There are many signs for tornadoes, some indicators may be:
A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible in the area. You should review your emergency plan, check supplies and be ready to act quickly if a tornado does approach. A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted by weather radar and you should act immediately. Be sure to have a weather radio available to monitor potential tornado activity.
There are steps you can take before, during and after a wildfire to help you and your family stay safe.
Source: Insurance Information Institute; www.iii.org
To save money in the winter, it’s tempting to use a space heater to heat a room rather than to heat the entire house. But it’s important to be cautious with this option. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of room (space) heaters. More than 300 people die in these fires. An estimated 6,000 more receive hospital emergency room care for burn injuries associated with contacting hot surfaces of room heaters, mostly in non-fire situations.
When setting up a space heater, remember to keep it at least 30 inches from any flammable materials and set it up on the floor, unless it is designed otherwise.
Areas where space heaters are used should be free of combustible materials like wood, paper, rags and flammable liquids. Do not set them up on easily ignited or flammable surfaces, such as rugs or carpets, or use them to dry wet clothing.
When using a space heater in an enclosed area, it is a good idea to leave a window or door partially open to allow for fresh air to enter. This will prevent carbon monoxide (CO) buildup or a depletion of oxygen. Never take a gas-fired or kerosene heater into a confined space. The results could be deadly.
All unvented heaters manufactured after 1983 should be equipped with an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS). The ODS will shut off a heater if it detects a reduced level of oxygen in the area where the heater is being used.
All gas heaters should be equipped with a pilot safety valve. This device will shut off the gas to the heater if the pilot light should go out, preventing the risk of explosion by not allowing the accumulation of gas.
If the pilot light goes out, remember the following safety tips:
It also is a good idea to light a match before you turn on the gas to the pilot. This avoids the risk of flashback, which could occur if gas is allowed to accumulate before lighting the pilot.
Electric heaters should be kept out of wet or moist places like bathrooms. Water or corrosion could lead to a fire or shock hazard.
All gas and kerosene heaters should be inspected annually by a qualified person to ensure that they are properly adjusted and clean.
Maintenance and inspections should include checking the following items:
You should be aware of the following hazards when using propane, kerosene or electric space heaters
CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by the incomplete burning of any carbon-containing material, including gasoline, natural gas, propane, coal or wood. CO is dangerous because it replaces oxygen in the blood and interferes with the transport of needed oxygen to cells in the body.
Symptoms of CO poisoning can mimic those of the flu or food poisoning. Early exposure symptoms may include:
Prolonged exposure can lead to the following symptoms:
Because CO poisoning symptoms mimic the flu or food poisoning, it is important to inform medical responders of the possibility of exposure to excessive amounts of CO. Poisoning can be reversed if caught in time, but acute poisoning may result in permanent damage to the heart and brain.
Americans enjoy more than three billion barbecues each year. But barbecuing can be dangerous, even deadly, if you are not careful
Source: Insurance Information Institute; www.iii.org
In the event of a fire, you may be required to use a fire extinguisher. It is important to underst and what type of fire extinguisher to use, when to use it, and how to use it. To learn more, click the appropriate links below.
Your safety is most important when it comes to extinguishing a fire. If you are unsure about whether it is safe to fight the fire, you should leave the scene and let the fire department h andle it.
Underst anding how a fire forms and how a fire extinguisher operates can help you fight a fire more effectively.
There are different types of fire extinguishers, each designed to fight a different type of fire. Using an incorrect fire extinguisher may cause a fire to intensify.
You should know exactly how to use a fire extinguisher in the event a fire develops and you feel you are safely able to fight it.
Think you know everything about fire extinguishers? Test your knowledge.
Using our claim data, we’ve developed a list of the most common causes of fire-related losses as well as some things you can do to help prevent them.
While fire may be a common concern among homeowners, Travelers claim data suggests that homes could be as much as 10 times more likely to be damaged by water than by fire.
Water damage to property can come from many sources with weather-related moisture or flooding being one significant source: leaking roofs, blocked gutters and downspouts leading to foundation and siding damage, ice dams; flooding from heavy rains, flash floods, dam and levee failures, snowmelt and spring thaws, tidal storm surges and mudflows. New construction development of buildings, roads or bridges can often alter the potential and flow of floods. Being located within a flood zone can put individuals at risk, but being outside an established zone does not mean homeowners are safe: flooding is always a possibility due to causes such as heavy rains, snowmelt and spring thaws.
Water damage also can come from non-weather related sources within the home, including leaky baseboard heating, plugged air conditioning unit condensation drains, furnaces/boilers, water heaters, washing machines, and leaky plumbing. Homeowners may also have wet basements resulting from water entering through cracks in foundations, improper l andscape grading, downspouts placed too close to the foundation or from seepage through floor drains and sewer pipes, among other reasons.
In all cases, water can cause major damage to your property, valuables and equipment. In severe damage, such as from flooding, it may mean the need to rebuild or move to another location.
In addition to purchasing the right insurance coverage, no matter the source of damage-causing water (weather-related or not) there are a number of things you can do to help minimize or prevent water damage to your property.
The average cost for homeowner flood loss is $48,000, according to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). While floods can cause major destruction, the damage caused by floods is not covered by st andard homeowners insurance policies. However, flood insurance is offered by the NFIP and available through Travelers.
A flood insurance policy provides specialized coverage to help you protect your home and condo from rising waters. Costs vary depending on how much insurance is purchased, what it covers, and the property’s flood risk. In general, flood policies can provide coverage for your home’s structure, furnace, water heater, furniture, appliances, clothing, rugs (with certain limitations for basement areas) and certain expenses you incur to protect your home from imminent flood damage and clean up costs. Generally, there is a 30-day waiting period from date of purchase before your policy goes into effect. That means now is the best time to buy flood insurance.
If you have any questions regarding homeowners insurance or flood insurance, contact your agent or company representative.
More on tips for wet basements.
Floodsmart Tips
You can minimize or help prevent water damage from sources from within the home through home maintenance steps, including:
You can minimize or help prevent water damage from sources from within the home through home maintenance steps, including:
Stay tuned to the radio or television until an official “all clear” is given (if you were evacuated, return home only after authorities advise it is safe to do so.)
Never touch anything in contact with power lines, including water or water puddles that may be near the downed power lines.
Board up broken windows to protect against v andalism or additional weather damage. Arrange for reasonable temporary repairs.
Save bills and materials receipts from your temporary repairs. (Do not make permanent repairs until the insurance adjuster has reviewed the damage.) Also, keep accurate records of other expenses incurred.
Write a list of any damaged contents. Include the item description, name of the manufacturer, the br and name, age, the place and date of purchase, if known. Use any photographs, videotapes or personal property inventories you may already have to help.
With either type of alert, it is important to be prepared. What you do beforeh and can determine how well you weather the storm and recover from it. Here are some preparation tips:
As soon as you hear of a hurricane watch or warning, it is important, depending on the type of alert, to immediately begin or complete your preparedness. You can never be too prepared when it comes to protecting your loved ones and your property.
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