Our office see’s three major types of losses during the winter that are very much preventable.  They relate to Wood Stoves and Fireplaces, Pipes freezing, and Ice Dams.  One of our key companies, Preferred Mutual, provided a two page Winter Safety Tips with Do’s and Don’ts for preventing these losses!    Just click on this link Winter_Safety

According to the US Fire Administration, more than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires while approximately 20,000 are injured. Most fires occur in the home. Many of these fires can be prevented or their severity lessened, by following these simple rules: Read More »

Hurricane and Flood Preparedness

With a threat of a hurricane hitting our area within the next few days, you may also experience flooding in your community. Here are some tips on preparing for the coming storm and the best ways to safeguard lives and property.

Have a Family Plan

Keeping your family safe is your first priority, so develop a Family Disaster Plan.

• First, determine the safest place for your family to be if a hurricane strikes. It might be your home, but it might be with friends or a local shelter. Make sure everyone knows where to meet if you get separated.
• Find out about the established escape routes for your neighborhood. Many communities will block off streets, or change them into one-way avenues, so make sure you know what will happen to make evacuating faster and less stressful.
• Contact an out-of-state friend and ask them to be a point of contact. Many times cell phones won’t work, or will not be properly charged. An out-of-state friend can relay messages to loved ones faster and easier than you may be able to.
• Make plans for your pets. If you are keeping them with you, make sure they have a collar on with identifying information. Keep a photo of them with you so you can show it to others if you lose them. Be sure you have adequate food and water for them and a pet carrier in case you all must evacuate. If you are going to board the animal, make sure it is up to date on all vaccinations and leave important contact information with the facility.
• Be sure to keep a battery powered NOAA weather radio in your home, with extra batteries. This radio will keep you up to date on storm news and data.
• Keep a stocked first aid kit with you, along with a supply kit. Your supply kit should include enough supplies to last you 3-7 days:

Water

Food (nonperishable)

Blankets

Clothing (sturdy shoes and rain gear included)

Flashlight and batteries

Cash

Secure Your Home

After you’re sure you’ve done everything to keep your family safe, take measures to secure your home. Wind damage can be substantial if the wind is allowed to enter the house so take these precautions:

• If you have shutters, make sure that all are closed and securely locked. If you don’t have shutters, you may want to consider boarding up your windows.
• Close and lock all your doors, including your garage doors. You may want to consider installing head and foot bolts on the inactive door or double-entry doors. Make sure your doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt security lock which has a minimum one inch bolt throw length.
• If you are evacuating, be sure to shut off all water, gas and electricity in the home to prevent damage from broken pipes, wires, etc.
• Park your cars in the garage, not in the driveway or on the street. They’ll be safer from flying debris or falling trees.

Make Sure You Have the Proper Insurance

Many homeowners policies contain exclusions for wind damage and flooding. Contact your agent to review your policy and ensure you’re properly protected!

Sending a child off to college is a big day for a family, one that shouldn’t be ruined by concerns about whether the valuable items the child is taking to school are insured.

When sending your college-age child off to school, he or she usually takes along a computer, television, stereo, DVD player, clothing, possibly furniture and other items. This leaves many parents questioning whether their homeowners insurance protection will cover the items while they are out of the home. Read More »

Those of us in the insurance business know that most people don’t understand (nor do they want to!) the majority of what’s in their insurance policies. And we can’t blame them! An insurance policy is a legal document, and therefore it reads like one – with terms and jargon that don’t seem to make any sense.  Most people simply rely on their insurance agent to make sure they’ve got the right coverage (another great reason to use an Independent Insurance Agent!)

However, there are some misconceptions we believe are important to clear up. We hear them over and over again, so let’s set the record straight!  Here are the nine most common myths we hear about auto insurance, and the truth behind them:  Read More »

Severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes have been hitting our region this spring and we should expect more severe storms throughout the summer.  Take these storms seriously! They can be very dangerous and cause injuries and even death.  Being prepared for severe storms is your best defense. Here are some safety tips for you and your family: Read More »

Even with home values sliding, your home is still one of the most valuable assets that you own.  There are many ways and reasons to value your home to include market/resale  value, property taxation, new construction, or for mortgage purposes.  But for insurance purposes the reconstruction value is the most important. The many factors that influence the value of your home are location, construction type, square footage and the amount of customization.  A lot of people just assume Read More »

Now that spring is approaching, many areas will experience flooding. During the spring the land may still be frozen preventing the melting snow and/or spring rainfalls from seeping into the ground. Also, as the snow melts and spring rains come, it can cause rivers, streams and lakes to overflow. Both of these scenarios can cause ground water to enter your homes and basements causing severe damages. These flood damages are NOT covered by homeowners or Read More »

I just read an article in US News & World Report related to the use of camera’s at intersections http://tiny.cc/eegfs,  and it related to a  personal experience.  We recently received a letter in the mail from the NYC police department.  We opened the letter and saw a very detailed picture of our car going through an intersection, a closeup of the license plate, a shot of the red traffic light, and an invoice for $50.  This is an intersection that happens to use horizontal traffic lights which are, Read More »

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, thoughts turn to turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie. Delicious deep-fried turkey, historically prevalent in the southern states, is growing in popularity around the country thanks to celebrity chefs such as Emeril Lagasse. The only problem is Read More »