In many areas of the country, inclement weather can occur year-round. Regardless of where and when you drive, heed these safety precautions for bad weather driving!
Slow down. Put extra distance between your vehicle and the cars ahead of you.
Wear your seat belt at all times and make sure all children ages 12 and under are seated in the back seat.
Keep your headlights, taillights and windshield clean, and your wipers in good condition.
Keep your headlights on while driving. Don’t use your brights because snow and fog can reflect back into your eyes.
In an emergency situation, don’t slam on the brakes. The wheels could lock, causing you to skid.
If your car does start to slide on a frosty road, turn your wheels into the direction of the slide, and then straighten out.
Be extra cautious when driving over bridges and dips in the road. They could present dangerous “black ice” driving conditions.
As weather forecasters are predicting an active few weeks for tornado activity, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) encourages homeowners and renters to take appropriate steps to be prepared, which includes a review of their insurance policies and discussion of coverage options with their insurance agent or company.
“With wind speeds that can reach nearly 300 miles per hour, tornadoes can be deadly and cause severe property damage,” said Donald Griffin, vice president personal lines for PCI. “Because tornadoes can occur rapidly and with little warning, advanced preparation is very important. We encourage consumers to know the warning signals used in their community and be prepared to take cover when alerted. Maintaining an emergency storm kit with a radio, flashlight, batteries and first-aid items is the first step in preparation. Other steps include conducting tornado drills with your family and ensuring that your property is adequately insured.”
The peak of tornado season in the U.S. varies by geographic region beginning in southern states during the months of March and April. Peak tornado season for the southern plains occurs during May and June and typically takes place during June and July in the Midwest and northern plains. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center there were over 1,400 tornadoes in 2010. The highest concentrations of tornado reports were clustered in the Front Range of the Rockies, the Southeast, the Central and Northern Plains, and the Great Lakes. The largest outbreak of tornadoes for 2010 occurred on June 17th, there were at least 74 confirmed tornadoes reported across the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains.
Most tornado, windstorm, hail and similar severe weather-related losses are covered by either homeowners or renters insurance policies. Tornado losses to a home are covered by the “windstorm” peril under the homeowners insurance policy. Renters insurance also provides coverage to policyholder possessions under this peril. Protection from windstorm or hail damage for cars is covered under the “comprehensive” portion of the automobile insurance policy.
PCI pre-storm tips:
– Conduct a detailed inventory of your possessions including receipts, descriptions and photos of your home’s contents.
– Keep your insurance policy and CalCas Claims information along with other important information with you or in a secure place.
– Keep a cell phone charged and with you for emergencies.
– If you have one, keep a laptop computer close by. Most insurance companies allow claims reports to be submitted via the Internet.
If you experienced a loss from the storms:
– Immediately contact your insurance agent or company representative
– Inspect property and cars for damage
– Inventory losses and photograph damage, and save related receipts to assist with claims handling
– Secure property from further damage or theft
– Check the background and legitimacy of repair contractors. Ask your insurance company for assistance in locating a reputable contractor.
As always, we hope you never have to call to report a tornado related claim, but it pays to be prepared!
I recently received an email from a co-worker that discussed some unique tips for safe driving in rainy weather. Spring is nearly upon us, and with it comes strong storms and heavy rains. Since we can’t always avoid getting out in the rain, I wanted to share a few interesting tips with you. If you try them out, please come back and let me know what you think!
1) If it’s raining heavily during the day, see how your vision can be improved by putting on your sunglasses. It will help cut down on the glare from the rain and “kickup” from other cars. Many people find that this is a very effective method to improve visibility in the rain.
2) Never use your cruise control in the rain. If you car begins to hydroplane while the cruise control is on, it can accelerate quickly if the tires lose contact with the road, resulting in a loss of control.
Two safety items I wasn’t aware of until today – please share them, who knows, you may save a life!
With winter winding down (finally!) – our thoughts are turning to spring and summer, and some of the damaging rain and storms that come with the changing seasons. Certain areas of the US are already seeing flooding from some of these storms, so we wanted to share some tips from the FEMA website for staying safe during a flood.
How to react if a flood is occurring near your home:
Listen to the radio or TV for information
Be aware of flash flooding, if there is a possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground
Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas prone to flash flooding.
If you must evacuate, attempt the following:
Secure your home as much as possible. Bring outdoor items indoors, and move essential items to a higher floor
Turn off utilities and the main shutoff points. Disconnect as many electrical appliances as possible. Do NOT touch electrical equipment if you’re in standing water.
Do not walk through moving water. It only takes 6 inches of moving water to make you fall.
Use a stick or cane to check ground firmness where you are walking
Do not drive in flooded areas. Flood waters can sweep you and your vehicle away quickly
Driving in Flooded Areas
If you find yourself driving in flood conditions, be aware that only 6 inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars and can cause stalling
A foot of water will float many vehicles
Two feet of rushing water is enough to float away even heavy SUV’s and Trucks
We hope you never need to use these tips, but it pays to be aware of the dangers of flooding before they happen!
If you happen to have your own website or blog, you can add some cool widgets provided by FEMA by going to their site here and downloading them.
In many areas of the country, inclement weather can occur year-round. Regardless of where and when you drive, heed these safety precautions for bad weather driving!
recently received an email from a co-worker that discussed some unique tips for safe driving in rainy weather. Spring is nearly upon us, and with it comes strong storms and heavy rains. Since we can’t always avoid getting out in the rain, I wanted to share a few interesting tips with you. If you try them out, please come back and let me know what you think!