Memorial Day, for many people, means the start of the summer boating season. It also means a lot of people will be out on the water…many of them novices who may not have a good grounding in boating safety.
Here are some good tips from Treadlightly.org to help keep you safe on the water:
* Travel only in areas open to your type of boat.
* Carry a Coast Guard approved life vest (PFD) for each person on board.
* Always operate your boat at a safe speed.
* Always have a designated lookout to keep an eye out for other boaters, objects and swimmers.
*Never jump a wake. If crossing a wake, cross at low speeds and keep a close lookout for skiers and towables.
*Comply with all signs and respect barriers. This includes speed limits, no-wake zones and underwater obstructions, etc.
* Make every effort to always go boating with a partner.
* Make certain your trailer is in proper working order and that your lights work and your boat is secure on the trailer before you travel to your destination.
* When trailering your boat, balance your load including items stowed inside your boat.
*Don’t mix boating with alcohol or drugs.
Last evening, a massive tornado struck Joplin, MO – leaving at least 89 dead and many residents homeless. Between 25-30% of the city suffered significant damage, including a local hospital and school.
Officials are urging residents to stay at home if possible, and extensive search and rescue efforts are underway. Joplin officials ask that any first responders or medical professionals who are available join in their efforts.
Here is the info we’ve gathered so far – feel free to add in the comments or on our Facebook Page. We found quite a bit of this info here.
Red Cross Safe and Well page: Check to see if friends and family are safe and well. If you are a Joplin resident you can list yourself as safe and well on this site.
National Americorp Volunteers are setting up a national hotline for residents to call to check on loved ones. The number is (417) 659-5464 .
Online map with specific site related information for Joplin, MO tornado.
Other numbers to call — triage centers:
417-623-3254 (joplin memorial hall)
417-624-9320 (mcauley school)
417-347-6656 (freeman hospital)
Integris Baptist Health Center in Miami – 918-542-6611
This recipe is provided by one of our execs, Mike McCormick. He’s the resident fitness buff in our office, and shared a great recipe for healthy blueberry “muscle” muffins with us.
8 egg whites
1/2 cub oatmeal
1 scoop whey protein vanilla
1 cup blue berries
Add 8 egg whites to bowl
Stir in Oats and protein until mixed well
Add Blueberries and fold in gently
Spoon into greased Muffin Pan ( we prefer canola oil spray)
Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes
One of the things I’m most proud of as a California Casualty employee is the dedication that we have to serving our customers. It’s part of the culture here – the needs of our customers are at the top of the priority list. That’s why so many of our customers have been with us for a long time. I recently received a copy of a wonderful letter from Jeanne B. – who has been a customer for 50 years. It’s nice to know that our company was able to help her out during a rough time. (paraphrased for brevity and to remove personal info)
Dear California Casualty,
In February of 2011, shortly after my husband’s death, I was driving to a doctor’s appointment in San Francisco when an impatient driver sideswiped my car.
I immediately called California Casualty, and was lucky to have my call answered by Shelly Brown. She handled my claim with kindness and professionalism, recognizing immediately that I was very stressed due to my recent loss. My car was beautifully repaired by one of our recommended body shops and looks like new.
I want to commend Shelly for her prompt action on my behalf, even interceding with Enterprise when they told me there were no rental cars available for less than $27/day. I ended up not having to pay them any money at all.
We have had our house and car insurance with California Casualty for nearly 50 years. Thanks for being there when needed!
I’m proud to be part of a company that does the right thing and takes care of the customers that place their trust in us. Have you experienced great service with your insurance company? If not, why not give us a call and find out what it’s like to have an auto and home insurance company that is dedicated to standing behind you?
We are in the height of prom season, with high school graduations right around the corner. This means that the chances of teens being involved in serious auto accidents increases significantly. Our friends at Impact Teen Drivers have been working tirelessly to raise awareness of the dangers that face teens who drive distracted or impaired, and to help shed light on some of these startling statistics, we want to share them here as well:
– Teen driver crashes are the leading cause of death for our nation’s youth
– The Fatality rate for drivers 16-19 is 4 times higher than the national average
– 48% of teens have reported talking on a cell phone while driving
It’s no secret that driving while talking on a cell phone or impaired by drugs or alcohol dramatically increases the risk of injury and death while driving. Please speak with your teens about the dangers involved – especially during this time of year, when the excitement of prom and graduations can lead to them making poor driving decisions.
Officials are urging residents to stay at home if possible, and extensive search and rescue efforts are underway. Joplin officials ask that any first responders or medical professionals who are available join in their efforts.
8 egg whites
We are in the height of prom season, with high school graduations right around the corner. This means that the chances of teens being involved in serious auto accidents increases significantly. Our friends at