It happens in stores and it happens in homes – live Christmas trees start on fire. They make excellent kindling. And without Vancouver Wa insurance (or homeowner’s insurance wherever you live) this tragedy could ruin more than your holidays.

Take this example: a Walmart store in New York reported a fire in a greenhouse used to store Christmas decorations and wrapping paper. Luckily they had a sprinkler system, something most homes don’t have.

According to the US Fire Administration, Christmas trees account for 200 fires annually, resulting in 6 deaths, 25 injuries and more than $6 million in property damage.

The US Fire Administration says: A WET TREE IS A SAFE TREE. They could also say a DRY TREE IS A DANGEROUS TREE. Well-watered trees are not a problem. Dry and neglected trees can be.

What’s the cause of most Christmas tree fires in Washington?

Shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires.

So please, keep your tree watered and away from candles or sources of heat or electricity.  We hope you have a safe season. In a future post we’ll talk about other dangers of the season to be aware of.

Last night I heard the worst story on the news: a “good samaritan” who turned out to be a thief. A woman was shopping for a Wii game for her grandson. A young man asked if he could help and was very friendly and kind. She found a game and paid for it. Then the man returned and started talking to her. Suddenly, he grabbed her bag with the game in it and ran for the door.

There are other ways to lose your Christmas gifts according to Vancouver Washington insurance agents — someone could steal them straight from your own living room. Here’s the story of a family that had thousands of dollars worth of presents stolen right from their house! http://www2.wjbf.com/jbf/news/state_regional/south_carolina/article/family_has_thousands_stolen_in_christmas_gifts/42606/

‘Tis the season unfortunately – people know that there are iPods, GPS and other great presents under the tree – and that these items are new and can be sold for quick cash.

How can you avoid being the next victim?

• Keep your presents out of sight. If a thief can see them they can probably figure out a way to take them.
• If you have glass near your door, be sure you have 2 locks.
• Don’t let deliveries pile up on the front porch, arrange to have a neighbor get them or pick them up yourself.
• Lock your doors always.
• Light your home so would-be thieves have less places to hide.

We wrote about keeping thieves away from your home. Here are some ways to protect your property wherever you are this Christmas.

1. Put your packages in the trunk of your car when shopping. If a thief walks past your car and sees your Christmas purchases sitting on the seat, they can easily become a target for thievery.
2. Give presents in person. If you must mail them, send them through registered mail. Avoid leaving gifts on the front porch for someone else. If a thief sees a present sitting on the porch, they could grab it and run away quickly.
3. Hang your bags on a dressing room or bathroom door when shopping. Some thieves go into a dressing room or bathroom, reach under your door for a shopping bag, grab it and run.
4. Ask a neighbor to pick up your mail when you’re not home. Around Christmas time–when you will be ordering or receiving gifts–it’s helpful to have a trusted neighbor get your mail if you won’t be home.

5. Ask a loved one if packages can be delivered straight to their house. If you know a package is ordered, ask someone who  is frequently home if you can have it sent there instead. It eliminates the chance of having your package sit in front of your door all day where it can get stolen.
6. Don’t put your packages down on the ground at the store. Even putting your shopping bags on the ground for a minute can be an easy target.

Washington insurance agents want you to keep your purchases safe!

Water damage continues to be the most expensive homeowners’ claim. This year a Washington insurance claim cost us over $600,000.00! It was for a supply hose failure that caused damage to hardwood floors and sheet-rock absorption. The most-frequent claims come from plumbing leaks in icemakers, dishwashers, and the washing machine.

Nies Insurance wants to help avoid tragic water-damage loss by offering a free standard braided water supply line. All you have to do is bring in your old washing machine hose and we’ll trade it for a new one.

Come into any one of our 5 offices (see link above for loactions in Washington state) between now and December 31st, while supplies last. (Note, it is possible that you may need to pay a little bit— the difference—if your connection requires something other than a standard hose.)

I ran into a woman at my gym this week who was pretty upset. She mentioned she’d had a pretty bad day. I asked why and she told me the story. Basically, she had done some Christmas shopping and left the presents in the car. Unlocked. And all of the presents were stolen. She was heartbroken.

Here’s a question you might have. I did.

Will your auto insurance cover the cost of the stolen presents?

Many auto insurance policies will cover stolen items from your vehicle but only a very limited amount.  Each policy is different. It is best to call the agent who sold you the policy. Even if stolen items are not covered by your auto insurance, your renter’s or homeowner’s policies may cover your loss. Ask.

If you need auto insurance from Oregon, Washington, or Idaho, please see:
Auto Insurance in OregonAuto Insurance in Washington – Idaho Auto Insurance – Oregon Auto Insurance – Oregon Car Insurance – Washington Auto Insurance – Washington Car Insurance – Seattle Auto Insurance – Spokane Auto Insurance – Portland Auto Insurance – Boise Auto Insurance – Seattle Car Insurance – Spokane Car Insurance – Portland Car Insurance – Boise Car Insurance

Given how expensive it is to get insurance for earthquakes or floods, some people are tempted to save the money. They hope the government will step in.

Consider this from MSN: “The president has to declare a major disaster before FEMA and SBA can step in to help. If the damage is limited, that might not happen — even if you personally suffer a catastrophic loss. The vast majority of floods, for example, are not declared major disasters.” Also think of how much time it can take to get the help and/or money.

The Problem with Relying on a Government Grant to Pay for Disaster or Flood Damage

FEMA grants may be limited. The average individual and family grant payment is less than $2,500.

SBA loans (note: these loans must be repaid with interest) cannot exceed $200,000. The average duration of s Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster home loan is 20 years. The average cost of a $50,000 SBA loan is $3,888 a year ($324 a month) on top of any existing home loan.Repayment on a $50,000 SBA disaster home loan is $311 a month or $3,730 annually, plus the cost of paying off the existing home loan.

Benefits of Flood Insurance

• You are in control. Flood insurance claims are paid even if a disaster is not declared by the President.

• There’s no payback requirement.

• Flood insurance policies are continuous and are not canceled for repeat losses.

• Flood insurance reimburses you for all covered losses up to $250,000 for residences and $500,000 for businesses.

What does flood insurance cost?

• The average cost of a $100,000 flood policy is $400 a year ($33 a month)

• The average cost of a $50,000 flood policy is a little less than $200 annually, depending on where you live or less than $ .55 a day.

Don’t be one of those in the medium or low-risk areas (B, C and X zones) that didn’t have flood insurance and got flooded. Roughly 25% of all claims are in these areas.

Remember the standard waiting period is 30 days after purchase for a policy to take effect.

NOTE: All Statistics from FEMA, 2006 and FloodSmart.gov

November is wrapping up and December with its snow, ice and bitter cold is almost here.  December can be brutal in Northern Idaho, especially. (Here’s some advice from an Idaho native).

InsuranceArm wants drivers in Idaho and elsewhere to be prepared and to be safe on the road. Here are some winter driving tips:

1. Consider buying winter tires if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow. They provide much better traction in the snow than all-season tires. Do this before the Winter weather hits hard and everyone runs out to buy winter tires and the most common sizes are out of stock.
2. Be sure your tires are properly inflated for the temperature.
   
3. Check your battery to be sure it’s fully charged. You’ll need it to start your car in cold weather.
4. Check your brakes, which will be tested on slick surfaces.
5. Be sure your coolant provides anti-freeze protection for your climate.
6. Refill your windshield washing fluid with a brand that has antifreeze.
7. Carry tools in your car in case of an emergency. According to AAA, “the kit should include a small bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter), a small snow shovel, a snow brush, traction mats, a flashlight with new batteries, window washer solvent, an ice scraper, a cloth or roll of paper towels, jumper cables, a blanket, warning devices (flares or triangles), drinking water and extra clothes.” We also suggest some food if you get stranded — power bars or other food that keeps well.

Be sure you have adequate insurance. A slideoff or accident can total your car and leave you in a bad financial situation. Even if you’re a careful driver you can be hit by others. Make sure your insurance is adequate and don’t ever take the risk of driving without car insurance. It’s always risky but during the winter it’s worse. People often drive too fast in bad road conditions and there’s not a lot you can do if you hit black ice.

Get Idaho auto insurance and other auto insurance quotes at InsuranceArm.com

As flood season approaches and with the situation in Washington state, it’s a good time to review your flood insurance policy (or get one).  We talked about asking your insurance agent detailed questions about flood insurance.

It is amazing how many people don’t know their coverage — even if they think they do. However, if a flood hits, people get to know EXACTLY what is covered as fast as possible. My advice is to prepare ahead and you’ll have more peace of mind whether or not you end up needing to make a claim.

Here are 6 questions to ask an insurance agent about flood insurance:
1.   What is covered on my property (as in my lot or land)?
2.   What is covered structurally on my house/condo?
3.   What is covered as far as my possessions that are on my property?
4.   Is temporary residence like a hotel or apartment covered if my residence is damaged?
5.   Am I covered for flooding caused by Government induced flooding or flooding caused by Government construction?
6.   Am I covered if a landslide happens as a result of a flood?

Call you insurance agent today and make sure you’re clear on what your coverage is.

In case you missed it, here’s some news coverage about the Howard Hanson Dam. There’s a lot of confusion out there about flood insurance, even among insurance agents.  Your agent should be up-do-date about flood insurance.

Again, the policies take 30 days to take effect, so if you fear flooding in your area, don’t wait. You need to learn what is included or not included should you live near the dam and we have flooding.

Washington flood insurance broker James G. Hunt, President/CEO of Bell-Anderson Agency, Inc. based in Kent, Wa was interviewed for this story.

Here’s what you should say to your WA Flood Insurance Representative

1. Don’t be satisfied with just signing up for flood insurance. You need to understand your policy and coverage in case of a flood. The cause of the flood is important.
2. Ask detailed questions of your agent and make sure you are certain on what is and what is not covered and how to document flood damage in case you have water damage.
3. Be aware that these policies usually take 30 days to go into effect so act sooner rather than later as we are getting into the winter months where precipitation typically increases.

An email was sent to all of our customers regarding Flood Insurance and the Howard Hansen Dam situation in King County, Washington.

Bell-Anderson Agency, Inc. one of Insurance Arm’s insurance companies in Kent, WA has been monitoring the situation at the Howard Hanson Dam for some time now.  There is a significant risk of flooding in the Valley.  The Army Corps of Engineers has said they may need to release water into the area while repairs are made to the Dam.  For more information on the specific issues with the Dam, I strongly encourage you to view the King County website:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan/GreenRiverValley.aspx

Last year, we sent out information on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In light of this new threat, we need to update you on the situation.

If you have purchased an NFIP policy, we encourage you to read your policy again and we are available to answer any questions about this coverage. For those of you that have yet to purchase coverage – I cannot stress enough the urgency to do so NOW. There is a 30-day waiting period to effect coverage once an application and payment is submitted to the NFIP.

Though limited in its scope and limits of coverage, the NFIP’s policies are the only policies commercially available that specifically define Flood Coverage to include “unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.  This includes the current — the intentional release of waters by the Corps of Engineers.

All non-NFIP Flood policies should obtain clarification in writing that this unique situation would be covered.  Many non-NFIP policies may contain exclusions for government-caused flooding or may rely on the fact that this incident would not be considered an Act of God.

Other coverage forms that have been commercially available to this point may not respond in the same manner.  In fact, several insurers are now canceling coverage in the middle of the policy term due to the elevated possibility of loss.  We are disappointed in these insurers to say the least.

There remains a very limited marketplace for Flood Coverage outside of the NFIP.  We expect this to become more limited in the coming weeks and the marketplace could actually cease offering Excess Flood Coverage altogether.  Again, the NFIP Flood Program will remain open.

We will keep you updated on the situation.