Friday, December 7, 2012

Is it a Flood or not?

  The National Flood Insurance Program and the Federal Emergency Management Agency defines a flood as: "A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is the policyholder's property) from:
--Overflow of inland or tidal waters; or
--Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
--Mudflow;or
--Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above."
Notice that water that backs up thru the sewer/drain or a malfunctioning sump pump is not in the definition.  Make sure the water backup/sump pump endorsement is added to the home owners policy to pick up this coverage.  Most companies offer a minimum of $5000 with the option to increase this limit to $50,000 and in some high value home owners policies, up to the policy limits.  It is worth the time to review your policy to determine if this coverage exists, especially if you have a basement that is partially to fully finished!

Friday, September 28, 2012

A Homeowners Halloween Safety List

There's a lot of information out there on how to keep your little ones safe on the spookiest night of the year. Here are few tips on making your property as safe as possible for all those visitors.


• Keep your house walking area well lit.

• Clear all tripping hazards on your porch and walkway.

• Remove flower pots, branches, clotheslines and garden hoses from your entire front yard (if the kids in your neighborhood are like mine, they tend to run from house-to-house, right over the lawn).

• Keep walkways and steps clean of leaves so they are easily navigatable.

• Keep your pets indoors for their protection, as well as for the protection of those curious and unfamiliar visitors. Even the nicest dog can be stressed out by all the activity on their property and react in unpredictable ways.

• Keep lit pumpkins on stable surfaces and well away from the trick or treaters. (Use battery-powered jack-o-lantern candles instead of real candles.)

• Best not to let anyone - big or small - into your house, keep 'em on the porch.



Monday, June 18, 2012

Mobile Devices in the Workplace

It is becoming more and more common for companies to allow their worker to use their mobile devise to service their clients and access company data bases.  Make sure the proper precautions are taken to avoid data breach, virus infection and malware attachment.  Click on the attached link for an article on how to secure your systems.  http://www.iamagazine.com/NewsViews/2012/June_14/Technology.aspx

Friday, May 18, 2012

Motorcycle Tire Safety & Training Courses

For optimum performance and fuel economy, make sure your tires are not over inflated or under inflated.  Don’t overload your bike! It can place stress on the tires  and cause poor handling and gas mileage.  Inspect your tires for excessive or uneven wear. Bald tires can cause skidding or blow outs.  Get your wheels properly mounted and aligned. Improper mounting can cause accidents.  New tires should not be run at high speeds, or pushed into leans or hard cornering until after 100 miles.

Taking a motorcycle safety course can teach you about tire safety and can make you a better rider, but you might also get a discount on your insurance. Find courses at this link: http://nm.msf-usa.org/msf/ridercourses.aspx?pagename=RiderCourse%20Info

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Storing Your Snowmobile For Summer

Snowmobiles are becoming big investments that should be protected year round.  Here are a few basic tips to keep your sled in tip top shape while it is being stored.

Clean your sled thoroughly before packing it away for the season – a little bit of dirt or gunk can cause rust or damage.
Wax your sled before putting it away to keep it from drying out and cracking in the summer heat.
Cover your sled with an old sheet or drop cloth and tuck it around the body to keep out dust and grease.
Store your clean, waxed and covered sled in a cool, dry place on blocks, if possible.
Drain the gas tank or put stabilizer in the fuel.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Help Deter Auto Theft & Break Ins

Here are a few simple ideas that can help keep your vehicle safe while it is unattended.

If you are parking your vehicle overnight, choose to park in a well-lit, busy or familiar area.
Report any theft to the police. If items have been stolen from your car, do not disturb the scene. Police may want to dust for fingerprints.
Do not leave valuables visible to anyone who walks by the car. Visible items may attract a window smash and grab.
This might seem like common sense, but lock your vehicle and close all windows every time you leave it. Even in your own driveway!
Is your car on the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s Hot Wheels list of the 10 most stolen vehicles?
Check out this site: https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/nicb_campaigns/hot%E2%80%93wheels

Thursday, February 2, 2012

GOOGLE STAY SAFE ONLINE

Google has launched a new consumer education campaign called Good to Know. It is designed to teach anyone who uses websites and other online tools about safety, security and data management. There are four parts included:


• Stay Safe Online:

Tips and advice for staying more secure online.

• Your Data on the Web:

How data makes websites more useful.

• Your Data on Google:

How Google uses information to help make a better experience.

• Manage Your Data:

How to best manage your information.

Each section contains additional information about various topics which might include instructional diagrams and videos. For example, under Your Data on the Web additional topics include discussion of Cookies and IP addresses. Much of the information is Google-focused, like how to manage what information Google stores about you and your online activities. For most people this can be very helpful as they understand how they can control their Google account information.