may wish to take the appropriate actions to ensure it does not! But if it has, don’t get robbed twice! Here are ways to best protect your business:

  1. Doors: All outside and security doors should be of solid construction and not a cheap buy. If hinges are exposed to the outside then they should be pinned to prevent removal.
  2. Locks and Padlocks: There should be deadbolt locks on all doors used to enter the building. For best security, all locks should consist of hardened steel, double cylinder deadbolts with removable collars.
  3. Windows and Sensor Alarms: All windows should have locks that can easily be secured closed with glass break sensor alarms. Burglar-resistant glass usages are also optional.
  4. Lighting: You want the lights in your building to provide the MOST visibility possible during the night, both inside and out. Put more attention on lighting areas around doors and other possible entries.
  5. Alarm System: The alarm system should be set up by a CERTIFIED alarm company with a central monitoring station. It would be in your best interest to publicize its presence with the alarm company’s sticker or yard signs.
  6. Safe: A reliable safe should be able to be anchored securely, fireproof, and burglar-resistant. Use it to lock up valuables when business is closed and remember to only give access to people you 100% trust!
  7. Security Cameras: Having security cameras in and around your place of business (especially directed at important areas) gives you those extra eyes to catch thieves when you aren’t there. The best part is the footage can’t be altered and can be saved over long periods of time if you ever need to go back to take a look!
  8. Trusted Employees: Having the best security system or security safe on the market does you no good if you are handing out keys and security codes to new employees.

Be smart with the information you give out and keep your business protected the best you can by following these 8 tips. Also, check with your Independent Insurance Agent to ensure that your business Crime coverage is adequate for you exposure.

Filed Under: Business Insurance, Current Stories Tagged With: , ,

Winter Freezing!

February 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment
gerrys-frozen-house

Our area is subjected to cold weather, consisting of snowfall and freezing temperatures that can be a recipe for disaster in homes. Being that ice is slippery, heavy, and it expands when it freezes, is something to always be cautious about. Here are some points on how to make sure you aren’t contacting your insurance agent because of a winter-related incidents:

  • Have the house heated to at least 60 degrees so the inside walls of your home don’t freeze.
  • Keep gutters free of debris so melting snow/ice can flow freely and not turn into a few hundred pounds of falling ice.
  • Stay on top of clearing off your driveway and sidewalk of snow, which will make clearing snow easier and prevent an accumulation of ice in the future.
  • Make sure all hoses are disconnected from outside spigots and you know where the main water shutoff is in your home.
  • If your garage is attached to your home, keep the garage doors closed at all times to better insulate the house.
  • Pay careful attention to snow/ice accumulation on trees, the heavy weight can break branches and cause large amounts of damage.
  • Always have someone designated to visit your home if you are on a trip for a long period of time to periodically check to make sure nothing has gone wrong (frozen pipes, water leakage, etc…)
  • If you discover some pipes are frosted over and have not yet bursted, take measures to thaw frozen pipes immediately. You can save your home from a substantial water and mold damage.
  • If your water pipes burst, find the main water shutoff right away. Clean the water spillage to prevent extra water damage.
  • Make temporary repairs and take other steps to protect your property from further damage. Remove any carpet or furniture that can be further damaged from seepage.
  • Make a list of the damaged articles (save the receipts for what you items you buy), take pictures, and contact your Independent Insurance Agent

Remember, the faster you act with water related incidents, the much more likely you will save yourself from thousands of dollars worth of damages! We still have many days of cold winter days to come so don’t think you are in the clear just yet!

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Season of the Deer, Don’t fall Victim!

November 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Deer and Car

According to a recent study, there has been an increase of nearly 8 percent of the number of deer related auto accidents in the U.S. over the last year. This comes as a surprise since the past three years there was a period where deer related collisions dropped by 2 percent.

November is the month when the most accidents occur involving deer. There is data that shows about 1 in 5 automobile accidents take place during the month of November with October and December following in its footsteps.

Why are accidents so prevalent during this time? This is the time when deer are mating. Not only that, but the colder weather is setting in possibly making roads icy and more dangerous to drive on.

Where are deer accidents most likely? West Virginia tops the list of states for deer-driver confrontations for the fifth year in a row. It is estimated the possibility of striking a deer in West Virginia over a 12 months period is about 1 in 40. So if you live in or are traveling through this state, make sure you are cautious while driving!  In New York the possibility of hitting a deer is 1 in 141 .  Click here for a map of the liklihood of striking a deer in various states.

How much does a deer-related accident cost? The Insurance Information Institute estimates there are 1.6 million automobile collisions with deer annually that result in 200 human deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, $3.6 billion in vehicle damage and $1 billion in medical expenses filed with insurance companies.  Seely & Durland clients have car damage estimates ranging from $1,500-$5,000!  To minimize damages try to keep your car on the road.  By swerving to avoid a deer, you risk more serious damage from oncoming vehicles or driving into a tree or telephone pole or into a ditch. Or worse, personal injury to you and/or passengers.

How can car insurance be your friend?  By having Comprehensive Fire & Theft Car Insurance (otherwise known as Other Than Collision Car Insurance) coverage! Call us today and speak with one of our independent insurance agents to make sure you are properly protected from unpredictable deer damages at 845-986-1177.  Or visit our website at www.seely-durland.com and start an online chat!

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Hurricane Sandy Heading Towards Hudson Valley

October 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Warwick Flooding 2011

It appears inevitable that Hurricane Sandy will be a dangerous storm producing heavy winds and lots of rain.  There is a good chance the power will be out and flooding could occur.  It’s honestly too late to increase or add insurance coverages.  Plus most of our companies will not allow us to provide Insurance ID cards for a new vehicle until their restrictions are lifted!

However it is not too late to get prepared in advance.  We won’t reinvent the wheel but instead try to provide a few websites with important information:

National Hurricane Center  
Orange & Rockland
FEMA
Human Society (don’t forget your pets!)
Weather Channel
American Red Cross App

Most importantly, if you are our client and incur a claim, we have several ways you can report it:

  1. Call our office 845-986-1177 or 800-562-2771.  If you go to voicemail you have two choices
    1. Press 2 to hear a list of companies.  When you hear your company just press the corresponding number
    2. Press 1 to be transferred to a client relations professional
  2. After normal business hours, or if you can’t get through to the main numbers call 866-255-3439
  3. Website – Click here to go to the Claims section of our website

The key to making it through this storm is careful planning, well in advance.  The time to start is now!

Filed Under: Auto Insurance, Business Insurance, Current Stories, Home Insurance Tagged With: , , ,

It’s Time to Install New Smoke Alarms!

October 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
smoke-alarm

Statistic: More than two-thirds (67%) of residential fire deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors or with non-working smoke detectors according to the National Protection Association.

Fires are the leading cause of unintentional injury and death of families and children. It is said that about one in four homes built before 2002 is at high risk because of old smoke detectors. It isn’t worth risking your family’s lives by having old, out of date smoke alarms. Lucky for you, replacing smoke detectors is an easy way to better protect the people closest to you.

How long should you wait to replace smoke detectors? Experts say that every 10 years should be a bench mark for replacing these alarms. After 10 years of age, a smoke detector has a 30% chance of not working properly, if there was a fire, due to age-related factors. Some of these factors include:
1.) Accumulated dust
2.) Insects (dead and/or alive)
3.) Airborne contaminants

How many alarms are necessary in a home? Every single-family home should have at least 5 smoke detectors in their home, but more might be necessary depending on the size of the home. A survey found that 67% of American families have four or less smoke detectors in their home and, therefore, are under protected.

What do I  look for when replacing smoke detectors?
 a.) To help reassure you are keeping to the 10 year maximum for owning a smoke detector, look for ones that have a 10-year seal lithium battery. This will keep your smoke alarms powered for its full lifetime without having to worry about replacing or dead batteries. When the battery finally dies, you will know you need a replacement detector.
b.) Buying combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors offer you the latest technology, along with voice warning calls.
c.) Photoelectric sensor have shown to be more effective in their response time with smoke. In a test with smoldering fires, alarms without  photoelectric sensors took 36 minutes to go off and while ones with it took about 16 minutes.

What other benefits do I have when it comes to fire safety? Most insurance companies will provide credits for having fire safety measures (smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, central station alarms, etc…) You know what that means? Money you can save to spend else where!

If you know your home was built in 2002 or even 2003, it will be in your best interests to check your smoke alarms to make sure they aren’t out of date and that they have functional batteries. Don’t push off buying new smoke detectors, as said above, 30% of all smoke detectors that are more than 10 years old have the chance of failing and this number should scare you as much as it scares me.

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What are the Signs of Identity Theft?

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Identity Theft

Identity theft is the misuse of another’s individual personal information to fraudulently acquire loans, credit, employment, healthcare services, rentals and mortgages. Once an identity thief has your personal information, the possibilities are limitless for that individual.  Make sure you protect and prepare yourself for any sort of identity theft!  The best way to recognize identity theft is by continuously paying close attention to your accounts and bank statements each month, and by checking your credit report on a consistent basis.

Be aware of the following signs of Identity theft:

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Know Your Options Before Renewing Your Personal Property Policy

August 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Your insurance policy can’t accurately protect your assets without knowing a little bit about your personal circumstances. Before initiating or renewing your personal property policy, a homeowner should take time to understand their options and policy requirements.

What discounts are available to me?  Having all of your insurance policies with one company is a smart way to save! There are significant multi-policy discounts available! Other ways may consist of installing a burglar alarm and/or fire alarm system and having smoke detectors, depending upon the company and your personal circumstances, discounts will vary.

How much money would I have to pay to rebuild my home?   Most homeowners have confidence in that if their home is destroyed, their homeowners insurance will rebuild their house (this is not always the case).

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When’s the Last Time You’ve Taken a Household Inventory?

July 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you stopped what you are doing right now to think about all of the items you own at home, would you be able to list off every single item? This should get you thinking of the last time you reviewed your personal property limits on your homeowner’s policy. Before you know it, an accumulation of new items can build up (along with their values!).

A complete and up-to-date home inventory will save you money, preserve your assets, and expedite the claims process. You wouldn’t want to face a damaging event (fire, flood, robbery, etc…) that destroys your property, and not seemost of it repaid. A home inventory would:

  • Allow your insurance agent to provide owners and renters with a policy and limits that matches one’s needs.
  • Allow you to prove the range of your losses when you file an insurance claim.
  • Provide a memory jog and stress relief.
  • Help to identify the items destroyed if any sort of disaster was to strike.

Disasters strike randomly, and without notice, so it is important to make sure the thingsmost valuable to you can be replaced if needed! If you’re not sure of the last time you have taken a home inventory or even if you have taken one at all, then make sure you do itsoon!  You can find a home inventory solution by visitinghttp://www.seely-durland.com/client-resources and clicking on HOME INVENTORY on the right hand side of the page.

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