by California Casualty | Nominate a Hero |
Voting is now closed!
We are honored to have the opportunity to recognize each of these heroes. In our book, they are all Heroes of the Year!
Be sure to read all our heroes’ stories here.
Roger has been a deputy sheriff for the past 5 years. He was destined for public service, starting his career as a volunteer firefighter at 18, then as a volunteer deputy while having a full-time job. Roger is also very involved with the Red Cross. He received certification from the OSU fire service while still in high school.
Roger dedicated many years to the Brushy Mountain Fire Dept. During a wildfire, with a year-long drought working against him, Roger drove the only running water truck to nearby houses, until neighboring departments could help. His efforts saved 5 families’ homes.
In 2004, Roger joined with American Red Cross to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New Orleans relocating to Oklahoma. Locally, Roger was the Disaster Action Team Leader, responding to fires within the four counties he was in charge of. Roger’s family tells us that he takes time out of his schedule to volunteer as a senior counselor at Oklahoma boy’s state and has been since 2004. As counselor in charge of Police academy, he shows teenagers the aspects of the duties of police officers.. Roger also works with local business for sponsorships for students to participate each year.
In 2008, Roger joined the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve officer. Colleagues of Roger say they can always count on him, no matter what time, day or night. Roger speaks and visits local schools to talk and interact with children about Law Enforcement.
by California Casualty | Nominate a Hero, Peace Officers |
Voting is now closed! Click here to view the winner announcement!
Be sure to read all our hero’s stories here.
Roger has been a deputy sheriff for the past 5 years. He was destined for public service, starting his career as a volunteer firefighter at 18, then as a volunteer deputy while having a full-time job. Roger is also very involved with the Red Cross. He received certification from the OSU fire service while still in high school.
Roger dedicated many years to the Brushy Mountain Fire Dept. During a wildfire, with a year-long drought working against him, Roger drove the only running water truck to nearby houses, until neighboring departments could help. His efforts saved 5 families’ homes.
In 2004, Roger joined with American Red Cross to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New Orleans relocating to Oklahoma. Locally, Roger was the Disaster Action Team Leader, responding to fires within the four counties he was in charge of. Roger’s family tells us that he takes time out of his schedule to volunteer as a senior counselor at Oklahoma boy’s state and has been since 2004. As counselor in charge of Police academy, he shows teenagers the aspects of the duties of police officers.. Roger also works with local business for sponsorships for students to participate each year.
In 2008, Roger joined the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve officer. Colleagues of Roger say they can always count on him, no matter what time, day or night. Roger speaks and visits local schools to talk and interact with children about Law Enforcement.
by California Casualty | Safety |
As the weather starts to change once again, we look towards the fall season. This means it is important to remember to prepare your house and family accordingly for the season change. Preparing for fall can help save money, and protect your family and home. Check out these tips about preparing your home both inside and out, along with family (including pets).
Inside the house
- Service your furnace / air conditioner. Be sure to call your local heating and cooling company to service and make sure everything is working properly. Double check furnace for any leaks. This will save headaches and money later when the temperatures drop.
- Check to make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors are properly working. It’s important to know the alarms work, and that fresh batteries have been installed. Replace any fire extinguishers that have expired with new ones throughout the home.
- If you keep emergency kits, make sure they are full and stocked with small medical items, water, flashlight with fresh batteries, and any supplies needed. There should be enough to last you and the family about a week.
- Stock up on winter supplies. If you live in a climate where it snows frequently or ices, stock up on shovels, ice scrapers, sidewalk salts, etc. If your climate features heavy rain or hurricanes, make sure you have plenty of tarps, bottled water, duct tape, etc.
- Use caution with space heaters and fireplaces. Place a fireplace screen in front of fire to prevent sparks from flying out. Never leave a burning fire unattended, and make sure the fire is out before going to bed. If your space heater requires ventilation, make sure it vents to the outdoors. Never use a stove or oven to heat home. Always allow three feet of empty area around the space heaters.
Outside the home
- Reconsider burning the big pile of leaves. Check with your city’s regulations. It may be illegal to burn leaves. Burning leaves produce dangerous and cancer-causing chemicals according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). If you are going to burn the leaves, wear a protective mask. Make sure that you are far away from the house or any other structures. Double check the weather forecast for the day for windy activity.
- Watch for power lines if trimming trees in the yard. Look and survey your yard area for power lines hanging above. Notice the placement of your ladder and trimming tools.
- Use caution while using a ladder. If you have to clean leaves out of the gutter, remember to have on appropriate footwear to avoid getting caught in between steps. Watch the steps for water or moisture to avoid slipping and falling. Make sure the ladder is secure and placed before climbing.
- Check all of the outdoor lighting fixtures. Make sure they all are working properly and secure. Outdoor lights are also effective deterrents for crime.
- When you’re cleaning up your yard, prevent injuries by standing straight and upright while raking leaves. Pull from your arms and legs, lift bags with bent knees using your legs, not your back, for support. If you’re using a leaf blower, wear appropriate clothing, eye protection, and tennis shoes or boots to prevent injury.
Family
- Go get a flu shot. There are still possibilities of getting sick after receiving the shot, but it will protect you from severe complications.
- Not just for employees returning to work, wash your hands. Use hot water, plenty of soap, and scrub for at least 30 seconds.
- Bundle up if it is cold. Wear a jacket and dress accordingly.
- Pets. If your furry friend lives outside, feed them more in the cooler times to help them retain body heat.
- Keep an emergency kit in your car. If you haven’t already, make up an emergency kit and keep in your trunk. Some are in stores already made-up. To make your own, include a flashlight with fresh batteries, first-aid kit, jumper cables, windshield washer fluid, and basic tools.
by California Casualty | Firefighters |
It was weird watching Hurricane Sandy through my front window rather than through the windshield of Rescue 5. It seems as though every major storm that passed through New England over the last twenty some odd years waited for me to start my tour. Sad truth is, I liked that just fine. It’s easy being alone during bad weather, even if the job you are doing is hard. This time, things were different; I had to ride it out at home.
Being home and helpless is difficult. As the winds picked up velocity and the branches of the trees, and the trees themselves shook, and shattered and fell to the ground I could do nothing but watch. My window was as close to the action as I would get, and I was not all that crazy about standing too close to that window! I found it difficult to sit still and watch things go flying by, but there was nothing I could do to change what was happening.
Nature’s fury is a little less intimidating thanks to advances in technology. By pressing a button we are able to track a storm, know when it’s coming, when it’s going, how much rain to expect, how strong the winds will be, and a whole bunch of other information like barometric pressure and things like that that mean absolutely nothing to me. What did matter was the fact that I knew that this too would pass, and the lights will come on, and hopefully stay on, and life will return to normal. This confidence in our ability to weather a storm is a luxury only afforded the most recent generation, prior to us people hunkered down when the wind blew, hopeful it would end, but not knowing if things would get worse before they got better.
Maybe things were better that way, and some fear was instilled in humanity. Humility and appreciation seem much more appetizing when not sure if at the next moment everything could end, or be forever changed. Alas, humility has never been my strength, and as I watched the chaos outside of my window I knew it would all be over soon. The TV told me so.
I’ve often said that it’s our families that deserve the credit when we are out doing our thing, but I never really believed it. I thought I believed it, and if questioned would vociferously defend that statement, but as the windows shook, and more branches fell, and another tree succumbed to the eighty mile an hour gusts, and my heart pounded a little harder than I thought possible, and I contemplated calling 911 to report trees in the wires, I realized just how much I had taken the family I left behind for granted. I was nervous, and worried, and it was not a feeling that I’m used to. My family was used to it, having been left alone during emergencies for years.
I enjoy nothing more that being called to action, and braving the elements while responding to some emergency or other. It’s an adrenaline rush like no other, fighting natures wrath on the way to save some poor soul from whatever predicament they find themselves in. Even the most wildly lived lives consist mostly of boring routine, and the chance to challenge the elements and make a difference and break the monotony is one I live for. Losing myself in an emergency is easy, and life affirming, and an enormous ego boost.
It’s a wonder I can even fit my head through the doorway of our home, where I weathered this storm, miserable, knowing that I was missing all of the fun.
And my wife stood by, busy with her routine, comfortable in her place, batteries ready, candles where they needed to be, dinner for days prepared, ice in the cooler, crossword puzzle books and some games next to the battery operated radio.
She was prepared. I was not. Somewhere in my thick skull the notion that I was above commoners in terms of severe weather readiness resided. Let the hurricanes, blizzards, heat waves, tornadoes and earthquakes come; I am ready, willing and able to respond to those emergencies! But prepare for them? Not even close. Preparation is dull, part of that 90% monotony called life. Preparation for things that “might” happen is far different than responding to things that “did” happen.
In my arrogance I failed to allow myself to live a moment in my families shoes. It is frightening enough to be at the mercy of the elements, hoping that the walls keep the weather out, and the basement stays dry, and the roof remains in place. Hunkering down during a storm is highly underrated. It takes more courage than I ever imagined, and I cannot begin to imagine one of us being out during the worst of it. I honestly don’t think I have what it takes to keep the home together, and stocked, and prepared. Sure, I can put beer in the fridge, and get cans of tuna and a manual opener, but can I keep my emotions in check when the house is shaking and the person I love is not there?
Being prepared is harder than responding. True strength of character is necessary, as well as leadership, courage, and faith. Anybody can take care of things after they happen, waiting for and being ready for anything that might happen, and doing so when you are terrified and your other half is gone takes a special person.
Storms will come, and storms will go, and each one is different in its intensity and potential for inflicting damage. Hurricane Sandy was a doozy, blazing a path of death and destruction through the eastern states. Truly heroic acts were performed by our first responders, and I watched the events over and over on my TV, proud to be part of that world, all the while humbled and awed by the heroes under my own roof.
________
Captain Michael Morse is a Rescue Captain in the Providence Fire Department’s rescue unit and author of two books: “Rescuing Providence” and “Responding.” His blog was voted the winner of the 2012 CalCas Battle of the Blogs ‘Top Firefighter & EMT Blog.’ Cpt. Morses’s books & blog are great resources for EMTs and Firefighters- full of advice, news briefs, and day-to-day insider stories. To learn more about Captain Morse, check out our interview with him!
by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info |
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, many homeowners are dealing with Flooding damages.
We wanted to provide you with some basic Flood Insurance information* so you can be sure you are fully protected:
- Standard homeowners insurance does NOT cover flooding: Your homeowners insurance policy will not cover flooding damage. Only Flood Insurance covers this kind of damage. To learn more about Flood Insurance through California Casualty, click here or scroll down to read more.
- Flood damages are expensive: Just two inches of water could result in more than $7,000 in damages. The higher the water, the higher the costs.
- New Policies take 30 days to kick in: If your home is at any risk of flooding, protect it now. Flood insurance policies take 30 days to take effect.
- Flood insurance offers two types of protection: Flood insurance protects your building and the contents inside of the building. Neither type protects the land they occupy.
- Building Coverage includes:
- The insured building and its foundation
- The electrical and plumbing systems
- Central air conditioning equipment, furnaces, and water heaters
- Refrigerators, cooking stoves, and built-in appliances such as dishwashers
- Permanently installed carpeting over unfinished floors
- Contents coverage includes:
- Clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment
- Curtains
- Portable and window air conditioner units
- Portable microwaves and dishwashers
- Carpeting that is not already included in property coverage
- Clothing washers and dryers
Securing Flood Insurance through California Casualty:
We provide flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program to offer you the best rates and service. It was created by Congress in 1968 to help property owners protect themselves financially against flood damages. To learn about the program, click here.
*These represent typical coverages, you should speak with an agent to verify what is and is not covered
