The First 72 Hours

Disaster Planning According to FEMA: A few years ago FEMA released a statement about disaster planning...

You can find it here.

If you don't want to read the entire statement, I will summarize what they recommend you have on hand the first 72 hours.

FEMA states that the first 72 hours after a disaster are the most critical as electricity, gas, water and phones may not be working or working properly. FEMA recommends people be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days following a disaster.

What does self-sufficient mean?

Able to live without running water, electricity/gas and telephones.

FEMA recommends keeping the following on hand:

• Food: plenty of NON-PERISHABLE food for each person for at least 72 hours
• Non-Perishable does not mean go out and buy milk and eggs.
• Non-perishable: crackers, peanut butter & fluff, possibly bread (this is perishable, but will usually hold for 1 week), ramen noodles, mac & cheese, rice, pasta & spaghetti sauce, granola bars, dried fruits & nuts, dry cereal, canned goods, chocolate, gatorade mix or bottled gatorade
• Water: each person should have AT LEAST a gallon a day for 72 hours, but if possible, a week. Buy iodine tablets or chlorine bleach to purify water if necessary (unless you purchased bottled water).
• First aid kit: well stocked w/bandages and disinfectants, baby wipes are good to have with this if you don't have running water
• Fire extinguisher: make sure everyone in the household knows how to use it
• Flashlight with extra batteries: keep one near your bed and a few other areas in your house. DO NOT use matches or candles unless you are POSITIVE there are no gas leaks.
• Weather Radios with battery backup. TVs & phones may not be working; the radio may be the only way to know what's going on
• Miscellaneous: blankets, clothes, shoes, CASH.
• Alternative cooking sources: grill or camping stove - will help cook food such as mac & cheese, ramen, etc
• Use crackers, marshmallows and chocolate to cook smores over a grill or camping stove - this will lighten everyone's mood! :)

What do you do if you own a business?

Well, planning & preparation BEFORE the storm is key.

Please see the below link about disaster recovery services offered by Agility Recovery Services.

Link: Agility Recovery Services

Murray & MacDonald Insurance Services has planned & prepared - we have contracted with ARS in the event of a disaster. The below link demonstrates how Agility Recovery Services was there for businesses and their clients during the disaster that was Hurricane Katrina five years ago.

We want our clients to know, we will be there if there is a disaster. People buy INSURANCE to protect their physical assets in the event of a catastrophe or disaster.
We will not close our doors, we will have internet and phone service, we will be here to service our clients.

Hurricane Earl...

You have heard the news... a Hurricane is coming...

 

What does that mean for Cape Codders? Tape the windows, stock up on water, batteries, lanterns, food and games...

 

Many Cape Codders remember Hurricane Bob and the damage he did. I was only 8 years old, but I remember driving around Falmouth with my dad after Bob hit to survey the damage. The Shining Sea Bike Path was destroyed, boats were washed up all over Falmouth, tidal surges flooded homes, houses were damaged, trees were down, power was out... In fact, according to wikipedia Hurricane Bob caused $1 billion in damages in Massachusetts!

 

Here are a few images from Hurricane Bob.

 

Vineyard Haven Flooding at the Five Corners, Martha's Vineyard, MA  

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Menauhant Road Bridge after Hurricane Bob

The beach eroded and sand covered the road.

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The path of Hurricane Bob

{image taken from Google images, can't remember the website}

View of Hurricane Bob from above

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Now these images are posted to educate...
It's been almost 20 years since a major storm hit Cape Cod. Many weather reporters and forecasters enjoy the hype of a pending storm, but it's important to heed when there's a hurricane warning. Better safe than sorry.

Red Cross puts out a Hurricane Safety Checklist. It can be found here.

A few tips taken from the checklist:

What to do?

• Fill up with gas
• Put away outdoor furniture
• Have an evacuation plan
• Know that your HOMEOWNER policy DOES NOT cover FLOOD

What to buy?

• Water
• Food
• Flashlight
• Batteries

 What happens after?

• Listen to the radio
• Drive only if necessary
• Keep away from power lines
• Inspect your home for damage

Homeowners INSURANCE Recommendations

• Before the storm, find a copy of your insurance policy and review it
• After the storm, survey the damage to your home
• Is your home liveable?
• Is the damage more than your windstorm/hurricane deductible (typically 1%, 2% or 5% of Coverage A)?
• Prevent further damage (board up a window, cover the roof with wood or a tarp, etc).
• Take pictures of the damage - this is especially helpful when there are many claims. Insurance adjusters won't be able to come right away if there are MANY claims due to a hurricane. Pictures with the date and time are invaluable.
• If the damage is MORE than your windstorm/hurricane deductible, you may need to submit a claim, however know that your local agent might be busy taking many claims. Your local agent may place claims in the order of NEED. If someone can't live in their home, that person will come before someone who wants to have their fence, swimming pool, garage or shed repaired.
• Have the necessary information handy when you call your agent:
• Copy of your policy
• Date damage happened
• Brief description of damage
• Best way an insurance adjuster can reach you (home phone, cell phone, email, etc)
• Offer to email pictures you took of the damage
• Be respectful: of course it is upsetting to have your home and belongings damaged, realize your insurance agent is working for you and is doing their best to take care of your needs as fast as possible.

 

I will end with an old saying about hurricanes...

 

June, too soon.

July, stand by.

August, if you must.

September, REMEMBER!

October, ALL OVER!

Dog Bite Claims - Are YOU at Risk?

What do you think of when you hear dog bite?

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Many insurance companies have been placing restrictions on a homeowner policy if you own a certain type of dog: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bullmastuff, Chow, Dalmatian, Doberman Pinscher, Eskimo Spitz, German Shepherd, Giant Schnauzer, Great Dane, Husky, Pit Bull, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Wolf Hybrid and there are possibly more.

Does this surprise you?

Sure, having a pitbull on the list is not surprising... here's a recent news article from an attack in New Bedford: Man suffers face, arm injuries in pitbull attack in New Bedford

The German Shepherd isn't surprising to me... I was knocked off my bike and bitten by a German Shepherd when I was five. It took years before I could trust another dog.
The surprising dogs in the line-up: Dalmatian and Saint Bernard. Aren't Dalmatians known for saving people from fires? Aren't Saint Bernards just big, slobbering, friendly dogs? What about the cutesy movies 101 Dalmations, Beethoven?

People comment that it's not the dog, it's the owner. It's how the dog is trained by the owner. I'm sure this is true in many situations. I recall visiting family in South America and my aunt (a nurse) tended to a woman's leg. She was visiting a friend and was bitten by a dog, in fact a chunk of her leg was taken out by the dog. This particular dog was trained by its owners to be vicious. Some dogs in South America are fed "poisonous" food to ensure they have a mean temper and will attack intruders.

I partially agree that how a dog behaves is often the owner and how the dog is trained, however insurance companies don't agree, and they have statistics to back it up. In fact, here's an article written by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also have a study on fatal dog bites over 20 years (1979-1998) and the breeds involved. It was interesting to see many of those breeds are on the insurance companies' list of breeds on which they place restrictions.

Here is an article published on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 by Insurance Journal:

Dog Bit Claims Top $400M in 2009; Rise 30% in Last 6 Years

Can you believe $400M dollars being paid out because of dog bites?

IF the average American household makes $50,000/year, that equals 8,000 years of pay!

 Your thoughts?

note: I do not know the average American annual income; maybe between $40K-$60K depending on what area of the country in which they reside.

Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging

The technical world is moving quickly...

We have access to email on our cell phones, we can connect with old high school friends via facebook, we can "tweet" about our life in 140 characters or less, we can blog about life, love, cooking, sports, family, home designs, etc.

Along with the availability of technology at our fingertips and the ease of which we can publish our thoughts comes and INCREASED risk in libel and slander.

Webster defines libel as:
A written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys and unjustly unfavorable impression; statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt; defamation of a person by written or representational means; the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures; the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a libel

Webster defines slander as:
To utter slander; defame

Do you post pictures of family and friends on facebook? Do you tweet about work frustrations? Do you blog about your "mean" boss?

You need to use good judgment when utilizing facebook, twitter, blogs, and other forms of social media, otherwise it could come back to haunt you and your family. If the wrong person sees your website, blog, facebook page, twitter account, you could be held liable for what you are posting/writing.

Do your kids use social media? What pictures are they posting? Who are they talking about? If your children are younger than 18 - you can be held responsible for their actions. Recently in Massachusetts there was a young girl who killed herself because of cyber bullying. Make sure you know what your kids are posting and WHO they're posting pictures of or about...

Does your insurance policy cover libel/slander? You should check with your local insurance agent!

Did Somebody Order Rain?

Rain, rain, go away... but unlike the nursery rhyme, most of us do NOT want it to come again another day.

According to capecodweather.net, the last storm produced rainfall of more than 10 inches over some parts of Massachusetts. Some rainfall totals for Cape Cod were, on average, low at:

Yarmouth Port (CapeCodWeather.Net): 3.73 inches
South Dennis: 4.21 inches
Hyannis: 2.85 inches
Provincetown: 3.43 inches
Chatham: 2.15 inches

The rain is bringing severe flooding to areas north and west of Cape Cod, with totals greater than 7 inches reported and more rain to come. We've all heard the stories on the news about Wellesley's rivers flooding local neighborhoods.

Sump pumps throughout towns in and around Winchester and Boston, to name a few, are working overtime and barely keeping up. Large waves are also causing coastal flooding along the eastern shore board, in addition to the erosion of our beaches. It seems like it's never going to end.

We are water logged throughout Massachusetts and it's not just an inconvenience, it's an outright hazard... a FLOODING hazard.

Are you protected if these flooding rainwaters come knocking at your door? Spring is here and we all know Massachusetts' springs are wet, wet, wet. If you're in a preferred flood zone, your annual premium, your annual premium for flood insurance may be as low as $380/year for up to $250,000 in coverage.

Contact us for a flood quote today!

Turn in YOUR PLATES

In Massachusetts, you were required to TURN IN YOUR LICENSE PLATES for a car to cancel the insurance OR remove the vehicle from the policy.

Well, that is STILL the case today, however the Registry of Motor Vehicles in Massachusetts is trying to make life easier for their patrons. This elicits a smile out of me... how many times have you visited the RMV in Massachusetts and had to wait for a LONG time. Then, last year the RMV decided to shut down MANY branches. What were they thinking?

Well, they must have been planning for their EXPANDED online capabilities. Kudos.

The RMV in Falmouth is closed. What can you do, where can you go? The comfort of your own home... no need to drive to Plymouth or South Yarmouth, no need to take the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.

If you sold your vehicle and want to turn your plates in, go to: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv/ - this is their website.

Along with canceling plates online, you can:

Apply for a learner's Permit

Convert your out-of-state Driver's license/permit

Get a duplicate driver's license, CDL driver's license, Mass ID, registration

Renew your driver's license, Mass ID, registration

Check your:

• Registration Expiration Date
• Vehicle Title and Lienholder information
• License Expiration Date
• Permit Expiration Date
• Mass/Liquor ID Expiration Date

A few other services include:

• Change your address
• Confirm your driver's ed certificate
• Request driving records
• Pay a citation (tickets)
• Browse License/ID Policy
• Request Police Crash Report

So, kudos to the Massachusetts RMV taking a step in the RIGHT direction and making our lives easier by allowing us to do many more things online.

Oh, and remember to notify your insurance company after you've canceled your plates!

Glass Mishaps

The recent snowstorm on the Cape caused more than a few glass mishaps ie damage to windshields.

What to do when windshield damage strikes?

1) If it's a large shattered windshield, you shouldn't drive your car. If it's a small crack (smaller than a dollar bill), it's ok to drive the car, but you should get it fixed ASAP; don't wait until it's a huge crack across the whole windshield. If the crack is small, the glass company may try to save the windshield. This prevents the seal from breaking; which can be nice to avoid, especially on a newer car.

2) Contact your insurance company immediately to see how to proceed. They sometimes contact a glass company for you.

3) Contact a glass company you trust to repair your windshield. Often they can come to you, and it's repaired quickly.

4) Your car is good to drive again!

For those of you who DON'T have glass coverage, it's often easy and inexpensive to obtain. Contact your local insurance agent and ask about adding it on. The coverage is called COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE. It's usually $50-$100/yr on your policy - a small price to pay if your windshield is unexpectedly damaged. It also covers: fire, theft, vandalism, a tree falling on your car...

Homeowner Market on Cape Cod

For the past few years, many homeowner insurance companies have removed themselves from the Cape Cod market. This has left LOCAL Cape based insurance agencies with a challenge... who can they use as an insurance company for Cape & Islands residents?

Once insurance companies have PULLED their business from the Cape, they have been hesitant to start writing insurance policies on Cape Cod. If they had insurance policies on Cape Cod, they were charging much higher premiums due to the high risk of wind damage (ie hurricanes).

We work with a few high quality insurance companies who will write homeowner policies on Cape Cod given certain criteria; two of those companies being Arbella Mutual Insurance and Safety Insurance.

Recently we were told New London County, based out of Connecticut, is accepting NEW BUSINESS on Cape Cod. They have also lowered their windstorm deductible FROM 3% to 2% on new and existing policies. New London County will have criteria to meet to write business, but this is great news for the residents of Barnstable County.

Happy New Year 2010!

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.
~Benjamin Franklin

Welcome to the New Year!



May you be richly blessed and prosper in 2010.
I leave you with a poem...
"Another fresh new year is here...
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest...
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity
One more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!"

~William Arthur Ward
(dedicated American scholar, author, editor, pastor and teacher)