New Drive-By Spam Infects Those Who Open Email — No Attachment Needed
If you think you don’t need to be concerned about Cyber Liability Insurance Coverage… Think Again! Basic coverage is now available – ask us for a quote!
Where Does The Money Go?
Here is a little calculator that will show you where your tax dollars go. I thought it might be helful in this important election year!
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Staff of The Slocum Agency, Inc. Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving!
Please note that the office will be closing at 3PM on Wednesday, November 24th and
will reopen Monday, November 29th.
Safety Tips for Black Friday Shoppers
The day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, is the biggest shopping day of the year. When it comes to cashing-in on the day’s deals, the motto is “If you snooze you lose.”
Many stores will open at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and some retailers will even open their doors on Thanksgiving eve in hopes that they can entice people out of their post-turkey dinner food coma. For serious bargain-hunters, the day is the ultimate shopping extravaganza that requires a strategic plan, including store maps and item locations, that’s hatched days in advance. Others take a less organized approach, but are still hungry for a deal or this year’s hottest holiday toy.
The combination of too-good-to-be-true deals and shoppers hopped up on copious amounts of caffeine and tryptophan can be dangerous, though. Overzealous drivers can make parking lots a zoo and sleep-deprived shoppers are less likely to pay attention to the road. Unfortunately, Black Friday, which is considered the unofficial start to the holiday season, also brings out thieves, pickpockets, and others who are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers.
Whether you’re leaving the house at the crack of dawn (or dusk) in search of Black Friday deals or saving your holiday shopping for the last minute, keep these safety tips in mind when navigating the parking lots and wandering the aisles.
On the Road and in the Parking Lot:
• When backing out of a parking spot, be aware of waiting cars, others who are backing out at the same time, and motorists who speed through lanes.
• Lock all doors and roll up all windows even when leaving the car for a short period of time.
• When shopping, keep gifts in the trunk or hidden from view in the interior of the car. Also, put all of your packages in the trunk before departing one parking lot and driving to another. Waiting until your next shopping destination allows others to see packages go into the trunk of your car and then you departing into the mall or store.
• Avoid parking next to vans and large trucks that block your space from general vision of others.
• Make a mental note or write down exactly where you park your car to avoid wandering around longer than necessary.
• During the day, park away from buildings to reduce the chance of dings from car doors or shopping carts. At night, avoid secluded areas and park directly under lights whenever possible.
• Have your keys in hand when leaving a store. Also, look underneath your car before you reach it; criminals have been known to lie underneath in wait.
• Bring gifts in the house with you instead of leaving them in the car.
In the Store:
• Use a credit card to avoid thefts of large amounts of cash that are irreplaceable.
• Shopping with a single credit card is preferable because it’s easier to cancel one, rather than several, if your wallet or purse is stolen.
• Keep purses zipped and close to your body. Never leave a purse unattended in a shopping cart where it is more susceptible to theft.
• Keep a reference list of phone and account numbers for all your credit cards in a safe place at home.
• If possible, carry keys, cash, and credit cards separate from each other.
• For freedom of motion and clear visibility, do not overload yourself with bags when leaving a store and returning to your car. It’s difficult to defend yourself with when you’re carry a lot of packages.
• Use ATMs in well-populated, well lit locations. Do not throw ATM receipts away at the ATM location.
• Remember there is increased safety in numbers. Avoid walking alone and leave malls and stores well before closing time to assure a more active parking lot. Ask mall security to walk you to your car if you feel you are not safe.
In additions to remembering these safety tips, you should also review your insurance policies with your Trusted Choice® independent insurance agent to make sure you have the proper coverage in case an accident or theft does occur. Liability coverage will protect you if you hit another motorist, collision coverage will cover the damage to your car, and comprehensive coverage will insure you for damage by vandals or theft of your vehicle.
Home Fire Escape Plans Save Lives
Fall is officially here, and with it comes the National Fire Protection Agency’s National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 9 -15. This year’s theme is “Protect Your Family from Fire,” which makes now a good time to come up with a fire evacuation plan or review the one your family already has in place.
A small fire can escalate into a major blaze in less than a minute, and a sound escape plan greatly reduces fire-related deaths and protects your family if a fire occurs. Whether you have established an fire evacuation route or are coming up with one now, these are some important safety reminders and instructions you can you use when reviewing or planning your home evacuation plan.
•Plan two ways out of every room in your house — this way if one path is blocked by flames or smoke there is an alternate path out. For example, a bedroom door can be the primary escape path and a window the secondary one. If you intend to use an upper-story window as an evacuation option, be sure to store a collapsible ladder in the room in a well-known place. The U.S. Fire Administration advises consumers to only purchase ladders evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory.
•Practice escaping from the house with a blindfold, in the dark, or with your eyes closed. This will prepare you and your family to navigate through smoke if it is blocking your exit route. Remember to stay low to the ground to avoid the smoke and keep your mouth covered with a piece of clothing, blanket, or towel since the toxic gases from smoke can cause disorientation or fainting.
•Make sure doors and windows open easily. Check windows to make sure they are not stuck, and that everyone in the house knows how to open them and remove the screen if necessary. If you have security bars on your windows, check the quick-release device to make sure they can be opened immediately, and practice opening the locks with everyone in the house.
•Designate a meeting place that’s away from the house, such as the end of the driveway or a place on the sidewalk. Hold a fire drill to ensure everyone in the house knows where to meet. Also pick someone to be in charge of going to a neighbor’s house and calling 911.
•Time is of the essence during a fire, so don’t waste time trying to save property. Remind your family members of this, too, especially children who may want to save their toys. A homeowners policy will help with the replacement cost of your property, and while some items are impossible to replace, they’re not worth a life.
•Teach children not to hide or be afraid of firefighters. Remind young kids that firemen will help them in the event of an emergency.
•In the event of a fire, check a closed door using the back of your hand to feel the door, doorknob, and the crack between the floor and door frame to make sure the fire is not outside the door. If any of these things feel hot, use the second escape path from the room. If the door is cool, open it slowly and brace your shoulder against the door. If heat and smoke come in, close the door quickly and use the other escape route.
For more information on National Fire Prevention Week or fire safety procedures, visit www.nfpa.org. You can also contact your Trusted Choice® independent insurance agent for more information on protecting your family from the flames by obtaining or reviewing your homeowners or renter’s insurance policy.
Not Owned, Not Covered, Not Good!
As the fall approaches across the United States, millions of young people will embark on that great journey we call life on a college campus. Others entering their golden years and their families will consider the benefit of moving into an assisted living facility. Still others, uninterested in or unable to secure a home loan, will choose to move into an apartment or rental home.
What does each of the above circumstances have in common?
None of them own the home in which they are living—thus preventing them from purchasing a standard home insurance policy.
Yes, those individuals described above could find coverage for personal property or personal liability claims under the home insurance policy of someone else. For example, some policies will extend coverage to a student while living away attending school. However, reliance on someone else’s insurance is risky—coverage may be inadequate or nonexistent, depending on the terms of that policy.
If you’re one of the individuals described above—or feel responsible for someone that fits the description—wouldn’t you feel better knowing insurance coverage is in force?
Renters Insurance
Renters insurance is a generally used term to describe a policy designed for someone that does not own a home. Insurance carriers that sell renters insurance typically have their own rules to determine who is eligible. Many policies will offer both personal property (often called “contents”) and personal liability insurance.
Personal Property
Renters insurance is often marketed and sold for its ability to cover personal property. Many carriers focus on this function of the policy for psychological reasons. Why? It’s much easier for buyers to visualize the theft of or damage to personal property than it is to visualize a personal liability claim.
You can buy renters insurance at a limit sufficient to pay the cost to repair or replace damaged or stolen property. Some insurers allow buyers to choose to purchase coverage that will reimburse the cost to replace damaged property with a newer model—without deducting for depreciation. Others only allow buyers to buy insurance that will pay the actual cash value of the property, allowing the claims adjuster to deduct for depreciation. If available, the former option is preferable—many types of personal property, such as electronics and furniture, depreciate significantly.
Renters insurance may be sold on a “named” or “open” perils basis:
• If the former option applies, coverage is limited to causes of loss or so-called “perils” specifically named in the policy. Let’s say your TV burns in a fire. It likely will be covered because fire is a named peril. If the event causing damage to the property is not a named peril, than no coverage will apply. For example, if your furniture is damaged in a flood it probably won’t be covered because flood is not a named peril.
• If the open perils option applies, coverage is extended to any cause of loss or “peril” unless the event causing damage is specifically excluded. If available, this option is preferable, as you can never predict the event that will cause damage to your property.
Personal Liability
Many renters insurance policies also cover an insured’s personal liability. Let’s say you’re entertaining guests at a gathering at your apartment. A drink is spilled on the tile floor and someone slips and falls, causing serious bodily injury. As host, you could be found negligent for that person’s injury and made responsible for his or her medical bills. Without personal liability insurance, you would have to pay those potentially devastating costs out of your own pocket. Even worse, if a lawsuit were to arise, your personal assets also may be tapped to compensate that person for his or her injury. The types of bodily injury claims covered by your policy vary and should be reviewed carefully.
You also may be found personally liable for property damage caused to the space you are renting or to someone else’s property, such as a neighbor’s building. As with bodily injury, the types of property damage claims covered by your policy vary; again, review the coverage carefully.
Conclusion
Regardless of your living arrangement, choosing to live uninsured could prove financially devastating if your personal property is stolen or damaged. The same is true if you are responsible for someone’s injury or damage to his or her property. Call today and talk with a Trusted Choice® independent insurance agent for help in securing renters insurance for you or a loved one.
Why Use A Trusted Choice Agent?
Hear what this family has to say about their ordeal.As a Trusted Choice agent, we are there for you in your time of need. We are your local Trusted Choice agency and we are here for you!
Annual U.S. Spring Outlook: Flooding Expected to Worsen
The National Weather Service (NWS) released their annual spring outlook yesterday to help citizens take the necessary steps to prepare. This year’s outlook predicts spring flooding will worsen beginning as early as this week, affecting almost half the country from the North Central U.S. through the Midwest and the Northeast, causing an above average risk of flooding across portions of the Northeast, including Southern New England and parts of eastern NY State.
(U.S. Spring Flood Risk Map for 2011. Photo: Courtesy of NOAA)
Some specifics from the Spring Outlook include:
For the third consecutive year, forecasters predict major flooding along the Red River of the North, which forms the state line between eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.
Other areas of the Midwest primed for major flooding include Devils Lake in North Dakota, the Milk River in Northeastern Montana, the James and Big Sioux Rivers in South Dakota, the Minnesota River, and the Mississippi River from its headwaters near St. Paul, Minnesota, downstream to St. Louis.
There is an above average risk of flooding across portions of the Northeast, including Southern New England and parts of eastern NY State.
In a conference call today with the National Weather Service, Administrator Fugate reiterated that there are a few simple steps every family should take now, before disaster strikes: be aware of your risk, make an emergency kit, get a family communication plan and get flood insurance before flooding occurs.
At FEMA, we have been working closely with all our state partners on incorporating lessons learned from the past flood seasons into our emergency planning for this year, as well as conducting aggressive outreach with our federal, state and local counterparts, and emergency managers. You can continue to monitor the latest forecasts from your local National Weather Service office, visit our Flood Safety Awareness page for additional preparedness tips, and remember, if you come across a flooded road, Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
