The Fourth of July weekend is coming up! This year, it's extra fun because, since it falls on a Monday, many folks get a three-day weekend. Lots of people will be traveling out of town, having barbecues, hitting the swimming pools, and attending local patriotic community events. One of the main things that almost all Americans associate with the Fourth of July is fireworks. In fact, our Founding Fathers suggested fireworks as a way to celebrate Independence Day so it has a long tradition in Americans' celebration of the Fourth of July. In addition to having lots of fun on the Fourth, there is a difficult side that many first responders will share with you. For firefighters, the increase in accidental fires caused by the misuse (and even proper use!) of fireworks goes up. Many have to give up the holiday because the departments need extra people on hand to take care of the increase in fires. Insurance claims go up due to fires as well. In addition to the fire danger, there are numerous injuries related to fireworks that occur during this time of year. Local emergency rooms see numerous burn injuries over the holiday, and even loss of digits as a result of misfiring fireworks. A little known fact is that 57% of injuries to children from fireworks come from sparklers. Many people don't realize that sparklers can generate up to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit: almost as hot as some of the cooler places on the sun. It's never a good idea to hand something that emits sparks to a three-year old child! Also, many pet owners (my family included!) really struggle through the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve. The reason is, the high-pitched and unexpected noise associated with the fireworks severely frightens dogs and other animals. Last New Year's Eve, my wife and I saw a poor dog running in the middle of the street in terror because of the fireworks. He ran out into the desert trying to get away from the noise. We don't know what happened to him. If this is a problem for you, a visit to your veterinarian may be in order. They can prescribe medications that can help your pets get through this time of year with the least amount of distress possible. Also, those who work with retired military servicemen and women who experienced combat will tell you that many of them struggle with this time of year because the fireworks bring back memories of combat. They often visit counselors knowing that it will be a difficult time. With all of this said, there are many, many ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in style without causing undue stress and hardship on our neighbors. Local social clubs and charitable organizations host pancake breakfasts featuring patriotic sing-a-longs and speeches. Many municipalities and sports teams host fireworks shows at their arenas which can be visited and even enjoyed for miles around. Bottom line, when you enjoy your time off, be aware that fireworks, while certainly beautiful and fun, can cause problems for our friends, neighbors, and pets. From my family to yours, have a safe and fun Fourth of July!! As always, feel free to contact us at 661-946-4224. We would be happy to help you with your Insurance needs.
0 Comments
Today is the first day of summer and fire season is in full swing. As part of our continuing series on “what to do if,” today we will discuss, “what to do if you are ordered to evacuate by the Fire Department, Police Department, or local authorities.” While many people living in more developed areas will hopefully never have to deal with this situations, folks that live within a mile or so of areas that are experiencing fires may very well be ordered to evacuate. This exact situation happened to several of my policyholders during the Station Fire, and it has happened numerous times throughout recent history. Leaving your home due to fire or some other reason can be very traumatic for all involved, especially if you have young children. The uncertainty of what to take, what to leave behind, etc. can leave a family paralyzed with doubt and fear. Sometimes, people refuse to leave. This is a very, very bad idea. This is a bad idea for several reasons. First of all, their presence creates an extra burden on the authorities responsible for putting out the fire. They may possibly be required to commit extra resources to protecting that family, and leave other people or other people’s property unprotected. Also, if the situation becomes dire, the option of getting out may not be available. There have been many, many situations in which people who refused to leave their homes ended up losing their lives as well as their property. This is a tragic situation that could easily be avoided. Another reason that some people give when they refuse to leave their home is that they don’t know where they will stay. This is where having a good insurance agent, and good policy, come in. Most of the major insurance companies have a provision in their policies that will provide Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage in the event of an ordered evacuation. Your insurance policy will provide the additional costs associated with being away from your home, such as food, shelter, and clothing. What’s especially amazing about this coverage is that there is often NO DEDUCTIBLE! Additional Living Expenses coverage pays first dollar. Another way in which you can feel secure in leaving your home is that insurance companies respond to fires in much the same way that first responders do in that they identify areas that need resources and respond appropriately. Farmers Insurance, for example, has a sophisticated system of claims vehicles placed throughout the United States so that they can be up and running and serving policyholders within 12-24 hours of an identified event. In fact, Farmers is often the first insurance company on the scene and helps other insurance companies assist their clients. In the event of a catastrophic event, insurance companies generally work together to make people’s lives a little more bearable. So to recap, if you are ordered to leave, the best course of action is to….leave! If you live within a mile or so of a brush area, it would probably be wise to have a pre-packed “grab bag” that you can grab and go, depending on how much time you have available. If you have your “grab bag” already packed, and you have an hour to evacuate, you can then devote time to packing the irreplaceable items like family mementos, pets, or even some high value items that may be difficult to replace. If you live in horse country, the authorities will often direct you to the location where you can take large animals. It may also be a good idea to find a fellow horse owner BEFORE the fire who can temporarily board your animals. During fire season, be wise. Remember, there’s nothing in your house worth risking your life, or the lives of your loved ones. Get to a safe place, then call your insurance agent. I hope that this information has benefited you. This blog entry is not intended to replace advice on your specific situation. Contact an insurance professional to see how your specific situation may be addressed. You may also call me or my licensed staff at (661) 946-4224. You can also email me at dave@thedaveowens.com. Be safe!! As part of our series on “what if,” today I will be discussing “What to do if your house is on fire.” I know some wiseacres are immediately going to say, “Um, Dave, shouldn’t we call 9-1-1?” I would say that you wiseacres are totally correct! The first phone call that you should make if your house is on fire is indeed 9-1-1! Believe it or not, people have had their house on fire, and the first call they made was to their insurance agent! While I certainly appreciate their faith in our ability, putting out real fires is NOT a skill of an insurance agent! Call 9-1-1 (preferably from a cell phone OUTSIDE of your home) and let the professionals deal with it. Saving life is the first priority, saving property is second. After you’ve called 9-1-1, and everybody is safe and accounted for, THEN call your insurance agent. There are several things that we can get started right away. If your house is unlivable, most likely your insurance policy has a provision to cover additional living expenses. In the event of a large-scale loss, your insurance company will probably be able to get you into a hotel room and provide upfront money to cover clothes and other essential items. Your insurance team will immediately swing into action to make sure that you have a place to stay, clothes to wear, and food on the table. The next few days can be a bit tricky. If you have a large fire, you will probably have a bunch of people called “public adjusters” who will camping around your doorstep. They will be trying to get you to sign with them to “help” you adjust your claim. They will claim a percentage of whatever your settlement is (oftentimes 10 percent), and they will try to get you to sign up right away. I recently had one of my insureds have a major fire at their home. They had FOUR public adjusters standing on the sidewalk trying to get their attention while they were trying to salvage some of their family photos. They stay on the sidewalk because they are not allowed to step into your yard uninvited. The public adjusters stayed in front of their house for hours trying to get them to sign the agreement. My advice is, don’t sign ANYTHING regarding settling your claim for a fee for the next three days or so. You will be in such a state of distress that you it is almost impossible to make a rational decision. Literally, wait until things cool down. In very large claims involving commercial property with several million dollars at stake, a public adjuster may be a good person to consult. In the event of a house fire, you along with your insurance agent should be able to handle everything so that you get the maximum settlement possible without having to sign over settlement rights to a third party. The thing to do next is refer to something that you hopefully took care of before, and that is making a list of your belongings. After the claim, the adjuster will have no problem paying for everything that is covered in the policy. There may be certain limits to some things like cash, jewelry, or firearms, but if it relates to your personal property or the structure itself, your adjuster wants to help you get back to where you belong. They will, however, need to be able to justify what they pay. If you had a high-valued entertainment center, remembering the type and features may be difficult. Also, all of the collectibles that you spent years gathering will be hard to replace if you don’t know what you had. Take some time BEFORE the fire, and document everything that you have of significant values, like computers, etc. With modern technology, storing all of your personal property information to the cloud is very, very easy. If you put all of it on a memory stick, you can put it in a safety deposit box, or even store it at your insurance agent’s office if he or she is amenable. It’s just a good idea to have it in a place OTHER than your home. You may have a “fireproof” safe, but many of them don’t stand up to the massive heat associated with a house fire. As you go along, you will remember certain items. It may be handy to carry around a pen and paper, or memo on your cell phone to write things down as you remember them. As far as the structure itself, you have several options. One of the things that many people get worried about in the event of a large fire is the deductible. My advice: don’t worry about it. There are many ways to take care of the deductible in the event of a large loss like a fire. Contractors are often able to find ways to cut costs in a variety of ways that won’t lessen the value of your home and even staying under budget. A good contractor who wants to job will find ways to save you money. Finally, realize that it will take a while to get everything back in order. Having a fire that destroys your home and personal property is very traumatic. Some people seek help from a trusted counselor or clergy member to help walk through the difficult time. Don’t underestimate the personal toll that something like this can have on you and your family. Also, keep your insurance agent on speed dial. He or she can help you understand some of what’s happening during the claim. You may have people approach you offering to “help,” but they may be trying to take advantage of you during a crisis. Let your insurance agent be a resource for you. While I hope you never have to deal with this type of loss, it is my wish that this information will help you to be a little forewarned about what may happen. This post is not meant to replace information provided by an insurance professional. Also, refer to your policy, and/or consult with your insurance professional if you think you may have some gaps in your insurance portfolio. If you have any questions at all about home insurance, please feel free to contact me or my licensed office staff at (661) 946-4224. You can also email at dave@thedaveowens.com. |
AuthorDave Owens, Owner/Agent. I have proudly served in the Insurance Industry for over 20 years. Archives
October 2019
Categories
All
|