Dear Valued Customer,

This issue of the “—————-” is focused on providing you with the information you need to understand the importance of protecting your home and business against the catastrophic damage a hurricane can cause.

All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes. Parts of the Southwest United States and the Pacific Coast also experience heavy rains and floods each year from hurricanes spawned off Mexico. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November, with the peak season from mid-August to late October. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15 and ends November 30.

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Kind regards,

A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone or severe tropical storm that forms in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. A typical cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms, and in the Northern Hemisphere, a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the earth’s surface.

All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes. Parts of the Southwest United States and the Pacific Coast also experience heavy rains and floods each year from hurricanes spawned off Mexico. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November, with the peak season from mid-August to late October. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15 and ends November 30.

Hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland. Hurricane can produce winds exceeding 155 miles per hour as well as tornadoes and mircrobursts. Additionally, hurricanes can create storm surges along the coast and cause extensive damage from heavy rainfall. Floods and flying debris from the excessive winds are often the deadly and destructive results of these weather events. Slow moving hurricanes traveling into mountainous regions tend to produce especially heavy rain. Excessive rain can trigger landslides or mud slides. Flash flooding can occur due to intense rainfall.

Source: FEMA, “Hurricanes” http://www.ready.gov website. Accessed December 2, 2015. http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Before a Hurricane

To prepare for a hurricane, you should take the following measures:

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
• Know your surroundings.
• Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.
• Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
• Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
• Make plans to secure your property:
• Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” exterior grade or marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Another year-round option would be installation of laminated glass with impact-resistant glazing. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
• Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
• Determine how and where to secure your boat.
• Install a generator for emergencies.
• If in a high-rise building, when high winds are present, be prepared to take shelter on a lower floor because wind conditions increase with height, and in a small interior room without windows. When flooding may be occuring, be prepared to take shelter on a floor safely above the flooding and wave effects.
• Consider building a safe room.

Hurricanes cause heavy rains that can cause extensive flood damage in coastal and inland areas. Everyone is at risk and should consider flood insurance protection. Flood insurance is the only way to financially protect your property or business from flood damage. To learn more about your flooding risk and how to protect yourself and your business, visit the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (NFIP) Web site,www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.

During a Hurricane

If a hurricane is likely in your area, you should:

• Listen to the radio or TV for information.
• Secure your home, close storm shutters and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
• Turn off propane tanks
• Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
• Moor your boat if time permits.
• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purpose such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other larger containers with water.
• Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency.

You should evacuate under the following conditions:

If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.

• If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure – such shelter are particularly hazardous during hurricane no matter how well fastened to the ground.
• If you live in a high-rise building – hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
• If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an island waterway.

Read more about evacuating yourself and your family. If you are unable to evacuate, go to your wind-safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:

• Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
• Close all interior doors – secure and brace external doors.
• Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm – winds will pick up again.
• Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level.
• Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
• Avoid elevators.

After a Hurricane

• Continue listening to a NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for the latest updates.
• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.
• If you have become separated from your family, use your family communications plan or contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS/1-800-733-2767 or visit the American Red Cross Safe and Well site:www.safeandwell.org
  • The American Red Cross also maintains a database to help you find family. Contact the local American Red Cross chapter where you are staying for information. Do not contact the chapter in the disaster area.
• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.
• If you cannot return home and have immediate housing needs. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362(4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
• For those who have longer-term housing needs, FEMA offers several types of assistance, including services and grants to help people repair their homes and find replacement housing. Apply for assistance or search for information about housing rental resources
• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed¬ out bridges. Stay off the streets. If you must go out watch for fallen objects; downed electrical wires; and weakened walls, bridges, roads, and sidewalks.
• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.
• Walk carefully around the outside your home and check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage before entering.
• Stay out of any building if you smell gas, floodwaters remain around the building or your home was damaged by fire and the authorities have not declared it safe.
• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes. If you have any doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or structural engineer before entering.
• Use battery-powered flashlights in the dark. Do NOT use candles. Note: The flashlight should be turned on outside before entering – the battery may produce a spark that could ignite leaking gas, if present.
• Watch your pets closely and keep them under your direct control. Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes. Use a stick to poke through debris.
• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.
• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
• NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.

Source: FEMA, “Hurricanes” http://www.ready.gov website. Accessed December 2, 2015. http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

When There Is a Hurricane, Tornado Or Other Disaster

Businesses that plan for disasters are more likely to continue to operate and flourish than those who simply leave things to chance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

• Property insurance for buildings and contents owned by the company. There are two different forms, standard and special; the latter provides more comprehensive coverage. Depending on the insurer, this comprehensive coverage can be included in the overall policy or may be purchased at an added cost. Types of coverages available include: undamaged stock protection, which covers undamaged items that can no longer be marketed because of damage to related goods; data or records protection, which covers loss of data or company records that were destroyed and will take time and cost money to reproduce; computer virus protection, which covers the loss of data and business through computer viruses; off-premises property protection, which extends your property coverage to include protection at other locations such as trade shows, fairs, installations, exhibits or any place where your company is doing business with company-owned equipment; and intangible coverage, which includes patents, copyrights and trademarks.
• Business interruption insurance, also known as business income insurance (BI), covers the loss of income resulting from a hurricane or other disaster that disrupts business operations during a period of restoration. Business income is net income (net profit or loss before income taxes) that would have been earned plus continuing normal (necessary) operating expenses incurred, including payroll. So in essence, BI pays continuing business expenses as well as profits. While the standard BI policy limits the period of restoration to 30 days, this period can be extended to 360 days with an endorsement.BI coverage can include extra expense insurance, which covers all necessary expenses incurred during the restoration period. For example, the costs incurred from leasing a new location in which to conduct business while repairs are being made to the permanent location. Reimbursement under business interruption insurance is usually triggered by physical damage to the property where the business is conducted. Usually, there is a deductible either in a flat dollar amount or as a waiting time. Waiting time deductibles are at least 24 hours, meaning that payments do not begin until the business has been disrupted for one day.Coverage may also be available for loss of business income and extra expenses sustained as a result of government denial of access to your property, due to a covered loss at a location not owned by you. There may be a two- or three-day waiting period before coverage begins, and coverage generally only applies for a few weeks.
• Liability protection covers the company’s legal responsibility for the harm it may cause to others as a result of things that you and your employees do, or fail to do, in the course of business operations that may cause bodily injury, and property damage due to defective products, faulty installations and errors in services provided.

• Flood insurance is usually not covered under a standard businessowners policy. Make sure to purchase flood insurance for both the structure and the contents of the building. Flood insurance can be purchased through the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as well as through some private insurance companies. Excess flood protection, which provides coverage over and above the limits provided by the NFIP, is also available from some insurers. Keep in mind that there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance goes into effect.
• Contingent business interruption insurance (CBI) and contingent extra expense coverage reimburse lost profits and extra expenses resulting from an interruption of business at the premises of a customer or supplier. The contingent property may be specifically named, or the coverage may extend to all customers and suppliers. CBI insurance, also known as contingent business income insurance or dependent properties insurance, is usually triggered by physical damage to customers’ or suppliers’ property or to property on which the insured company depends to attract customers. The type of physical damage must be the same as that insured under the controlling policy.
• Additional property coverage provides for items such as fences, signage or awnings at the insured location. Coverage limits vary by type of additional property. Since these items are particularly vulnerable to high wind, it is an important coverage to have during hurricane season.
• Ordinance or Law provides coverage to rebuild or repair the building in compliance with the most recent local building codes.
• Umbrella liability insurance (also known as excess liability) provides coverage for claims that exceed the amount of coverage on a general liability policy and may also add coverage to commercial auto policies as well as the employers’ liability coverage on a workers compensation policy. Umbrella liability coverage is triggered only when claims are in excess of the underlying insurance.

• Finding alternative faculties, equipment and suppliers.
• Protecting computer systems and data by backing up computerized data files regularly and storing them off-premises.
• Compiling a list of important phone numbers and addresses, which should include state emergency management agencies, major clients, contractors, suppliers, realtors, financial institutions, insurance agents and insurance company claim representatives and employees.
• Training employees so they are familiar with offsite meeting places. Those who practice for emergency situations are less likely to panic and more likely to remember the plan.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Having the Right Business Insurance Is Key to Survival When There Is a Hurricane, Tornado or Other Disaster” http://www.iii.org website. Accessed December 2, 2015. http://www.iii.org/press-release/having-right-business-insurance-key-survival-when-there-hurricane-tornado-or-other

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.