Why should I worry, there’s never been a disaster or emergency in my area before? If that’s your reaction to emergency preparation, you’re setting your family up for disaster. Here are nine other signs you probably aren’t ready for the unexpected:
You have no property insurance or the “bare minimum” because your house is paid off.
You couldn’t be bothered signing up for those annoying cell phone emergency alerts.
What’s a weather alert radio?
You only know one way in and out of your neighborhood.
When someone mentions geographic land features, you think they are talking about the mound left in the front yard where the tree was removed last year.
When you hear there is a tornado or severe thunderstorm watch, you actually go out to watch for them.
You think a bottle of water and a fanny pack are all you need if you are evacuated.
Having a home inventory means knowing how much toilet paper and milk you have.
Heck, we’ve been waiting for that big storm so we can get a new roof (we already have five leaks, what’s one more).
Seriously, disaster preparation is not a laughing matter; just ask anyone who survived the fury of Hurricane Sandy, the horrors after Hurricane Katrina, or dug through the ashes of their homes in the recent disastrous West Coast fires. September is National Preparedness Month when emergency experts are asking everyone to know their risks, develop a plan, prepare an emergency supply kit and make a home inventory. In the next few days and weeks we’ll share details on things you need to do before a disaster strikes. In the meantime, visit www.ready.gov for more information on preparing for an emergency, before it’s too late.
Odds are you know someone who is getting married this summer. Now through September is when the majority of weddings take place each year in the U.S. While it’s a time of joy and dreams of the future, there are many important decisions: how many people to invite, is there a need for a wedding planner, who will cater the meal and what about entertainment. Once the rings are exchanged and the honeymoon is over, there’s another important step – getting your auto and home insurance in order. Here’s a checklist for newlyweds.
Combine Your Insurance
If you both have separate cars with different insurance companies, now that you are married you can find discounts by putting both vehicles on the same policy. It will also ensure that both drivers are covered no matter which car they use. Get extra savings by bundling your autos with your home or renters insurance.
Marriage Discount
Make sure to inform your insurance company that you got married – most auto and home insurance companies offer important discounts for newlyweds. Men under the age of 25 are usually considered high risk drivers. However, once they marry they often see a big drop in insurance premiums. The lower rates can also apply to those in domestic partnerships.
Increase Homeowner or Renters Coverage
Wedding presents are wonderful. You now have a new set of china, expensive new appliances and other things for your home. These assets need to be covered. Talk to an insurance advisor to make sure you have enough coverage to protect all the things you own and to increase your liability protection. It’s also a great time to create an inventory of all the things you own to help you purchase the right insurance protection and make filing a claim much easier.
Get Extra Protection for High Value Items
That beautiful new wedding ring and special gifts like fine art or silverware may need scheduled personal property protection, often called a “floater,” to make sure they are covered for their full value. Most homeowners and renters policies will provide limited coverage for those items. Scheduled personal property coverage will also pay to replace a ring, without a deductible, even if it was misplaced or damaged in the disposal.
Just like marriage, California Casualty is a committed partner in helping with your auto and home insurance needs. Don’t go it alone, contact a California Casualty advisor today for a free quote or no hassle policy review at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
The mouthwatering smell of hamburgers, chicken and other grilled foods will soon start filling the air – but as Fourth of July weekend arrives (the unofficial start of BBQ season) the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is warning grillers to be careful.
According to a 2013 NFPA report, an average of 8,600 home fires were started each year between 2007 and 2011 by gas or charcoal grills, 60 percent of those flared up on a balcony, porch or outside patio.
The NFPA advises everyone to make sure the grill is working properly and review safety tips before firing it up. It’s extremely important to check gas canisters and hoses for cracks, breaks or leaks.
Did you know ESPN SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm was severely burned in a gas grill accident? She has recorded several videos to share her story and raise awareness about grilling safety.
Read you grills safety tips and warning information before using it
Only use propane and charcoal outdoors
Check gas tanks and hoses for leaks
Stay alert when grilling
Keep grills well away from the house, deck railings, overhanging eaves and branches
Never leave the grill unattended
Be careful when disposing charcoal; always make sure coals they are completely out and put into a meal container with a lid
Accidents happen. Make sure your home or apartment is fully protected with the right amount of insurance. Call a California Casualty advisor today for a policy review, 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
Decks; they come in all sizes, shapes and age. They’re an extension of our living space as the weather warms and we spend more time outdoors. They can also be an accident waiting to happen.
A study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that close to 50,000 people are injured each year from falls off decks, porches and stairs; about 15 percent of those were from a structural failure or collapse.
Summer is when most deck collapses are reported. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors says of the more than 45 million existing decks in North America, only 40 percent are absolutely safe.
Most failures take place while the decks were occupied and approximately 90 percent were a result of separation of the house and the deck ledger board. While age can be a factor, deck collapse can take place on any deck that was not properly installed.
Here are five deck safety and inspection tips from the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) that can keep the summer BBQ from becoming a trip to the hospital:
Search for split or decaying wood including support beams and joists below
Test railings and banisters to make sure they are firmly attached
Check fasteners to make sure they have not come loose or corroded
Step carefully looking for loose boards or spongy areas
Clean up debris like leaves branches and other things that can cause slipping and mildew
NADRA also urges homeowners to test deck stairs, make sure grills and fire pits are on a non-flammable pad and away from walls and overhangs, and to consider proper lighting for nighttime use.
Michael Beaudry, executive vice president of the NADRA wants people to know about the importance of annually inspecting their decks. “Outdoor structures like decks are exposed to sun, rain, snow and extreme temperature changes over the years. The need to maintain and inspect them is critical for keeping decks strong and safe.”
You can find an extensive point-by-point deck inspection check list from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors at https://www.nachi.org/deck-inspections.htm.
Another piece of protection is to inspect your home or renters insurance. Now’s a great time to review your policy and make sure you have the proper liability coverage if someone gets hurt at your home. Call a California Casualty advisor today at 1.800.800.9410 or by visiting www.calcas.com.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
Summer is more than just a great time for BBQs, baseball and swimming pools; it’s the perfect time to get your home maintenance done.
The experts say warm weather is perfect for:
• Interior and exterior painting
• Power washing exterior walls to remove dust, mold or grime
• Power washing and re-staining decks
• Replacing loose or broken boards on decks and hammering or screwing down nails or screws that have come loose
• Checking roofs for winter wear
• Checking and clearing gutters and drain spouts of debris and making sure the spouts direct water away from the home’s foundation
• Pruning trees and shrubs and removing overhanging branches
• Fixing any plumbing problems while pipes are warm
• Inspecting for insect and termite damage to baseboards, decks or around windows – look for soft spots in wood around doors and windows or mud tubes against outside walls
Summer is also a great time to make sure your home or renters insurance is up-to-date. Get a free policy review with a California Casualty advisor at 1.800.800.9410 or at www.calcas.com.
Hurricane season began June 1. Are you ready? The nation’s top emergency managers warn that millions of Americans from the Gulf Coast to the Eastern Seaboard as far north as Maine are in danger. Southern California has even experienced tropical storms, giving the West Coast a reason to be concerned.
While hurricanes are associated with extreme winds, the National Hurricane Center warns that storm surge actually causes the most damage and loss of life. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has developed new maps to show the danger. They also have a list of hurricane preparedness tips that include:
Understand your insurance – know whether you have actual cash value or replacement cost coverage, know how much living expenses coverage you have and make sure you have flood insurance (not covered with most home or renters insurance)
Store copies of your inventory and insurance information in a safe location away from home
Get an annual insurance review to make sure you have enough coverage for the dwelling and possessions
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
Secure the property from further damage or theft
Keep or document receipts and other expenses if you are evacuated or forced to find another place to live because of damage to your home or apartment
Be wary of unscrupulous contractors following a natural disaster
California Casualty is ready to help before or after the storm. Contact an advisor today for a policy review, to arrange for flood insurance or upgrade coverages at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com. It’s also our policy to call customers in a disaster area to make sure you are okay and help start a claim, and our Claims department is available 24 hours a day, even on holidays if you have an emergency.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
