Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold

Add the following supplies to your disaster supplies kit:

• Rock salt to melt ice on walkways
• Sand to improve traction
• Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.

Prepare your home and family

·         Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel, because regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.

·         Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.

·         Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.

·         Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Be certain that your waste plumbing system will safely handle the water without clogging or freezing.

·         Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. Use one outside to familiarize yourself with the pressure and dispersion, and then have it recharged immediately.

·         House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.

·         Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).

·         Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.

·         Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow – or water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.

Dress for the Weather

·         Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent, and bright colors are suggested for safety.

·         Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.

·         Wear a hat. Body heat escapes rapidly from the head.

·         Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

Winter Fire Safety Tips from The U.S. Fire Administration

§         Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year or when the alarm ‘beeps’ at regular intervals.

§         Space heaters should have an automatic emergency shutoff device in case they tip over. Only use the fuel recommended by the manufacturer.

§         Never refill a space heater while it is operating or still hot. Refuel outside, away from the house.

§         Wood stoves must be properly installed, away from combustible surfaces, have the proper floor support and adequate ventilation.

§         Never use flammable liquids, such as gasoline or lighter fluid, to start or accelerate a fire.

§         Have furnaces and chimneys professionally inspected annually and cleaned if necessary. Creosote buildup is a common cause of chimney fires.

§         Use a glass or metal screen in front of fireplaces to prevent sparks from igniting nearby carpets or furniture.

§         Never thaw frozen pipes with a blowtorch or other open flame. Use hot water or a UL listed device such as a hand-held dryer.

§         Dispose of hot ashes in tightly sealed metal containers placed away from the house.

§         Don’t use the oven to heat homes. Besides being a fire hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes.

§         Keep fire hydrants clear of snow for easy access. 

See above photos of my office and our roof damage, notice the very top of the roof and the missing shingles

Some Homeowner coverage’s relating to the wind damage from Ike 09/14/08

Ohio has been declared a disaster from the storm that produced 80 MHP winds on 9/14/08.  The last time Ohio was declared a disaster was 1979.  I can’t help but to think that I thought we (in Ohio) would be safe from a hurricane?!

My home is still without power, and my agency’s office building sustained roof damage.  I want to address some of the coverage questions with our customers relating to fallen trees, damaged roofs, and spoiled food.

If your Homeowner policy is with ERIE Insurance:

The policy will provide debris removal coverage for fallen trees.  This coverage is up to $1,000 per occurrence with a limit of $500 per tree.  The policy deductible applies.

If a fallen tree damages covered property the cost of removing that part of the tree that hit that property will be covered along with the repair or replacement of that property.  The policy deductible applies.

The homeowner policy provides coverage for loss of the contents of the refrigerator or freezer units on the residence premises from power failure.  The only exception is for contents used for business purposes.  The policy deductible applies.

If you have experienced shingles blown off the roof, the policy will either repair or replace, based on examination and extent of the damage.  If only one side of the roof is damaged then that part of the roof may be all that will be paid for.  The claims department will make the final determination and the policy deductible applies.

If your home is insured with Auto-Owners Insurance:

The policy will provide debris removal for trees fallen in the yard up to $500.  The policy deductible applies.

The food spoiled in the refrigerator or freezer on the residence premises in the standard un-endorsed policy is $250 per loss.  If your home policy has the “enhancement “Plus” endorsement the coverage is increased to $750.  The policy deductible applies.

If you have shingles blown off the roof, the treatment is the same as Erie Insurance, if the roof can be repaired then it will be, if not, then the policy will pay for replacement of the damaged part of the roof.  Often times in a storm like this only one side of the roof is damaged, or just the front, or back.  In that instance, the insurance carrier will most likely pay for that part of the roof replacement. 

ONE MORE IMPORTANT NOTE:  If “your” tree falls in your neighbors yard, or hits your neighbors house IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT, (unless you were made aware that that tree was dead and poses a threat to their property).  The same thing goes for a tree from your neighbors yard, if it hits your car or house YOUR insurance will be responsible. 

Please call us if you have “what if” questions, or need recommendations for contractors, or just want to talk about these or other insurance related issues.

As many as a million Americans may have been affected by identity theft during the last year alone, according to the federal trade commission.  Identity theft is when someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain or to commit crimes(s).  These crimes include stolen credit card numbers, bank account information used for the financial gain of the criminal.  Loans can be obtained falsely, properties purchased and bankruptcy filed all under another person’s name.  On occasions crimes are committed, warrants for arrests issued under another person’s name.  Illegal aliens use false social security numbers to obtainwork, establish credit, buy a home, pay taxes, usually using their own names but with another’s social security number.

What steps can be taken to reduce an event of identity theft.  Review your financial information at least annually, including running your credit report, credit card statements, and bank statements.  Keep your personal data on a need to know basis.  Only provide this information to trusted sources and vendors.  Destroy documents that contain personal information before it is thrown in the trash, including all junk mail, and credit card offers.  When travelling, have a trusted neighbor retrieve your mail each day while your away.  Be careful when you are on the phone especially when giving away personal information.  Pay attention to who is standing with in ear shot, and to whom you are speaking.  Run a full background check on yourself at least annually.  Hire a private investigation service to run a standard “pre-employment” check on yourself.  This type of service shouldn’t cost too much.

Most homeowner insurance companies will now offer FOR ADDITIONAL PREMIUM the option to add identity theft coverage.  The most important part to remember about this coverage is that it will NOT pay for lost funds or stolen monies from accounts or charged through those accounts.  The coverage is designed to pay for reasonable and necessary expenses that are incurred as a direct result of an identity theft.  Examples could include costs for re-filing applications for loans, attorney fees, and document reconstruction, time off work, and additional day care expenses.  There is no coverage for a business or professional entity and it’s identity.  There is no coverage for an act of an insured to another insured.  What this means is a spouse who still lives at home in the process of a divorce gets money from an account, or racks up huge credit card debt and “sticking it” to the spouse.  There would be no coverage for a grandchild living with a grandparent and uses the grandparents information for financial gain.  The claim is triggered when the theft of id is DISCOVERED, this becomes the date of loss and it is the policy at that time that will respond.  The theft must be reported to the insurance company within 60 days after the theft has been discovered.

At the time I wrote this article, I received an e-mail from what appeared to be my credit card company stating that I had been “locked out” from logging on their web site because the wrong password had been used.  I called the credit card company and they told me that the e-mail was a scam.  The e-mail that was sent to me looked very authentic, including the credit card company logo.  I will be checking my next few credit card statements for unauthroized charges.  For more information on the insurance coverages available please contact our office.