tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311098923851668762024-03-12T21:04:06.945-07:00Protect What Matters MostHelping Southwest Iowans Protect What Matters Most For Over 75 Yearsinsdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-39761972622912989952020-06-03T08:21:00.001-07:002020-06-03T08:21:46.039-07:004 Types of Motorcycle Insurance Your Policy Should IncludeGetting a motorcycle license and buying a new hog will make daily commutes and weekend road trips more exciting. As bikes have smaller engines than cars, you’ll save money at the gas tank, too. Having <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.hummelins.com/" href="https://www.hummelins.com/" target="_blank">motorcycle insurance</a> is just as important as wearing a helmet when you hit the road. In fact, <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.insure.com/motorcycle-insurance/state-motorcycle-requirements.html" href="https://www.insure.com/motorcycle-insurance/state-motorcycle-requirements.html" target="_blank">motorcycle owners must carry insurance in 47 states</a>. To prepare for any event that might arise, your policy should include the following types of coverage.<br />
<h2>
What Are the Types of Motorcycle Insurance Coverage?</h2>
<h3>
1. Liability </h3>
If you are responsible for causing an accident where property is damaged and people are injured, having liability coverage will prevent financial hardship. It will cover the settlements of lawsuits and your legal fees, so the funds won’t come directly from your bank account. If you plan to ride with passengers, liability coverage can extend to paying for any injuries they might sustain.<br />
<h3>
2. Comprehensive</h3>
If physical damage isn’t due to an auto accident, comprehensive coverage pays for motorcycle repair and replacement costs. This is often the case when a motorcycle is stolen or vandalized. Deductibles are subtracted from how much the insurer will pay when you file a claim.<br />
<h3>
3. Collision</h3>
<img alt="Oakland-Iowa-motorcycle-insurance" data-cke-saved-src="https://marketingplatform.vivial.net/sites/default/files/inline_images/Oakland-Iowa-motorcycle-insurance.jpg" src="https://marketingplatform.vivial.net/sites/default/files/inline_images/Oakland-Iowa-motorcycle-insurance.jpg" style="float: right; height: 167px; margin: 10px; width: 250px;" />Liability coverage only pays to repair damage to other people’s property. To cover the cost of repairing or replacing your bike in the event of an accident, include collision coverage in your motorcycle insurance policy. The insurer will pay for damages to your ride, according to the value of the motorcycle before the accident. You will be responsible for paying the deductible. <br />
<h3>
4. Uninsured Motorist </h3>
If an uninsured motorist is at fault for a collision, you could be left paying for your own motorcycle repairs or replacement. To avoid this type of situation, you can add uninsured motorist coverage to your policy. If you’re physically injured in a collision, the coverage will also pay for the related expenses as well as fixing your bike.<br />
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<em>Your age and the style of the motorcycle are a few things considered when insurers determine how much you’ll pay for coverage. To help you find suitable, affordable motorcycle insurance, contact the professionals at <strong><a data-cke-saved-href="https://nearsay.com/b/180473/50230/pottawattamie/belknap/health-insurance/hummel-insurance-services" href="https://nearsay.com/b/180473/50230/pottawattamie/belknap/health-insurance/hummel-insurance-services" target="_blank">Hummel Insurance Services</a></strong> in Oakland, IA. Their insurance agents have helped Southwest Iowa clients protect what matters most in all aspects of their lives since 1945. Take a look at the available policies <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.hummelins.com/our-policies" href="https://www.hummelins.com/our-policies" target="_blank">online</a> and call (712) 482-6424 for an insurance quote or to schedule a consultation. </em>insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-56323662274410450022020-05-28T09:04:00.001-07:002020-05-28T09:05:12.841-07:00Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage? <p>Every year, unexpected hailstorms cause significant damage to vehicles across the country. For those who park outdoors or get caught in a hailstorm while driving around, the repairs can be quite costly. As such, it’s essential to know whether or not your <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.hummelins.com" href="http://www.hummelins.com" target="_blank">car insurance</a> will cover this type of damage. Here’s an overview of what you need to know to ensure you’re adequately protected.</p><h2>A Guide to Hail Damage & Car Insurance </h2><h3>Liability vs. Comprehensive Coverage </h3><p>As in the majority of states, Iowa legally requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. However, this will only pay for bodily injuries and property damage someone else sustains should you cause an accident. Thus, if it’s the only kind of car insurance you purchase, you won’t be covered for hail damage. To be reimbursed for losses related to hailstorms and other inclement weather conditions, you must add comprehensive coverage to your policy. This is specifically meant to provide financial protection if your vehicle is damaged by anything other than a collision. Comprehensive coverage will help repair or replace your car if you file a claim for hail damage.</p><h3>Why It’s Important to Get Your Vehicle Repaired</h3><p><img alt="car insurance Pottawattamie County, IA" data-cke-saved-src="https://marketingplatform.vivial.net/sites/default/files/inline_images/Depositphotos_7852526_l-2015_0.jpg" src="https://marketingplatform.vivial.net/sites/default/files/inline_images/Depositphotos_7852526_l-2015_0.jpg" style="float: right; height: 300px; margin: 10px; width: 200px;" />Hailstorms can cause a significant amount of damage to a vehicle, especially if the stones are large, and the impact is substantial. It can break windows, leave dents in the bodywork, and even damage the engine. If your vehicle is still operable and the damage seems minor, you may be tempted to forgo filing a car insurance claim and getting the necessary repairs. By leaving it as is, your vehicle’s resale value will decrease, and the dents could cause rust to develop. This can lead to more expensive repairs that your insurer might not cover. In turn, it’s best to have your car fixed right away.</p><p><br /></p><p><em>If you’re concerned that you may be lacking proper coverage for hail damage or any other disaster that might arise, turn to <strong><a data-cke-saved-href="https://nearsay.com/b/180473/50230/pottawattamie/belknap/health-insurance/hummel-insurance-services" href="https://nearsay.com/b/180473/50230/pottawattamie/belknap/health-insurance/hummel-insurance-services" target="_blank">Hummel Insurance Services</a></strong> for help reviewing your current policy. They offer a variety of high-quality car insurance products at affordable prices. Since 1945, these agents have remained dedicated to providing drivers throughout Pottawattamie County, IA, with customized solutions designed to protect their most valuable assets. Call (712) 482-6424 to set up an appointment or visit them <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.hummelins.com/personal-insurance" href="http://www.hummelins.com/personal-insurance" target="_blank">online</a> to learn more about their services.</em></p>insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-47496570824868709792020-05-28T09:02:00.002-07:002023-03-08T09:06:33.016-08:00A Guide to Motorcycle Insurance<div dir="ltr">With spring weather just around the corner, our thoughts turn to outdoor activities and one of the activities that has increased dramatically over the past few years is motorcycle riding. No doubt about it, motorcycle ownership is<b> </b>on the rise. If you’re considering a breezier way to get around, then <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.hummelins.com/" href="https://www.hummelins.com/" target="_blank">motorcycle insurance</a> is the key to safe and happy riding. These basics will ensure you have a good understanding of motorcycle insurance before you choose a policy. </div>
<h2 dir="ltr">
What Is It?</h2>
<div dir="ltr">
In<b> </b>the event of an accident, theft, or another unforeseeable incident, motorcycle insurance will ensure you and your loved ones are financially protected. Your policy will include liability coverage, so you aren’t forced to pay out of pocket for another person’s injuries or property damage. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
Other types<b> </b>of coverage are often optional and can be added based on your needs. Collision insurance will cover damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle. Your insurance company will subtract your deductible from the coverage they offer. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
Comprehensive<b> </b>coverage applies to damages resulting from fire, theft, vandalism, or other events. Depending on your state, other options might include medical payment coverage and personal injury coverage. </div>
<h2 dir="ltr">
Why<b> </b>Do You Need It?</h2>
<div dir="ltr">
<img alt="motorcycle insurance-Oakland, IA" data-cke-saved-src="https://marketingplatform.vivial.net/sites/default/files/inline_images/oakland-ia-motorcycle-insurance2.jpg" src="https://marketingplatform.vivial.net/sites/default/files/inline_images/oakland-ia-motorcycle-insurance2.jpg" style="float: right; height: 300px; margin: 10px; width: 200px;" />In<b> </b>2017, there were <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-motorcycle-crashes" href="https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-motorcycle-crashes" target="_blank">89,000 motorcycle-related injuries</a>. There’s no denying that driving a motorcycle comes with unique risks. Motorcycles are easier to steal, strip for parts, and resell. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
Also, because they’re small and easy to maneuver, they can go undetected by other vehicles. Plus, motorcycles don't come equipped with the protective devices you find in cars like seat belts and air bags.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
You’ll feel safer and more relaxed, riding on back roads or the highway, knowing you’re covered in case of an emergency.</div>
<h2 dir="ltr">
What<b> </b>Are State Requirements? </h2>
<div dir="ltr">
In most<b> </b>states, motorcycle owners are required to purchase motorcycle insurance. However, requirements vary by state and match car insurance minimums. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
For example<b>, </b>in Iowa requirements include $20,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $40,000 in bodily injury liability per accident, and $15,000 in property damage liability per accident. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
Keep in mind that minimum liability coverage likely won't cover legal fees or medical bills associated with an accident. Consult your insurer about how to best prepare for the unknown.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<em>Enjoy<b> </b>protected rides with motorcycle insurance from <strong><a data-cke-saved-href="https://nearsay.com/b/180473/50230/pottawattamie/belknap/health-insurance/hummel-insurance-services" href="https://nearsay.com/b/180473/50230/pottawattamie/belknap/health-insurance/hummel-insurance-services" target="_blank">Hummel Insurance Services</a></strong> in Oakland, IA. Whether you’re looking for business or personal insurance, they offer a range of policies to keep you safe in different scenarios. For over 70 years, this insurance agency has provided customers with attentive service. Their team stays in the know about the latest developments in the industry to ensure you make an informed decision. Choose from policies by the most reputable providers and at the most competitive rates. Call (712) 482-6424 for a safer road ahead or learn more <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.hummelins.com/contact" href="https://www.hummelins.com/contact" target="_blank">online</a>.</em>insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-33265138851118717132020-03-23T08:55:00.000-07:002020-03-23T08:55:10.573-07:00You Can Still Shop Local Amid Covid-19<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Hi there,</div>
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I wanted to simply reach out to you today to let you know how we are dealing with the current Covid-19 or Coronavirus situation. While there are many businesses that have temporarily closed their doors, either voluntarily or by mandate, Hummel Insurance Services remains open to serve your needs.</div>
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With our office setup, it is relatively easy to maintain social distancing, but we recommend that you contact us by phone or email instead of coming to the office in person for the time being. Through the use of technology, nearly everything can be done without face to face contact if need be. </div>
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We are paying close attention to the CDC recommendations as well as the rules and suggestions brought forward by Governor Reynolds and will continue to do so. Should it become necessary to close our office doors to the public, we will still be here to answer our phones and handle your insurance needs. </div>
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We urge you to pay attention to those recommendations as well and practice social distancing whenever and wherever possible.</div>
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Thank you.</div>
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Please stay safe and healthy!</div>
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Craig C. Hummel, CIC</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">PS. </span>Contact us by Phone: (712) 482-6424 or (800) 482-6426; Fax: (402) 939-0424; Email: <a href="mailto:info@hummelins.com">info@hummelins.com</a>; Website: <a href="http://www.hummelins.com/">www.hummelins.com</a>; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hummelins" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(40, 157, 204, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: content-box; color: #289dcc; display: inline; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none !important; transition: all 300ms ease-in-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">www.facebook.com/hummelins</a></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">PPS. </span> These times are hitting the restaurant industry especially hard and we urge you to support our local food establishments! Many still offer orders to-go and you could also help them out by purchasing a gift card to use at a later date so they have some money coming in. Here are the phone numbers of some of our local food providers:</div>
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Dairy Queen-Oakland, Iowa: 712-482-6816<br style="box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; overflow-wrap: break-word;" />The Buck Snort Oakland: 712-482-3515<br style="box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; overflow-wrap: break-word;" />Tailgators Bar and Grill: CLOSED til March 31st. 712-482-6269<br style="box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; overflow-wrap: break-word;" />The Bar'N And Grill: 712-310-3103<br style="box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; overflow-wrap: break-word;" />The Back Forty: 712-486-2687<br style="box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; overflow-wrap: break-word;" />EL SOL Family Mexican Restaurant: CLOSED til April 1st. 712-482-3288</div>
insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-7143919660655482072020-03-13T10:42:00.001-07:002020-03-13T10:42:53.385-07:00Oakland Chamber St. Pattys Day Promotion<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Oakland Chamber of Commerce recently came up with a great idea to get all the local businesses in the mood for Spring, sprucing up, and basically getting in the mood for St. Patty’s Day, as well as March, and all that comes with this month. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They distributed leprechaun hats and asked each business to set up a March-themed display featuring the hat and promoting our business. Here is a photo of ours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRPf_C7YK7W3HQFr3B20nzneudjLKtj8h37XG29N_yA_6QQtk6C_9s9Be-dOfUAoJsPeXrCDiy0dv8iDP75v-OEUPSmf7kIYAv8YE_uUt7SlYVGHIwCNrNRrQ3ThzZUi9Slssu8WF5CR2/s1600/Chamber+March+2020+entry2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRPf_C7YK7W3HQFr3B20nzneudjLKtj8h37XG29N_yA_6QQtk6C_9s9Be-dOfUAoJsPeXrCDiy0dv8iDP75v-OEUPSmf7kIYAv8YE_uUt7SlYVGHIwCNrNRrQ3ThzZUi9Slssu8WF5CR2/s320/Chamber+March+2020+entry2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Chamber has received some really good entries so far; to check them out, go to <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.facebook.com/oaklandiachamberofcommerce/" href="https://www.facebook.com/oaklandiachamberofcommerce/">https://www.facebook.com/oaklandiachamberofcommerce/</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks to our agents, Marsha Houser and Mary Osborn for their creativity!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PS. Of course, we insure more than leprechauns, we specialize in home, auto and farm insurance, umbrellas, motorcycles, watercraft, life insurance, and medicare supplements.</span>insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-81096871297271510932020-03-03T12:03:00.001-08:002020-03-03T12:03:15.309-08:00Luck o' the Irish<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iH-pqTBuIjI" width="480"></iframe>insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-15384620955057532622020-01-14T11:20:00.002-08:002020-01-14T11:20:43.845-08:00My Tree Fell on My Neighbor’s House… Why Won’t My Liability Pay?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The short answer is: Sometimes it will pay, sometimes it won’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all depends on the condition of the tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, liability insurance is based on the concept
of negligence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone gets hurt or
suffers property damage because of something you did that you shouldn’t have
done (or, conversely, because of something should have done, but didn’t), then
your liability policy will likely pay for that injury or damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s go back to the tree in question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your tree or tree limb falls down on your
neighbor’s property and causes damage, your liability policy may or may not pay
for that damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the tree or limb was
rotten and maybe your neighbor mentions it to you because they are nervous it
might come down on their property (and you had an opportunity to remove the
tree or limb) your policy will usually pay for the damage caused by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You knew the tree was rotten and should have
taken it down, but you didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, your negligence or failure to take down a tree that could
cause damage to others led to that damage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s look at it another way… Instead of your tree being
rotten, it was in great shape - full of leaves every summer and not a dead branch
anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One night, exceedingly strong straight winds
or perhaps a tornado takes that tree down and it lands on your neighbor’s roof,
causing substantial damage to the exterior, as well as the interior that was
soaked with the 5 inches of rain that fell after the wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your neighbor is upset… you feel terrible for
them and because it was your tree, you feel responsible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your neighbor also thinks you are responsible
and wants you to turn it in to your insurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can turn it in, but your liability will almost never pay for damage
to others in such a situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may
feel responsible, but legally you are not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You didn’t cause the wind to deposit the tree on your neighbor’s roof
and there was nothing you could have done to prevent it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The neighbor would have to collect under his
own property insurance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was reminded of this last night while watching the local
news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a segment about a
homeowner in an Omaha neighborhood whose house was damaged a few years ago when
another house in the neighborhood exploded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This homeowner was upset because he received a letter of denial from the
company that insured the exploding house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He filed a claim for liability in hopes that they would pay for his
damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A compounding problem is that he
apparently had lost his insurance on his own home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They didn’t mention what the cause of the explosion was, but
the same principle applies in this situation as in the neighbor’s tree damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless the owner of the house that exploded somehow
caused that explosion, his insurance company won’t (nor can they) pay.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The takeaway in both of these instances is that just because
you own property that damages other property, or causes bodily injury to
another party, doesn’t mean that you are responsible for that damage or
injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-6893282968345979842016-05-19T09:47:00.001-07:002016-05-19T09:47:09.611-07:00Flood Prevention<h1 class="null" style="background-color: white; color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
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<h2 style="background-color: white; color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: -0.75px; line-height: 32.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>Flood prevention and safety</strong></h2>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">Almost anywhere it rains, it can flood. Even if you live in an area of that you think isn’t at risk, preparation is just as critical as with other types of emergencies.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">Before we get into how you can prevent, limit or react to flooding, it’s important to note that flood damage is typically not covered by your homeowners or renters insurance. There are specialized flood insurance programs that we at Hummel Insurance Services can discuss with you. Just contact us at 712-482-6424 or </span><a href="mailto:info@hummelins.com" style="background-color: white; color: #6dc6dd; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">info@hummelins.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"> for more information if you live in Iowa or Nebraska.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"> </span><br />
<h2 class="null" style="background-color: white; color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: -0.75px; line-height: 32.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="line-height: 1.2;">Preparing for a flood</strong></h2>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends a number of steps to stay safe during emergencies and limit damage from flooding. You should:</span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">
<li>Build an emergency kit for your family containing such items as drinking water and nonperishable food for each member of your family (two-week supply), flashlights, a radio, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, necessary medications, personal hygiene items and copies of important documents.</li>
<li>Create a communication plan so family members can reach one another.</li>
<li>Elevate your furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if live in an area with a high flood risk.</li>
<li>Consider installing “check valves” to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.</li>
<li>If possible, construct barriers to stop floodwater from entering your home and seal basement walls with waterproofing compounds.</li>
</ul>
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<strong style="line-height: 1.2;">Acting during a flood</strong></h2>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">If a flood is likely in your area, quick action may be necessary to protect your family and property. You should:</span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">
<li>Get information from the radio or television.</li>
<li>Move immediately to higher ground if there is any possibility of a flash flood. Do not wait for instructions to move.</li>
<li>If you need to evacuate, secure your home and move essential items to an upper floor. Turn off utilities if instructed to do so, and disconnect electrical appliances. However, do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.</li>
<li>Do not walk through moving water — it can make you fall. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.</li>
<li>Do not drive into flooded areas. If you are caught in your vehicle in floodwater, abandon your car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely.</li>
<li>If you have evacuated your home, do not return until authorities tell you it is safe.</li>
</ul>
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<strong>Coping after a flood</strong></h2>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">Flooding can cause emotional stress along with physical hazards, so be mindful of the well-being of you and your family during the aftermath.</span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">
<li>Floodwater can be contaminated by oil, gasoline or sewage, so avoid contact as much as possible.</li>
<li>Make sure your city’s water supply is safe to drink.</li>
<li>Clean and disinfect everything that was in contact with floodwater.</li>
<li>The Red Cross has a free book available called “Repairing Your Flooded Home,” which contains useful information as you clean up. It’s available at <a href="http://www.redcross.org/" style="color: #6dc6dd; word-wrap: break-word;">www.redcross.org</a>. Of course, don’t hesitate to contact us as well — we’re ready to help!</li>
<li>If you have flood insurance, contact the claims center of your provider as soon as possible.</li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">Flooding is one of the most common hazards in the U.S. Being prepared for any emergency is crucial for the safety of you and your family. Don’t be caught off guard!</span>insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-15260644894556648022016-03-23T08:58:00.001-07:002016-03-23T08:58:43.582-07:00Spring Home Maintenance<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Spring Maintenance for Your Home<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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When springtime rolls around in Iowa and Nebraska, almost everyone thinks of cleaning. That’s fine (we probably all need to do a little more of that, after all), but there’s something even more important to keep in mind: home maintenance.<br /><br />So, now that we've all set our clocks ahead for daylight-saving time and changed the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, give your home a checkup, too. Here are some suggestions from the <a href="http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/library/hhi/Healthy_Housing_CheckList.pdf">Department of Housing and Urban Development</a>:</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Interior and appliances</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li>Ceck the basement and/or crawlspace for any signs of standing water or dripping.</li>
<li>Pull your dryer out and clean the exhaust hose and vent (lint found here is a common cause of house fires).</li>
<li>Vacuum refrigerator/freezer coils for efficiency.</li>
<li>Clean exhaust fan outlets and screens.</li>
<li>Check all air filters and replace, if necessary.</li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Roof, siding, windows</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Check for damage to your roof and have a professional inspection, if necessary. </li>
<li>Go into the attic. If there is visible moisture or discoloration, your roof might be leaking.</li>
<li>Examine the paint on your siding and trim. If it is peeling, you might need new paint to protect against the effects of weather. </li>
<li>Check for leaks around window and door sills. Improving your seals can lower your energy bills.</li>
</ul>
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Yard and exterior</span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal">
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<ul>
<li>Check for signs of rodents and other pests.</li>
<li>Clean debris from gutters and downspouts, and make sure they are draining away from the home.</li>
<li>Trim overhanging tree branches and shrubs.</li>
</ul>
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Remember, winter weather can cause significant damage that is easy to spot, but it often results in wear and tear that homeowners can miss if they aren’t looking closely. It’s well worth it to spend a little time on home maintenance this spring, so that wear and tear doesn’t turn into something more serious.insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-60231876050909024922016-03-01T08:08:00.000-08:002016-03-01T08:08:20.915-08:00Drone Safety<div style="border-bottom: solid #5B9BD5 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 4.0pt 0in;">
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">5 Dos and Don’ts of Flying a Drone<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Drones are exploding in popularity in the Midwest, and so are the news
stories about someone flying too close to a commercial aircraft or shooting down
a drone. These are real incidents, but with these five dos and don’ts of drone
operation, you don’t have to experience one.</span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><br />
<ol>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Do know
your drone — and your capabilities. </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Practice your maneuvering skills, including
safe landings, in an open field or empty parking lot. You could even join a
local club to learn how to fly. Once you do, be sure to stay away from people,
wildlife, public events and, yes, your neighbor’s pool party.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Don’t forget
to register your drone. </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">In the eyes of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), your drone
isn’t a toy. It’s an Unmanned Aircraft System, one you need to </span><a href="http://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">register</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> with the agency.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Don’t fly
above 400 feet or within 5 miles of an airport. </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you do,
you’ll violate </span><a href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">FAA guidelines</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">. Though flying
near an airport may be possible after first obtaining clearance from the
facility and control tower.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Do get
authorization for commercial use.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> If you use a drone for commercial purposes,
such as taking photos for your real-estate business, you must get </span><a href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/civil_operations/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">FAA authorization</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> first. Just
using a drone for personal recreation? No authorization required.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Do understand
the risks. </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Drones can weigh up to 55 pounds, so there’s the potential for them to
cause some serious damage – damage for which you might be liable. However, not
all homeowners insurance policies provide liability coverage for hobby or model
aircraft. Give us a call to find out what kind of coverage you might have.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hey, we get it. Drones are affordable, fun to fly and have a number of
interesting uses, such as aerial photography. Just remember to be smart and
safe while yours is in the sky. And, if you’re being impacted by someone else’s
drone use, it’s best to talk it through. Because we here at Hummel Insurance
Services don’t want to see you on the local news!</span></div>
insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-87599160568165739572015-05-20T08:46:00.001-07:002015-05-20T08:48:40.471-07:00Massive Airbag Recall<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">34 Million Vehicles Recalled Due </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To Potentially Faulty Airbags</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unless you've been hiding in caves for the last week, you have probably heard about the huge recall, affecting some 34 million automobiles equipped with certain Takata airbags. The reason? There is a danger of the airbags exploding... something you'd probably like to avoid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While you may be notified by the manufacturer that your vehicle is being recalled, that could take some time, and there is a relatively simple way to find out if yours is among the 34 million. </span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Locate your car's VIN</span></li>
<ol>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 17.5499992370605px;">Your VIN is the unique identification for your vehicle and contains 17 alphanumeric characters. It may be found on your state vehicle registration, vehicle insurance, or on the vehicle itself – on the driver's side dashboard at the bottom of the windshield or on the driver's side doorjamb. Your VIN will not include the letter “i” or the letter “o”, but may include the number “1” or the number “0.”</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Go to this web site: </span><a href="http://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata/index.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">http://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata/index.html</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Click on the line at the left that says VIN Lookup</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enter your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) in the space provided, type in the "Captcha" and click "Submit" (Note: Because you may be asked to enter this number again, it is a good idea to highlight the VIN and either right-click with your mouse and click on Copy, or Ctrl-C, which does the same thing, BEFORE clicking on "Submit." You can then simply paste the number later on, if necessary, by right-clicking and selecting Paste, or Ctrl-V.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.5499992370605px;">View results</span></span></li>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.5499992370605px;">Note: Depending on the demands of the site, instead of seeing immediate results, you may be directed to select the manufacturer, where you will again be asked to enter the VIN. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.5499992370605px;">After doing this, a page should appear detailing all open recalls for your vehicle.</span></span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-76905619030942831122015-05-08T10:25:00.001-07:002015-05-08T10:26:32.177-07:00Your Health Insurance Stops at the Border<h2 style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Attention: Your Health Insurance, Even For Those On Medicare, </span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Does NOT Cover You Outside the United States</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Will you be traveling outside the U.S. in the next 12 months? Make sure your health insurance goes with you. Nearly every health insurance plan, including Medicare and Medicare Supplements, stops at the border. <br /><br />Here are some expenses you could encounter if you get sick or injured outside the United States.<br /><br /><b>Non-covered services average cost*:</b></span><br />
<ul><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
<li>Medical Evacuation $10,000 to $100,000+</li>
<li>Political Evacuation $ 1,000 to $ 10,000</li>
<li>Repatriation $ 6,000 to $ 50,000</li>
<li>Return of Mortal Remains $ 4,000 to $ 10,000+</li>
<li>Returning of Minor Children $ 500 to $ 2,000</li>
</span></ul>
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*MASA – Medical Air Services Association<br /><br /><br />Okay, so that looks like a bunch of technical terms. Here's the main thing you need to know: If you get sick or injured when you are outside the U.S., your health insurance will more than likely <b>not </b>cover your expense. At best, it will only be a reimbursement. In other words, the foreign doctor / hospital will make you pay out of your own pocket before you get treatment. Then it would be up to you to try and get your insurance company to reimburse you for the expense.<br /><br />If you want or need to be transported back to a hospital near your home, it will easily be over $10,000 and could end up costing you over $100,000!<br /><br />That's the bad news. The good news is that you can get great coverage that will pay for such things and it won't cost you an arm and a leg.<br /><br />Bottom line: find out before you go -- call our office today. 800-482-6426, or get a free quote by going to the following addresses:<br /><br />For those who are enrolled in Medicare: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/pt6pq3s">http://tinyurl.com/pt6pq3s</a><br /><br />For those who are NOT Enrolled in Medicare: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/pjjqdog">http://tinyurl.com/pjjqdog</a></span><br />
<a href="http://producer.imglobal.com/ProducerDocuments.ashx?documentId=2010&a=80001537"></a>insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-71818543175489041862015-02-16T09:49:00.001-08:002015-02-16T09:49:32.180-08:00MEASLES: SHOULD I BE WORRIED?Unless you have been hiding in a cave for the past few months, you are aware of the recent measles outbreak in the U.S., not to mention the controversy over whether or not families should be forced to vaccinate their children. You probably have your own opinion about that topic, as do many people, but I came across some information that I wanted to share with you.<br />
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The Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE), within the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), publishes a weekly update and the one issued on February 13, 2015 contains a lot of useful information. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.idph.state.ia.us/IdphArchive/Archive.aspx?channel=EpiUpdate" target="_blank">Iowa Department of Public Health</a></span><br />
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EPI Update for Friday, February 13, 2015<br />Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE)<br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH)</span></b></h4>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Items for this week’s EPI Update include:<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">MMR vaccination recommendations<u></u><u></u></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Measles update<u></u><u></u></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Ebola update<u></u><u></u></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Meeting announcements and training opportunities</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u></span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">MMR vaccination recommendations<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Two doses of MMR are required for elementary and secondary school entry in Iowa. The first dose can be given at 12 months of age and the second dose can be administered as soon as 28 days later (however the second dose is usually administered as part of the kindergarten shots given between 4-6 years of age). Generally, persons who started elementary school in Iowa after 1991 and were up-to-date on all school entry vaccine requirements have received two doses of MMR vaccine.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It is recommended that adults born in 1957 or later receive at least one documented dose of MMR vaccine, or have laboratory confirmation of immunity or disease, in order to be considered fully immunized. It is further recommended for adults in that age category who plan international travel or are students in a post-secondary institution to receive a second dose to be considered fully immunized.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It is assumed that persons born in the U.S. prior to 1957 were likely infected with the measles virus and therefore have presumptive immunity. For adults born prior to 1957, 2 doses of MMR are recommended if they plan to travel internationally.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All healthcare providers, regardless of year of birth, should have 2 documented doses of MMR vaccine, proof of immunity (positive IgG result on serology), or laboratory confirmation of disease.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Killed measles vaccine, or vaccine of unknown type, administered between 1963 and 1967 did not provide long lasting protection and those doses should not count as valid doses. Anyone with doses of measles vaccine documented during that timeframe should be revaccinated.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Vaccination in those who have already had measles or have already received the recommended vaccination is not harmful; it only boosts immunity. Therefore, if someone is unable to verify prior vaccination or history of illness, it would be appropriate to vaccinate the individual.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For additional information on measles visit: <a href="http://www.idph.state.ia.us/EHI/Issue.aspx?issue=Measles%20Outbreak&pg=Measles%20Outbreak%20Home" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.idph.state.ia.us/EHI/<wbr></wbr>Issue.aspx?issue=Measles Outbreak&pg=Measles Outbreak Home</a><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Measles update<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As of today, NO cases of measles have been identified in Iowa. So far this year, 121 confirmed cases of measles have been identified in 17 states and Washington D.C.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Confirmed cases of measles have been identified in states surrounding Iowa including: Illinois (three), Minnesota (one), Nebraska (two), and South Dakota (two). None of the recent cases have reported travel to Iowa during their infectious periods. Nevertheless, public health and hospital partners in Iowa are encouraged to share IDPH measles updates and the information below with local medical providers. For additional information about measles activity in the U.S., visit <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-<wbr></wbr>outbreaks.html</a><br /><br />Please contact IDPH immediately to report all suspected measles cases. To reach IDPH during business hours call <a href="tel:800-362-2736" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+18003622736">800-362-2736</a> and after hours call <a href="tel:515-323-4360" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+15153234360">515-323-4360</a> (the Iowa State Patrol will contact the person on call).<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Ebola update<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There are no cases of Ebola in Iowa. No persons in Iowa are being tested for Ebola. This week there are six travelers who are considered to be at “low risk” of Ebola who is under a public health order to self-monitor for symptoms.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For more information visit <a href="http://www.idph.state.ia.us/IDPHChannelsService/file.ashx?file=D2AE1B8D-3D36-4782-8640-AF425EAA56E8" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.idph.state.ia.us/<wbr></wbr>IDPHChannelsService/file.ashx?<wbr></wbr>file=D2AE1B8D-3D36-4782-8640-<wbr></wbr>AF425EAA56E8</a><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">IDPH Ebola web page can be found at<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.idph.state.ia.us/EHI/Issue.aspx?issue=Ebola%20Outbreak&pg=Ebola%20Outbreak%20Home" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.idph.state.ia.us/EHI/<wbr></wbr>Issue.aspx?issue=Ebola%<wbr></wbr>20Outbreak&pg=Ebola%<wbr></wbr>20Outbreak%20Home</a></span></div>
insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-51773177605754923222014-12-17T09:55:00.002-08:002014-12-17T09:55:44.412-08:00Shhhh... life insuranceNobody likes to talk about it, and the stereotypical image of the life insurance agent standing all alone at cocktail parties and other gatherings is well established. That being said, no other financial product can do as much for you and your family as life insurance, and at a time when you (or they) need it the most. You see, upon the death of the person insured, life insurance creates an immediate estate . . . an immediate source of money.<br /><br />However the buying process is much more involved than to just "go out and get some." In spite what some of the big, faceless advertisers would have you believe, life insurance is far from being a one-size-fits-all type of purchase. There are very different needs for life insurance, depending on your particular circumstances and stage in your life cycle.<br /><br /><h4>
Term or Perm?</h4>
This is the age old question when it comes to buying life insurance. Is it better to buy Term insurance, or some form of permanent coverage, such as Whole Life, Variable Life, or Universal Life? Answer: It all depends. But the good news for you is that we have several fine companies to choose from who have excellent and very competitive policies in either or both categories. And we will be happy to sit down with you at your convenience to assess your needs and match them up to a policy that is right for you. Call us today – 800-482-6426.insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-86169625270921056212014-10-14T08:41:00.000-07:002014-10-14T08:41:35.560-07:00Be Careful With Candles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qX900-7IbsD6czEUVas4WOMXoeOveK3U-5VjLk-ZouoTnPUD9ozvr4UHPeNimTaV83b_NiCawbWKXCTtZKHtVUSh3RKXKtr3-y1HVWn5awmQfLXaGulGWVGMrVyFCbg13uiEww9QiiCA/s1600/candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qX900-7IbsD6czEUVas4WOMXoeOveK3U-5VjLk-ZouoTnPUD9ozvr4UHPeNimTaV83b_NiCawbWKXCTtZKHtVUSh3RKXKtr3-y1HVWn5awmQfLXaGulGWVGMrVyFCbg13uiEww9QiiCA/s1600/candles.jpg" height="181" width="200" /></a>As Autumn is now here, with Winter (or the potential for winter weather) approaching, please take a few minutes to review the following information and be safety conscious when it comes to candles. When a storm hits and the electricity goes out at night, most of us will go in search of some candles and/or flashlights, (and in the process bump into numerous items of furniture, stubbing toes or bruising shins, but that's another tip for another time). For now, let's concentrate on being safe when using candles.<br />
<br />
Most of these tips are simply common sense. However, as a good friend of mine likes to say, "Common sense is anything but common."<br />
<br />
If you're going to use candles, just make sure to:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that could catch fire.</li>
<li>Use candle holders that won't easily tip over.</li>
<li>Put them only on surfaces that are level, sturdy, and free from clutter.</li>
<li>Don't let them burn all the way down. </li>
<li>If oxygen is being used in the house, never, ever use candles.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Finally,</div>
<ul>
<li>Blow out all the candles before going to bed or leaving your house, even for just a little while. </li>
</ul>
<br />
More great tips can be found on the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) web site: <a href="http://www.nfpa.org/">www.nfpa.org</a>.<br />
<br />insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-79767318365691142602014-10-07T10:03:00.000-07:002014-10-07T10:03:41.002-07:00NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK: OCTOBER 5 - 11, 2014<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58WRSDi7_sAwcl2oN_BU2U_0OZ0HB5z3Sh5wQFq6BpKCC5daBXEL8YwBFag-W-4PXaA7UP_y8hQv0UaRz3IxIoA3TMmHntNVnZLqP9_L72jtp3YQScnMw6Gdhchoa-0NtiVE9U2xRU04-/s1600/sparky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58WRSDi7_sAwcl2oN_BU2U_0OZ0HB5z3Sh5wQFq6BpKCC5daBXEL8YwBFag-W-4PXaA7UP_y8hQv0UaRz3IxIoA3TMmHntNVnZLqP9_L72jtp3YQScnMw6Gdhchoa-0NtiVE9U2xRU04-/s1600/sparky.jpg" height="191" width="200" /></a></h2>
<div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">THIS IS NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK</span></h2>
</div>
<div>
Now is a great time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. But don't stop there... </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Test your smoke detectors at least once a month to make sure they are functioning properly. (Remember, you should have at least one smoke detector on each floor of your house, but having more than that certainly can't hurt. You should have at least one located near sleeping areas of the house, such as in a hallway leading to the bedrooms. </li>
<li>Have a written escape plan and practice it periodically with fire drills. Because fires may happen at night, that is a good time to practice your evacuation procedure. </li>
</ul>
Can you answer these questions?<br /><ul><ul>
<li>How will you get out of the house from each room?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Where will you go once you get outside your burning home?</li>
<li>What if you have guests visiting you... will they know how to exit your house, especially from the bedrooms, in the dark? </li>
</ul>
</ul>
If you cannot answer the above questions, you should work on you plan. In addition, what happens if your house catches fire while you are out of town? Do you have a designated Emergency Contact who knows how to get in touch with you as well as your insurance provider to report the claim? <a href="mailto:info@hummelins.com" target="_blank">Ask us about our exclusive Emergency Contact Program</a>.</div>
insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-32726191359634057762014-09-24T09:49:00.000-07:002014-09-24T09:49:41.001-07:00Check Your Bank Accounts Online DAILY!<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAbYUImectal5H8Izlm3VKOg6HxgORLSHrDyu-d9lyYPL3_X-8bIS5G8jaFh7Jsi8EVb6eo3lLokg8EhIepjRfMhZaVkt_A5C6Enb08M8HkL2jccLqJfajLdQCqfmYKVpkyN6niMDke9y/s1600/AntiFraud-Use-Case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAbYUImectal5H8Izlm3VKOg6HxgORLSHrDyu-d9lyYPL3_X-8bIS5G8jaFh7Jsi8EVb6eo3lLokg8EhIepjRfMhZaVkt_A5C6Enb08M8HkL2jccLqJfajLdQCqfmYKVpkyN6niMDke9y/s1600/AntiFraud-Use-Case.jpg" height="168" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>Do yourself a favor</b>, check your online bank accounts on <div>
a daily basis (if not more frequently), especially if you </div>
<div>
have a credit or debit card tied to any of your accounts. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Trust me, I speak from experience. While online yesterday, looking at my balance and transaction information, I noticed that one of my accounts had outstanding card charges in excess of $3500 -- far, far more than I ever use on that card. As soon as the detail screen opened up, it was immediately apparent that my card had been hacked. It started off with rather small charges to a foreign Paypal account -- obviously not mine, and continued on with increasing charges for the same description. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fortunately, those charges were all made yesterday, so checking out my online accounts really paid off, as the bank was able to cancel that card and send me a new one before any/many more charges appeared. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If this ever happens to you, call your bank's local branch, or the telephone number on the back of your credit/debit card (you may need a magnifying glass...), and ask for the Fraud Department (or press the appropriate keys on your phone). Tell them your card has been hacked and ask them to cancel the card and send you a replacement. If you have access to your charges, tell them which ones are legitimate and which ones are fraudulent. They should put a hold on those charges that you claim are fraudulent and put that money back into your account. You may need to follow up the next day to make sure the charges have been reversed, as well as to see that they have allowed no further charges to your card. Also, change your passwords and/or PINs related to that account.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I hope this NEVER happens to you!</div>
</div>
insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-90408072127826925962014-09-05T12:51:00.001-07:002014-09-05T12:51:18.198-07:00"My roof was damaged by hail, why won't the insurance company replace the whole thing?" <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBT4AEGZuXHF2lK1R2nL8QdqfIPjO6jrEkmrRZQjs2NvyiJcx285JicjFR5bMTeB8EQOgVSgvNXkMgskDO-uozVbIpJyNfAnFeFCcw5ZyOQXMwq-AwS99CyuWjOEGWwrat4zAtaA407Pv/s1600/roof+damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBT4AEGZuXHF2lK1R2nL8QdqfIPjO6jrEkmrRZQjs2NvyiJcx285JicjFR5bMTeB8EQOgVSgvNXkMgskDO-uozVbIpJyNfAnFeFCcw5ZyOQXMwq-AwS99CyuWjOEGWwrat4zAtaA407Pv/s1600/roof+damage.jpg" /></a>Some times after a widespread storm (such as the one that came through Oakland on June 3), property owners believe that since their roof was partially damaged the insurance company owes them an entire new roof. After all, you would't replace just part of your roof. The problem with this situation is that insurance companies are only obligated to pay for the "damaged" portion of the property. Often times a storm will cause enough widespread harm to the surface of the roof that the whole roof must be replaced.<br />
<br />
However, if a person has a roof that consists of two sides and only one side was affected by the wind and/or hail, the insurance company only owes for the half that was damaged. This particular scenario is unfortunate for the property owner because they will want/need to replace the whole roof, not just half. Who's going to pay for the difference? Answer: The property owner. As mentioned above, the insurance company is only responsible for the damaged part.<br />
<br />
Granted, this scenario hardly seems fair, particularly if the property owner has been insured by the same company for years, perhaps even decades. As much as your company and agency appreciates your business over the years, they cannot use that as a consideration to pay for something not allowed by your policy (such as the undamaged half of your roof). insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-7611872800303177202014-06-11T13:04:00.000-07:002014-06-11T13:04:37.065-07:00Hail Yes We've Got Claims!Certain parts of Southwest Iowa look much different today than they did just over a week ago on June 3, when the EF-2 tornado, 100+ mph straight winds, and damaging hail paid a little visit. Many trees are gone or severely trimmed, a lot of windows were broken, siding and roofs damaged and at least here in Oakland, our population has doubled, just by the addition of contractors and loss adjusters. Plus, if you can't hear a chainsaw running, chances are it is only because the operator had to stop to put more gas in it. Fortunately, in spite of all the damage, there hasn't been one report of injury. For that, we are most thankful.<br /><br /><div>
Our agency has submitted well over 200 loss reports on behalf of our customers and countless more have been reported directly to the company from policyholders. Regardless of the amount of damage your property has received, it is never a picnic to go through the claims process. Toward that end, we do our best to make the experience as smooth and painless as possible for you. Whether your loss is insured through our agency, or with another company or agency, here are some things to keep in mind:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The insurance companies have received thousands of claims in a very short period of time. They are doing everything they can to get to your particular claim(s) just as soon as possible, and most companies have brought in extra help, either using outside independent adjusting firms or pulling adjusters from other areas of the country. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>There is no “pecking order” that determines which claims get looked at first other than the most severe losses generally get earlier attention. You may have insurance with the same company as your friends and/or neighbors and see an adjuster days before they do, or vice versa. That’s just the way it is.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It is a good idea to write down the names and contact information for everyone you talk to in regard to your loss.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If you have damage that leaves your property exposed to further damage from the elements, it is your right and obligation according to your policy to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>We appreciate your business, as does your insurance company. However the adjuster is not able to consider the length of time you have been with the company when calculating your settlement. Your insurance policy is a legal contract between you and the insurance company, and adjusters must follow the policy guidelines when handling your claim.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>While it is human nature to compare your damage and recovery with that of your friends/neighbors, it would be incorrect to assume that your settlements can be easily or accurately compared. Each situation is different due to a variety of factors: construction and age of your property, amount of damage sustained, age and type of materials used in your siding, roof, windows, etc. Just because you receive a settlement for a new roof does not mean your neighbor will or should receive the same compensation, and vice versa.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Some adjusters will call beforehand to try and set up an appointment with you to examine your damage. Others will simply show up and hope to find someone at home. If you are not at home at the time they stop, they should leave a card in your door, telling you they were there. They do NOT coordinate their appointments through our office or even notify us when they will be meeting with you. </li>
</ul>
Having an insurance claim can be an inconvenience so the sooner your claim is settled, the better. If you have questions or concerns throughout your claims process, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 712-482-6424 or toll-free at 800-482-6426.</div>
insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-22170665318571736042014-05-28T08:39:00.000-07:002014-05-28T08:39:31.602-07:00Things to Know This Week at Hummel Insurance Services<h4>
<ul>
<li>CD rates getting you down? <span style="font-weight: normal;">It’s no secret that CD rates have been lousy for a long time. There is some good news, however. The Personal Choice Annuity from Sentinel Security Life actually raised their interest rates recently and offers a very competitive rate of 3.3% guaranteed for 5 Years! If you have as little as $2500 (Qualified or Non-Qualified) that is earning less than 3.3%, why not take advantage of the tax-deferred benefit of an annuity?</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Have you ever:</li>
<ul>
<li>Been overcharged for a repair?</li>
<li>Received a speeding ticket</li>
<li>Been audited?</li>
<li>Signed a document?</li>
<li>Prepared a will?</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-T870f7-Ruc_qy-uYAOc0hgLF1mW6yUEuAlobha61Hcvg4_flUZor9aEYMF2ZhfarPLUYbtXsz_FIVC6Nrs6xKN2rejvRfzKzG4-3tFkc-WG9IvNg7Gwl38sVxzj2tatSdLJkpTRDjYA/s1600/LegalShield+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-T870f7-Ruc_qy-uYAOc0hgLF1mW6yUEuAlobha61Hcvg4_flUZor9aEYMF2ZhfarPLUYbtXsz_FIVC6Nrs6xKN2rejvRfzKzG4-3tFkc-WG9IvNg7Gwl38sVxzj2tatSdLJkpTRDjYA/s1600/LegalShield+logo.jpg" height="68" width="200" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">If you are like most people, you have had to deal with at least one of the above situations at some point in your life. If you haven’t completed the last item on the above list (Preparing a Will), what’s stopping you? Maybe you just put up with being overcharged, receiving a ticket, or any of the other items in the above list (which is just a small sample) because you were worried about how much it would cost to hire an attorney. With LegalShield, a small monthly fee puts you in touch with an experienced and respected law firm. You’ll be only a phone call away from the legal services you may need. Go to: <a href="http://www.legalshieldassociate.com/hub/craighummel" target="_blank">www.legalshieldassociate.com/hub/craighummel </a>for more information, or call Craig at 712-482-6424.</span></blockquote>
</h4>
<ol><blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
</ol>
<h4>
<ul>
<li>Dental, Vision, Hearing. <span style="font-weight: normal;">Three types of expenses not covered on Medicare Supplements (unless a medical necessity), or some health insurance policies unless resulting in a medical diagnosis. As little as $25 per month will give you some protection against these routine costs.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Critical Illness Coverage. <span style="font-weight: normal;">The good news is that more people than ever before recover from a Heart Attack, Stroke, or Cancer. The bad news is that recovery can be very costly, with many of those expenses being non-medical and excluded from your health insurance policy. Critical Illness coverage pays YOU a lump sum upon your being diagnosed with any one of twenty-two conditions.</span></li>
</ul>
</h4>
insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-29866392531003643052014-05-23T13:01:00.000-07:002014-05-23T13:01:06.421-07:00HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Everyone at Hummel Insurance Services wants to wish you and your family have
a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend. To help make sure your weekend is SAFE, remember this acronym: <b>SWFFT</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBoPfmHj3aVzPmrEXKWK6JxdrxgDK9q0mJ0iaXyCvANFohAVKvxMlUpXQz0GAT_mG7ZuxRKNFnsrmdtz-O0xUxlEAC1AjyceHFzRoeU0FnGv-R1JrLlX_wemT0TVeJ8OTWsg-FtBdENmt/s1600/Memorial+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBoPfmHj3aVzPmrEXKWK6JxdrxgDK9q0mJ0iaXyCvANFohAVKvxMlUpXQz0GAT_mG7ZuxRKNFnsrmdtz-O0xUxlEAC1AjyceHFzRoeU0FnGv-R1JrLlX_wemT0TVeJ8OTWsg-FtBdENmt/s1600/Memorial+Day.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>SUN:</b> Be careful whenever you are outside; you can
get a sunburn even on cloudy days. It
can help to wear a hat and sunglasses, but the best way to protect your skin is
using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>WATER: </b> Don’t ever swim alone. If you are boating or riding a personal
watercraft (Jet Ski, Sea Doo, etc.) make sure you wear a life vest. Avoid alcohol while or before operating a
boat or PWC, and always watch out for children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>FOOD:</b> Make sure you thoroughly cook your foods,
particularly when grilling ground beef, pork or poultry. Yeah, I like juicy hamburgers too, but they
say they aren’t safe to eat that way, so govern yourself accordingly. Also, perishable foods need to be
refrigerated within two hours, and always wash your hands with soap and water
before handling food and after touching raw meat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>FIRE: </b> Grilling out and sitting around a fire pit
can be a source of great fun on a summer weekend; just remember to keep them
away from flammable areas and materials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>TRAVEL:</b> Don’t take off without making sure your
vehicle has been serviced recently, don’t drink and drive or get in a vehicle
with anyone under the influence. Also,
don’t be a distracted driver…leave the phone alone when driving. <b> DON’T TEXT WHILE DRIVING. EVER.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-18556361117174694172014-05-07T10:18:00.000-07:002014-05-07T10:18:09.621-07:00Be Prepared for DisasterWith storm season sneaking up on us, we should take advantage of every tool possible to protect our families. The following tips and guides appear on the Ready.gov web site. For 2014, they are stressing family and including children in these important conversations. Regardless of whether or not you have children, there is plenty of good information to be had. Here is just a sample, but more can be found at: <a href="http://www.ready.gov/prepared2014" target="_blank">http://www.ready.gov/prepared2014</a>.<br />
<br />
<h1 style="color: #597f2b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 14px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
RESOLVE TO BE READY 2014</h1>
<div class="ds-1col node node-site-page view-mode-full clearfix ">
<div class="field field-name-body">
<div style="background-color: #e9e8e5; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<img alt="Resolve to be Ready. #Prepared2012 - Ad Council, Ready and FEMA" src="http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/prepared2014_banner.jpg" style="border: none; height: 86px; outline: none; width: 703px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: #e9e8e5; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<br />The campaign includes age-appropriate tools and resources to introduce conversations about disaster preparedness to children on <a href="http://www.ready.gov/kids" style="color: #597f2b; outline: none;">www.ready.gov/kids</a>, including a downloadable family emergency plan, emergency kit checklists and guidelines on how to make preparedness a year-round family activity. Check out the materials that you can use in your community to get families prepared in 2014.This year's <strong><em>Resolve to be Ready</em></strong> campaign focuses on 'Family Connection' to reinforce the importance of parents including their children in preparedness conversations in advance of potential disasters. The <em>Ready</em> campaign makes an emergency preparedness resolution easy to keep by recommending families consider these three ideas when making a plan: <strong>who</strong> to call,<strong>where</strong> to meet and <strong>what</strong> to pack.</div>
<ul style="background-color: #e9e8e5; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style-position: inside; margin: 0px 0px 25px 1em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Preparedness social media messages</li>
<li style="line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">#Prepared2014 Thunderclap message</li>
<li style="line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Ready Kids public service announcement and emergency preparedness videos</li>
<li style="line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Downloadable family emergency plan templates, emergency kit checklists, and disaster fact sheets for kids</li>
<li style="line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Facebook cover photo, banner, and square graphic</li>
<li style="line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Learn about these tools in Spanish: <a href="http://www.ready.gov/es/propongase-estar-listo-en-el-ano-2014" style="color: #597f2b; outline: none;">Propóngase estar listo en el año 2014</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #1670ac; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #1670ac; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: </span><a href="http://www.ready.gov/prepared2014" style="font-size: small;">http://www.ready.gov/prepared2014</a></div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
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insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-12954191497587501162014-01-02T13:18:00.000-08:002014-01-02T13:28:23.565-08:00Have You Ever... ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.legalshield.com/hub/craighummel" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiav7it5SdWpZds0z9nFWsBswqRFhG7wOSVFEiWvtAByFy1lv7Wj7aHj7KbX_k0Wx0l0czHsTYYK_FjXjCs9X3oDRegNGW96YQdkAs01oVHUYuCeQuso7w0ImZu177SMWky1xcPMaLxrF7/s1600/LegalShield_logo.white_.jpg" height="98" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Have You Ever...</span></h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Been overcharged for a repair?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Received a speeding ticket?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Been audited?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Signed a contract?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Prepared a will?</li>
</ul>
<div>
Many people experience these situations, but for one reason or another don't seek out the advice or help of a qualified lawyer. Maybe it costs too much, or they don't know where to start, or feel intimidated by the whole process. Whatever the reason, going it alone puts you at a distinct disadvantage.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That is why I'm pleased to introduce LegalShield, available now to clients and friends of Hummel Insurance Services. You can quickly and easily learn how LegalShield can help your family by going to: <a href="http://www.legalshield.com/hub/craighummel">www.legalshield.com/hub/craighummel</a> and click on the "Learn More" button under the "LegalShield Plans" heading.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then, simply call me at 800-482-6426 for more information. Or, if you're ready to sign up, just click on the "Buy Now" button. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Craig Hummel, Independent Associate</div>
</div>
insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-39471291928845118552013-12-17T07:54:00.000-08:002013-12-17T07:56:20.593-08:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
"What do you mean my car is totaled?!!!"</span></h2>
One of the most frustrating and hard to understand parts of your car insurance policy can show its big, ugly head at the most inopportune time -- after you have wrecked your car and are in talks with the adjuster about getting it fixed, or in some cases, <i><b>not </b></i>getting it fixed, but having to sign it over to the insurance company for salvage value.<br />
<br />
The article below, "<a href="http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2013/12/05/240841.htm" target="_blank">When is A Vehicle Considered a Total Loss?," written by Gary Wickert, in the Dec 5, 2013 edition of Claims Journal,</a> does a nice job of explaining the process and calculation of whether your car gets repaired or is totaled out.<br />
<br />
In addition to the information provided in this article, keep in mind that sometimes you do have options. For instance, if the Total Loss Threshold is close to the value of your vehicle, you may be able to negotiate a settlement whereby you keep the car and can repair it. Now, you probably won't receive enough money from the insurance company to pay for the entire repair bill, but for a vehicle that is valuable to you, even if that value is mostly sentimental, this can be an option worth exploring. <br />
<br />
<div id="article-content" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 19.09090805053711px; margin: 8px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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When and whether a vehicle involved in a collision is considered to be “totaled” for first-party insurance purposes is an issue of great angst and confusion for most consumers. We hear horror stories about older, functioning automobiles being “totaled” simply because the frame is bent or other seemingly minor and hidden damage occurs. Even insurance professionals can get turned around navigating the maze of rules and regulations regarding the act of “totaling” a vehicle under a policy. But it needn’t be all that complicated. This article will hopefully help take the guess-work out of when a car can be “totaled.”</div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/midwest/2013/01/16/221073.htm/attachment/digital-camera" rel="attachment wp-att-221106" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #023393; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="antifreeze leak after car crash" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-221106" src="http://www.claimsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/bigstock-Car-Crash-On-Icy-Road-1279662-300x225.jpg" height="225" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 12px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a>Typically, cars are considered to be “totaled” when the cost to repair the vehicle is higher than the actual cash value (ACV) of the vehicle. Practically speaking, however, it is not always practical to repair a vehicle, even if the cost of repair is less than its ACV. A vehicle worth $4,000 requiring $3,000 in repairs might be considered “totaled” by an insurer even though the cost of repair is less than its value before the accident. Insurance companies will typically consider such a vehicle to be a total loss, even though the repairs are only 75 percent of ACV.</div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
While the procedure varies slightly from state to state, the insurance company will typically take ownership of the totaled vehicle (known as “salvage”) and may obtain a “salvage title” for the vehicle. After it pays it’s insured the pre-loss ACV of the vehicle and forwards the certificate of ownership, the license plates and a required fee to the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), the DMV then issues a <i style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Salvage Certificate</i> for the vehicle. In some cases, the vehicle is repaired, re-registered with the DMV, and then classified as a “revived salvage” or “salvaged” vehicle. Of course, if the insured wants to keep the “totaled” vehicle, the insurance company will deduct the value of the salvage from the claim payment.</div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The criteria for deciding when a car is a total loss and when it can be repaired vary from insurance company to insurance company and might even be dictated and controlled by state statute or regulation. Further complicating the issue is the fact that insurance companies do not all use the same sources for determining the value of a vehicle. The threshold used by your insurance company to make this determination can be discovered by calling your insurance agent. Insurance professionals, on the other hand, have to be familiar with these rules, criteria, and thresholds in all 50 states.</div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2013/07/19/233178.htm" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #023393; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In determining whether a vehicle is totaled</a>, insurance companies will calculate <i style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the total loss ratio</i>(cost of repairs/actual cash value) and then compare this ratio to limits set either internally within the company and/or regulated and established by state law. It is also sometimes referred to simply as the <i style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">damage ratio</i>. Some states dictate how high this damage ratio needs to be in order to be able to declare a vehicle a “total loss” and be eligible for a <a href="http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2012/11/26/218012.htm" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #023393; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">salvage</a> title or certificate. This is referred to as the <i style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Total Loss Threshold</i> (TLT). In order to total a vehicle, the total loss ratio must exceed the established percentage. If the TLT is not dictated by the state, an insurance company will usually default to something known as the Total Loss Formula (TLF) which is:</div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cost of Repair + Salvage Value > Actual Cash Value</i></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If the sum of the first two quantities is greater than the ACV, the car can be declared a total loss. As an example, a damaged 2002 Toyota Echo with 185,000 miles in good condition has an ACV of approximately $2,800. Total repair costs are estimated at $2,000, for a damage ratio of 72 percent. This car would be considered a total loss in Arkansas, where the TLT is 70 percent, but not in Florida where the TLT is 80 percent. In Illinois, the TLF would be used and, if the salvage were worth $700, the car would not be totaled ($2,000 + $700 < $2,800). Of course, states utilizing the TLF rely on and defer to the judgment and opinions of licensed appraisers. Individual state laws provide the following with regard to the TLT:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 580px;"><tbody style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alabama</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Montana</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alaska</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nebraska</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arizona</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nevada</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">65%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arkansas</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">70%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New Hampshire</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">California</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New Jersey</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Colorado</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">100%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New Mexico</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Connecticut</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Delaware</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">North Carolina</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Florida</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">80%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">North Dakota</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Georgia</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ohio</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hawaii</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oklahoma</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">60%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Idaho</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oregon</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">80%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Illinois</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pennsylvania</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indiana</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">70%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rhode Island</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Iowa</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">50%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">South Carolina</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kansas</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">South Dakota</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kentucky</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tennessee</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Louisiana</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Texas</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">100%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maine</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Utah</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maryland</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vermont</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Massachusetts</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Virginia</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Michigan</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Washington</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Minnesota</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">70%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">West Virginia</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mississippi</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TLF</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wisconsin</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">70%</b></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="126"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Missouri</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="79"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">80%</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="47"></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="138"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wyoming</b></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="78"><b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">75%</b></td></tr>
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States frequently dictate this TLT as part of legislating salvage titles. As an example, in Wisconsin, § 342.065(1)(c) reads as follows:</div>
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<i style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(c) If the interest of an owner in a vehicle that is titled in this state is not transferred upon payment of an insurance claim that, including any deductible amounts, exceeds 70% of the fair market value of the vehicle, any insurer of the vehicle shall, within 30 days of payment of the insurance claim, notify the department in writing of the claim payment and that the vehicle meets the statutory definition of a salvage vehicle, in the manner and form prescribed by the department.</i></div>
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Many states have exceptions to these rules for older vehicles which tend to complicate the issue. Typical policy language regarding total losses is as follows:</div>
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<i style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We will pay the cost to physically repair the auto or any of its parts up to the actual cash value of the auto or any of its parts at the time of the collision. The most we will pay will be either the actual cash value of the auto or the cost to physically repair the auto, whichever is less. We will, at our option, repair the auto, repair or replace any of its parts, or declare the auto a total loss. If, the repair of a damaged part will impair the operational safety of the auto, we will replace the part.</i></div>
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Understanding the procedure behind declaring a vehicle a total loss isn’t always a prerequisite for successful subrogation. But there are occasions when the third-party tortfeasor and its liability carrier or attorney will question the amount of damages you are looking to subrogate. In such instances, a working knowledge of this area of insurance becomes indispensable.</div>
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<div class="clearfix" id="article-author-info" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 19.09090805053711px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<img alt="image of Gary Wickert" class="author-image" src="http://www.claimsjournal.com/img/authors/gary-wickert.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); float: left; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /><br />
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About Gary Wickert <span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="social-email" href="mailto:gwickert@mwl-law.com" style="background-image: url(http://www.claimsjournal.com/img/social-icons.png); background-position: 0px -204px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 2px 0px 3px 22px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></span></h4>
Gary Wickert is an insurance trial lawyer and a partner with Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C., and is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on insurance subrogation. He is the author of several subrogation books and legal treatises and is a national and international speaker and lecturer on subrogation and motivational topics. He can be reached at gwickert@mwl-law.com.</div>
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<br />insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131109892385166876.post-81714309327492184552013-09-25T10:42:00.000-07:002013-09-25T10:42:42.736-07:00Fire Prevention Tips for College Students -- On- or Off-Campus<h3 class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin: 1px 0px 10px;">
September and October are peak months for fires in college housing; NFPA urges students to be safe</h3>
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<span style="color: #333333;">In a new NFPA report, September and October were identified as peak months for fires in college housing. According to the report </span><a href="http://www.nfpa.org/research/statistical-reports/occupancies/dormitories-fraternities-sororities-and-barracks" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">"Structure Fires in Dormitories, Fraternities, Sororities, and Barracks,"</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> in 2007-2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 3,810 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks. As college students settle into housing at school or off-campus, reviewing safety tips is a valuable way for them to remember what actions can be taken to prevent fire and how they can prepare to escape if one occurs. Being sure that smoke alarms are working, and having and practicing a fire escape plan is vital.</span></div>
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<a class="asset-img-link" href="http://www.nfpa.org/campussafety" style="color: #003366; float: right;" target="_blank"><img alt="Campussafety" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8351b9f3453ef019aff2b02c4970c" height="400" src="http://nfpa.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8351b9f3453ef019aff2b02c4970c-800wi" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Campussafety" width="301" /></a><span style="color: #333333;">Roughly 70 percent of fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks began in the kitchen or cooking area. The report also noted that fires are most common in the evening hours, between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. and on weekends. With cooking the theme of this year's Fire Prevention Week, safety tips and information can be found on the </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/fire-prevention-week" target="_blank">FPW website as well</a><span id="goog_1862898309"></span><span id="goog_1862898310"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>!</span></div>
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NFPA offers safety tips for college students living in on- or off-campus housing:</div>
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<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Look for fully sprinklered housing when choosing a dorm or off-campus housing.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Make sure your dormitory or apartment has smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on each level. For the best protection, all smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when one sounds they all sound.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Test all smoke alarms at least monthly.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Never remove batteries or disable smoke alarms.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Learn your building’s evacuation plan and practice all drills as if they were the real thing.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">If you live off campus, have a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">When the smoke alarm or fire alarm sounds, get out of the building quickly and stay out.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Cook only where it is permitted.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Stay in the kitchen when cooking.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Cook only when you are alert, not sleepy or drowsy from medicine or alcohol.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Check your school’s rules before using electrical appliances in your room.</li>
<li style="margin: 5px 10px;">Use a surge protector for your computer and plug the protector directly into an outlet.</li>
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Visit <a href="http://www.nfpa.org/campussafety" style="color: #003366;" target="_blank">www.nfpa.org/campussafety</a> for more information and resources, including a free downloadable Fire Safety Checklist developed especially for college students.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://nfpatoday.blog.nfpa.org/2013/09/september-and-october-are-peak-months-for-fires-in-college-housing-nfpa-urges-students-to-be-safe.html" target="_blank">NFPA Today</a></span></div>
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insdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715435574035434891noreply@blogger.com0