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Fall Back and Change Smoke Alarm Batteries |  | 
We all know the value of a reliable smoke alarm in our home. However, having a smoke alarm isn't enough. A good fire safety plan requires that the smoke alarms actually work. Getting into the habit of doing a quick check of your smoke alarm devices each month will ensure that they are working properly, and changing the batteries at least once a year will ensure that their batteries are fresh and strong. If Neglected, Smoke Alarms Might Stop WorkingSmoke alarms can stop working because they outlive their usefulness, especially if they are more than 10 years old. However, more commonly, these alarms don't work because their battery is dead or because the smoke alarm has been disconnected or is missing its batteries. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns that almost two-thirds of home fire deaths in 2005-2009 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms. The Smoke Alarm Remind Might Not Remind YouYou might wonder why you would not just wait until the smoke alarm beeping alerts you that your smoke alarm batteries need to be replaced. That's a bad idea for many reasons such as…
Replacing Smoke Alarm Batteries
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Once again, as we “fall back” – to end Daylight Savings Time and return to standard time, it's a perfect time to remember to change our smoke alarm batteries. Adopting the habit of changing smoke alarm batteries either at the end or the beginning of Daylight Savings Time will keep your family safe, protect your home from fire and smoke damage and help you to avoid homeowners insurance claims.
Would You be Prepared for Severe Storm Flooding | |
When severe storms occur, your first obligation is to protect yourself and your family. But then, as a homeowner, you must protect your home if flooding threatens. So it’s more critical than ever for you to have the right insurance coverage. Since flooding is typically not covered by your homeowners policy, you will need a separate flood insurance policy. Remember: Waiting until the water starts to rise before seeking flood insurance means that your largest investment – your home – will not be protected. Flood insurance requires a waiting period before it becomes active. There are several steps to take before flooding strikes to help you avoid costly mistakes and protect your loved ones. Gather Insurance Policies and Important Documents Create a home inventory including detailed descriptions of your belongings, and add photos if possible. Pull together your insurance policies as well as the contact information for your insurance agent along with financial records, medical records, records of major purchases such as vehicles, home, etc. Finally, put yourinventorie and documents into a safe deposit box or store them at home in a fireproof, waterproof sealed container. Most importantly, be sure that everyone who needs to have access to them knows where they can be found. Prepare your Home for Flooding A check with your state or local emergency planning agency will determine the maximum projected flood level for your area. Using that information, you can create a plan to move valuable items, furniture and appliances above that level if possible. Depending on the severity of the flooding threat and the feasibility of doing so, you might consider raising your electrical outlets to a level above the projected flood level. A home Survival Kit is an essential part of your protection, and it should contain (at a minimum) canned food,drinking water and first aid supplies to support your family in the event you must sustain yourselves before help arrives or the flood subsides. Your kit should include a flashlight, blankets, a radio, an extra cell phone and a supply of any prescription medications that your family requires. This kit should be stored in a safe, dry, cool place. It is wise to check it regularly, so that you can replace and replenish supplies if/as necessary.
Prepare Your Family For Possible Evacuation You cannot depend upon the family being all together at home when storm flooding strikes. So it is important to sit down with your family well in advance of any bad weather to create an emergency evacuation plan. Then, practice it periodically. Don't overlook the need to map out safe evacuation routes to higher ground from children’s schools and your workplaces as well as your home. Remember your pets in your plan. It is often easier to place a long distance call than communicate locally in a severe storm situation, so be sure to designated friend or relative who lives out of the area and who agrees to be your family contact in the event of disaster. Be sure everyone knows emergency phone numbers and how to get in touch with your designated contact person.
Get More Details:
Here in Laurel, MD, at Community Insurance Services of Maryland, LLC, our experienced agents know about flood insurance and we know your community whether you live in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC. Discuss your flood insurance questions with us. We look forward to having you contact us at your convenience.
IIHS Car Safety Picks Go Green for 2011 | |
The good news for consumers: It is clear that automakers are utilizing safety engineering in their electric cars that rivals that used in their vehicles with internal combustion engines. The 2011 Top Safety Picks for all sizes of cars, vans and SUVs has been published by the IIHS, and it recognizes 38 cars, 25 SUVs and one minivan, in addition to the Leaf and Volt hybrid vehicles. When comparing this 2011 list to that of 2010, you will find more than double the number of vehicles to choose from that meet the safety criteria used by the IIHS. Are You Earthquake Savvy? | |
A significant earthquake on the east coast? Who knew? You might remember the magnitude 3.6 earthquake with the epicenter in Gaithersburg, Maryland that was felt in the Washington DC metro area on the morning of July 10, 2010. It was reportedly the first to hit the state since 1990.
If you live and work in Maryland, Virginia, or surrounding states, would you be prepared to withstand an earthquake and its aftershocks? You might find that you need to be self-sustaining for hours or perhaps even days afterwards. So access to food, water, medications and other essentials would become very important. Earthquakes can damage highway bridges and bring traffic to a stop and disrupt rail and air traffic as well. In the recent earthquake, cell phone service was unreliable. If you could not reach your family, would they know what to do, where to go? Often in such an emergency, a text message will go through where a voice message will not. Do you have the necessary phone numbers to be able to send text messages as well as phone calls? Earthquakes can cause structural damage to homes and other buildings, disrupt gas and electrical lines, shatter glass and otherwise create the potential for severe injury. Have you taken precautions to prepare your home to withstand earthquake damage? Perhaps it’s time to make a plan, just in case. FEMA offers us a valuable earthquake resource website, with detailed checklists for what to do before, during and after an earthquake. In anticipation of possible earthquake damage, you will want to know in advance that your insurance will cover it. Typically, a standard homeowners policy does not include damage from earthquakes, but special coverages are available depending upon the state in which you live and the insurance company that issues your policy. Often, damage from post-earthquake fires will be covered and vehicle damage from earthquakes could be covered by special provisions in your auto insurance policy. It is very important to check with your insurance agent so that you are prepared in case you have losses after an earthquake. Here at Community Insurance Services of Maryland LLC, our professional agents can review your current insurance policies and discuss your best option to be prepared for earthquake damage. Contact us anytime, we welcome the opportunity to be of help. No Noise Pollution Here! | |
As hybrid and electric vehicles become more popular, advocates for the blind are reporting concerns about the lack of operating noise. A 2009 government study found collisions with pedestrians and bicyclists more prevalent among hybrids than among gasoline-powered vehicles because it appears that these green vehicles just don’t produce enough noise – especially at low speeds – to warn pedestrians. Some auto makers are meeting that challenge by producing synthetic noise in their hybrid and electric vehicles. The Infinity M35 and the Hyundai Sonata hybrid produce synthetic sounds. Likewise, the electric Nissan Leaf emits a whooshing sound at low speeds, and the Chevrolet Volt optionally produces a chirping sound and activates flashing lights if the driver activates the alert system. In January, 2011, President Obama signed a law which moves the effort along by designating a 2014 deadline for equipping these hybrid and electric models with synthetic sound that can be heard by pedestrians. So we'll look for more of the same results from other auto makers as more of these green vehicles hit the roads.
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Recently, here on the east coast of the United States, we have been faced with some severe weather. We survived Hurricane Irene, and the rainy season continues. What do you do when a severe storm is forecast? Although the full force of a hurricane or serious tornado might not be our usual weather parttern, severe thunderstorms are a frequent threat, here in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC and surrounding areas. These storms often produce flooding; and with the stormy season now upon us, we must take precautions.
In 2011, the Information Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performed crash-test evaluations on plug-in electric cars for the very first time. The Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf received the highest safety rating (the top rating of “good”) for rear, frontal, side and rollover crash protection. Their rating for electronic stability control was still acceptable in the standard range, giving both the Volt and the Leaf a spot among the IIHS Top Safety Picks List for 2011.
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