WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022
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Before you know it, we will be experiencing those hot, humid days of summer, which often bring intense rain and thunderstorms. Even if you don't live in an area that typically gets regular summer storms, it only takes one big one to move through and do some damage to your home and property. Before storm season starts, take some steps to get your home ready.
- Check out the health of your trees. One of the biggest problems is damage from falling limbs. Take a look at the tops of your trees. Are they well-covered in leaves, or do some branches look bare? Then look at the roots. Is the land uneven, causing some roots to come out of the ground? These could be signs of unhealthy trees that may be more likely to fall in a storm. If you're unsure, it may be worth calling an arborist to evaluate the health of your trees.
- Clean the gutters. Gutters filled up with leaves, twigs, and pine cones will not drain well, causing water to end up where you don't want it, along your foundation and in your basement. Water can also back up onto your roof causing damage to sub-roofing material.
- If your house tends to get water in the basement, make sure your sump pump is working well, and that you have some sort of backup power source in case of an outage.
- Have an emergency storm kit prepared. Flashlights, batteries, water, food, first aid supplies, and extra medicine are essentials to have on hand.
- Create an emergency plan including places your family will meet in the event of a severe storm.
Storms are unpredictable, and while you can do your best to be prepared, there are times when your home will sustain damage due to lightning, rain, or high winds. In addition to making sure your home is prepared, make sure you homeowners policy is prepared, as well:
- Ensure you have adequate coverage and deductibles that are reasonable for your needs.
- Put together an inventory of your home and belongings.
- Check your policy for “loss of use” or “additional expense” coverage to help pay for temporary housing if needed.
While staying safe, try to protect your property, salvage what you can, and closely inspect your property and cars for damage. Take notes and photos of damage to assist in settling claims.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022
Whether you are held responsible for a serious auto accident or an injury on your property, you can quickly find yourself responsible for damages that exceed the liability limits on your home, auto, renters, or boat policy. An expensive judgment could mean financial ruin for many people. Fortunately, there’s an option to help protect your assets and provide additional protection – umbrella insurance.
An umbrella insurance policy provides an extra layer of protection in the event the coverage limits on your primary insurance policies are exhausted. Personal umbrella policies typically offer between $1-5 million of liability coverage and, depending on the coverage amount, are relatively inexpensive, oftentimes costing less than a plane ticket.
For Example
Suppose you were involved in an accident that resulted in serious injuries to the other driver and their passengers. You are found to be at fault, subsequently sued, and the lawsuit resulted in a judgment as shown below:
Judgment Amount
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$1,500,000
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Auto Liability Limit
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$500,000
(maximum payout on the policy)
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Gap in Coverage
(what the at-fault driver owes)
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$1,000,000
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In this situation, your auto coverage maxed out at $500,000, leaving you with the remaining $1,000,000 bill. If you are not able to pay the remaining amount, your personal assets (money in the bank, personal property, investments, etc.) could be at risk. However, if you have an umbrella policy with a limit of at least $1,000,000, it would help avoid the gap in coverage.
An umbrella policy is there for you when the unexpected happens. You could be held liable to others for the cost of damages – injuries, property destruction, emotional distress, lost wages, and more. It only takes one serious accident and a resulting lawsuit to put everything you own (and will own) at risk.
*Actual coverage is subject to the policy as written. Higher limits may be available depending on the insurance company and underwriting approval.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022
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'Tis the season! The season of peppers? Sure. The season of tacos and cheesesteaks?
Always. And yes...spring is the season of low carbs for those who may be getting summer-ready. Here is a yummy and EASY recipe submitted by one of our insurance agents, Yvonne Hall, CISR. Thank you, Yvonne!
Taco and Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers are easy to make, low carb, and gluten-free.
Taco Stuffed Peppers
4 medium peppers, you can halve them or keep whole (I keep whole), You can use yellow, red, orange, and purple peppers.
1 ½ lb. ground beef, browned (Yvonne uses turkey burger)
1 packet taco seasoning mix or use a homemade taco seasoning
¾ cup water
1 ½ cup shredded cheese (I use whatever kind of cheese I have in the fridge.)
1 cup sour cream
½ cup salsa
- Preheat the oven to 350˚. Wash peppers. Keep whole or slice lengthwise in half through the middle. Remove seeds. Yvonne pre-cooks her peppers until they are soft (you can microwave them to soften them.)
- While peppers are cooking, brown the turkey or beef until cooked through. Add taco seasonings and water. Cook according to the instructions on the taco packet. After the meat is cooked, mix in sour cream, salsa, and 1 cup of shredded cheese.
- Spray a 13x9 baking dish if you halved the peppers or use a smaller dish for whole peppers. Place cooked peppers inside the dish and stuff peppers with the meat and cheese mixture. Top with the remaining cheese. Bake 350˚ for 20-30 minutes. Serve with your favorite taco ingredients and a side of salsa. Enjoy!
Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers:
4 medium peppers, (same as above)
1lb. lean ground beef or steak-ums
1 small to medium onion
8 ounces of sliced mushroom (optional)
3 tbsp butter
Provolone cheese sliced or shredded
- Preheat the oven to 400˚ and cook pepper, as above.
- Melt butter in a large skillet, then add onion and mushrooms. Cook for 20 minutes. If you use mushrooms. If you don’t use mushrooms, cook onions until softened. Add meat and cook for 10 minutes or until no longer pink.
- Spray a 13x9 baking dish if you halved the peppers or use a smaller dish for whole peppers.
- Place a slice or some shredded cheese in the bottom of each pepper, then stuff with meat mixture. Top each pepper with lots of cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown.
Enjoy!
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TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022
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| When severe storms are on the way…are you prepared?
The summer months are times for playing outside, laying by the pool, and yard work. Unfortunately, they can also bring severe weather including thunderstorms, hail, floods, and tornadoes which can cause considerable damage to your home, care, and property. Make sure you are prepared for any situation – below are a few tips that can help!
- Ensure you have adequate coverage and deductibles that are reasonable for your needs
- Put together an inventory of your home and belongings
- Check your policy for “loss of use” or “additional expense” coverage to help pay for temporary housing if needed
- Create and emergency plan including places your family will meet in the event of a severe storm
- Keep basic supplies on hand like water, food, flashlights, and a battery-operated radio
After the storm, make sure to call your insurance agent as soon as you can to asses any damage. While staying safe, try to protect your property, salvage what you can, and closely inspect your property and cars for damage. Take notes and photos of damage to assist in settling claims.
When severe storms are on the way…is your child prepared?
Dealing with disaster is never easy as an adult, so think about how difficult it is for a child to process. Though kids may not understand the importance of running through drills or discussing emergency plans in advance of an actual emergency, it’s absolutely crucial that they know what to do if a storm blows in. But where do you start?
If you haven’t already, sit down with your whole family to develop a disaster plan. Children like to feel like they’re a part of things, so ask for their input. Your family’s plan should include where to go, what to do and how to communicate with each other or the authorities during a variety of disaster situations including tornadoes, fires, floods and other severe weather.
Children especially need step-by-step instructions and hands-on training to prepare for a disaster. Apart from routine drills, show them how to dial 911 and walk them through what to say for a variety of emergencies. Teach them to use a fire extinguisher using the acronym PASS, which stands for 1) pull the pin, 2) aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, 3) squeeze the trigger and 4) sweep the nozzle side to side. For good measure, older children should also be taught how to turn off the water, gas and electricity as well. If you have a disaster supply kit, children should know where it’s located and how/when to use the items inside.
Talks about disaster preparedness should be thorough enough for children to remember the information during an actual emergency situation. Stress the fact that when disaster strikes, the family may not be together; the adults may be at work and the children may be at school. No matter how scared and worried the children are, explain that it is too dangerous to attempt to go home or find a parent. Rather, they should stay with the nearby adults and trust them for further instructions until the danger has passed.
If a disaster does occur, children are more equipped to cope if they understand what occurred and why. Ask them what they already know and explain the basics in a simple way, such as how the lights won’t turn on because a tree fell on top of the electrical wires. Follow that up with what’s being done to resolve the problem, such as repair crews are on their way to fix the electrical wires.
And, as always, if you need to file a claim, we’re here to help you get back to normal as quickly as possible.
Contact us today with any questions!
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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022
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In the last few years, there has been a surge in specialty vehicle sales—from recreational vehicles in the spring to boats in the summer. As the seasons change, it's time to shift focus to the specialty vehicles consumers will be using for the next few months.
We are heading into a prime off-roading season for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, and side-by-sides Most consumers aren't well-educated about the nuances of auto or home insurance policies, let alone properly insuring off-road vehicles.
Here are four common insurance mistakes that befall many off-roaders:
1) Not insuring an off-road vehicle. Everyone knows you need auto insurance to legally drive, but the requirements for off-road vehicles are ambiguous at best. Unless you're in one of the handful of states that requires insurance, consumers are probably lukewarm on insuring them.
Why? They think it's covered by their homeowners policy and don't think the vehicles are valuable enough to insure separately. They haven't contemplated the real reasons you insure an off-road vehicle: Liability protection and uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
Much like auto accidents, fender-benders happen on the trails with great frequency. That's why you install brush guards, after all. But what happens when there's a serious accident? What if the accident is the other driver's fault and they're uninsured?
Ambulances aren't off-road vehicles, so getting medical assistance could involve a helicopter. Compound this with potential delays in getting to medical treatment. All this means that it's critical to have great liability and UM/UIM protection.
2) Believing off-road vehicle insurance is expensive. The other reason people don't insure their off-road vehicle is because they think it's expensive. In reality, they'll likely spend more on gas. A liability-only policy could be as little as $100 a year while the average premium is more like $350 per year. For the ultimate protection, consider high limits plus an umbrella policy.
3) Thinking customizations will be covered. A lot of off-roaders invest in customizations. From brush-guards to hand-warmers, heavy-duty tires and rims, and everything in-between. For purposes of insurance, customizations are anything that isn't original manufacturer equipment (OEM), including equipment added by the dealership or a previous owner.
This can be a real gotcha for insureds who think that customizations are covered because they're part of the vehicle. Some companies include a nominal amount in the base policy for just this reason. If the client has invested in extensive customizations, they can purchase high limits for an additional premium. And they may receive coverage for their safety gear such as helmets, boots or riding jackets.
4) Assuming roadside assistance will provide coverage. Some people never leave their property, but many ride or trailer their vehicles to the tens of thousands of miles of designated ATV trails across the U.S.
However, many Americans believe having auto roadside assistance coverage means they can get a tow whenever and wherever they need it. What they don't realize is that towing coverage is generally for declared vehicles or specific vehicle types such as cars, motorcycles, and RVs, which could leave ATVs and side-by-sides out in the cold.
The good news is that if you insure these vehicles on a motorcycle or off-road-vehicle insurance policy and add roadside assistance, they'll be able to get fuel delivery, flat tire assistance or a tow. There's just one caveat: They must be close to a public road. Tow trucks are not off-road vehicles, after all.
Powersports sales are surging. By addressing these common insurance pitfalls, you increase your chances of ensuring you are protected.
source: iamagazine.com
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