If you live anywhere in the North or Central Florida regions, you have most likely felt the affects of Tropical Storm Debby.
A slow moving storm she was delivering up to 30 inches of rain within 24 hours. Flooded streets were common with some completely washed away.
With this event it seems only timely to recap this reminder from AAA:
1. As little as one foot of water can "float" most vehicles
2. Two feet of rushing water can sweep away most vehicles-including SUV's and PU's
3. Repair costs for damage caused by driving through standing water can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars
Beware of risng waters. When you encounter standing water on a roadway, your safest course of action is to turn around.
No matter how familiar you are with the road, never drive through standing water-at any depth-as it could cause serious damage. Never try to restart your car if it stalls in standing water. Call for a tow.
The potential damage to a vehicle driven through standing water can be severe including the risk of flooding the engine, warping brake rotors, disabling power steering and causing an electrical short.
If you don't know how deep the water is, don't drive through it.
AAA's advice to motorist during tropical storms or any severe weather event is basic common sense: If you don't NEED to be on the road, stay put and wait the storm out. Your safety and the damage that could be caused to your vehicle isn't worth the risk.
To learn more about driving safer-no matter the weather-visit AAA.com/trafficsafety.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Flood Insurance...Buy Now!
Get FloodSmart: Protect Now With Flood Insurance
2012 Hurricane Season Begins May 2
Release Date: May 1, 2012WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Every year, thirty days from the start of hurricane season, FEMA officials urge U.S. residents to prepare their homes and businesses for the heightened flood risks associated with hurricanes and tropical storms. This year, FEMA is placing more urgency in this message due to the expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on May 31, 2012, the day before the 2012 hurricane season begins on June 1st.
The authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program is scheduled to expire on May 31 unless Congress acts in advance to reauthorize it. The NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters and business owners. The NFIP identifies areas of flood risk; it encourages communities to implement measures to mitigate against the risk of flood loss; and it provides financial assistance to help individuals recover rapidly from flooding disasters.
"Flood insurance is essential to help protect against the devastating effects of flooding, and the time to act is now," said David Miller, Associate Administrator for FEMA's Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration. "As we approach a potentially active hurricane season, FEMA is urging Congress to reauthorize the NFIP and send a clear signal to citizens, communities, and private sector partners that the federal government will continue to support our nation's efforts to manage flood risk."
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster to affect every state across the country. Severe weather has already brought significant flood events to many states in the U.S. As we continue to monitor conditions and respond to these events, we must also look forward to summer and hurricane-related weather patterns that will heighten flood risks for many.
FEMA also stresses that flood risks associated with hurricane season extend beyond the Gulf and Southeastern coasts. The largest amounts of rainfall from hurricanes are often produced by slow moving storms that stall out miles from a shoreline as did Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. In addition, last year Hurricane Irene caused major flooding over much of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast when it moved inland, with high winds and torrential rains.
FEMA is urging residents to purchase flood insurance now. Flood insurance is available through more than 85 insurance companies in nearly 22,000 participating communities nationwide. Most everyone can purchase flood insurance – including renters, business owners, and homeowners. Flood insurance is also affordable. The average flood insurance policy is around $625 a year. And in moderate- to low- risk areas, homeowners can protect their properties with low-cost Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs) that start at just $129 a year. Individuals can learn more about their flood risk by visiting www.FloodSmart.gov or calling 1-800-427-2419.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Would you Remember? Take a Picture!
As a homeowner, have you ever noticed how much stuff you and your family have collected over the years?
Opening a closet door in any part of your home reveals clothes, sports equipment, holiday decorations and other various items.
As you became more successful you have added to your art collection or own better quality items.
As your family grew, so did your accumulation of "stuff".
Maybe you own lots of "stuff" simply because you can't part from what you have.
With that being said, if there was a fire that took all of that away, would you remember what all you had?
I doubt it.
Would you want your insurance policy to respond in replacing it?
Certainly.
If you cannot remember what you had, how can it be replaced?
Modern technology and the various gadgets people are using now can save many hours of undue stress and frustration when trying to deal with a total loss.
To assist policy holders, many insurance companies offer inventory checklists on their websites. There are also many available on the web and a quick search on any of the search engines such as Google or Bing! will bring up a variety to select from.
With your digital camera or your smart phone in hand, enter each room of your home and start taking pictures of EVERYTHING. Open closet doors and take a photo. Take pictures of your art, your furniture, your dishes and decorations. If you own it and it is in your home, snap a picture!
Complete an inventory list including the pictures then provide copies via disc or flash card to your agent as well as keeping copies somewhere safe such as a safe deposit box.
If all you find time to do is to take the pictures, do it! Kids are a great asset in this type of project. Most have become tech savvy by age 6 and operating a camera or smart phone for them is quite simple. Plus they take part in learning the importance of documenting what they own. A learning lesson disguised as fun. A win-win for everyone!
Now, if you do suffer a catastrophic loss, you'll have the ability to access the documents that will trigger your memory on what "stuff" you owned PLUS you can provide that documentation to your insurance carrier.
Photo documenting is the easiest and most efficient way to keep an inventory of what you own.
Opening a closet door in any part of your home reveals clothes, sports equipment, holiday decorations and other various items.
As you became more successful you have added to your art collection or own better quality items.
As your family grew, so did your accumulation of "stuff".
Maybe you own lots of "stuff" simply because you can't part from what you have.
With that being said, if there was a fire that took all of that away, would you remember what all you had?
I doubt it.
Would you want your insurance policy to respond in replacing it?
Certainly.
If you cannot remember what you had, how can it be replaced?
Modern technology and the various gadgets people are using now can save many hours of undue stress and frustration when trying to deal with a total loss.
To assist policy holders, many insurance companies offer inventory checklists on their websites. There are also many available on the web and a quick search on any of the search engines such as Google or Bing! will bring up a variety to select from.
With your digital camera or your smart phone in hand, enter each room of your home and start taking pictures of EVERYTHING. Open closet doors and take a photo. Take pictures of your art, your furniture, your dishes and decorations. If you own it and it is in your home, snap a picture!
Complete an inventory list including the pictures then provide copies via disc or flash card to your agent as well as keeping copies somewhere safe such as a safe deposit box.
If all you find time to do is to take the pictures, do it! Kids are a great asset in this type of project. Most have become tech savvy by age 6 and operating a camera or smart phone for them is quite simple. Plus they take part in learning the importance of documenting what they own. A learning lesson disguised as fun. A win-win for everyone!
Now, if you do suffer a catastrophic loss, you'll have the ability to access the documents that will trigger your memory on what "stuff" you owned PLUS you can provide that documentation to your insurance carrier.
Photo documenting is the easiest and most efficient way to keep an inventory of what you own.
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