Winter Safety Tips

Posted by Michelle Dixon - January 18th, 2012

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

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Are You Prepared for Hurricane Irene?

Posted by Stuart Durland - August 25th, 2011

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!

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Flood Insurance – Do I Need It?

Posted by Michelle Dixon - March 18th, 2011

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 »

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Turkey Fryers … The Good, Bad & Ugly!

Posted by Tammy Artusa - November 17th, 2010

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 »

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Kids Back in School-Time To Save!

Posted by Michelle Dixon - September 14th, 2010

Now is a great time to save some money by reviewing your insurance policies for credits you may be eligible for.  In this case we are talking about discounts for kids that have left for college and are over 100 miles away, Read More »

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Wedding Insurance – What Does It Cover?

Posted by Dana Tuck - July 30th, 2010

Your wedding day is one of the most important moments in your life. There are many factors that are outside of your control that can profoundly affect or even postpone your special day. This is what keeps many a bride up at nights prior to the big day! So what if there was an inexpensive alternative to help alleviate the worries?

The answer is Wedding Insurance. Here are some of the concerns that are handled by Wedding Insurance: Read More »

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Tips to Prevent Theft on College Campuses

Posted by Michelle Dixon - January 21st, 2010

Your son or daughter is heading back to college with lots of electronics to include an IPod, computer, TV, Xbox, Play station or WII, cell phones, and more.   Theft has become more common on college campus over the past few years, with over 50,000 property crimes reported annually, as well as more than 1,800 fires.   In Pennsylvania, the state police announced that theft Read More »

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