The deadly winter storms that descended on Texas in early 2021, following a summer of record-setting wildfires in California, have reminded many Americans of the importance of homeowners insurance. Here is some advice on how to protect yourself-from a major disaster or an everyday one. Risk From Natural Catastrophes is Increasing Many parts of the […]
How to Protect Your Home From Extreme Weather
Climate change can be a hot topic these days, but regardless of one’s views on the subject, scientists have taken an interest in how it might affect the intensity or possibility of future weather-related events. Natural disasters – whether predicted or not – expose the susceptibility and risks of our home and communities. According to […]
10 Facts You Should Know About Weather-Related Home Insurance Claims
Weather-related home insurance claims can be a whole separate ball game from other home claims. “Weather losses are always more complicated because you’ve got thousands of people experiencing losses at the same time. These events are taxing on the entire community, whereas if you have one loss, such as a water main break in your […]
Severe Weather is a Wake-Up Call to Check Your Insurance
If you’ve watched the news recently, you’ve noticed that intense storms are becoming more regular, with some catastrophic results. Whether the issue is the wind damage from a hurricane, water damage due to torrential rains, or the property damage caused by a wildfire, weather-related damage is a growing concern. The increase in severe weather means […]
Mudslide vs Landslide: What’s the Difference?
Picture the scene. Massive trees have fallen, downed electricity poles, damaged cars and other materials scattered on the ground. Every year, in all areas of the United States, both mudslides and landslides occur, leaving devastation and destruction in their path. Cincinnati regularly sees mudslides along Columbia Parkway and within the past few years, a landslide […]
What You Need to Know About Flood Insurance
Flood insurance is an important policy for most homeowners to have. But only about one in seven homeowners purchase this critical safety net to protect them from the ravages of flood water. What is Flood Insurance? Flood insurance is a specialized policy that protects your home and belongings against damage from flood waters. If you’re […]
Climate Change May Affect Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy in Two Ways
You only need to watch the news once to understand that weather events have become more dramatic over the past 10 years. According to Maryland State Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer, whether you’re talking about tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, or wildfires, “Both the number and severity of natural disasters have increased” – and so have the number […]
Everything You Need to Know About Crop Insurance
Crop insurance protects farmers and agricultural producers against the loss of crops as a result of extreme weather, like floods, hail, and drought, or the loss of revenue due to price fluctuation in the agricultural commodity market. There are two types of crop insurance available to farmers in the U.S. : crop-hail insurance, which is […]
Why Farmers Should Purchase Livestock Insurance
Farms, ranches and other businesses that raise or house livestock may lose money if the animals are injured or die due to accidents or disease. There are several types of livestock insurance and the kind of coverage you need depends on the varieties of animals you have and the purpose they serve. Farm animal insurance […]
Prevented Planting for U.S. Farmers
U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers show Ohio farmers have been hit with the state’s worse weather-prevented planting season on record in 2019. The Columbus Dispatch reports that Ohio had the highest rate nationally of acreage on which insured farmers were prevented from planting because of weather. The data shows Ohio’s 15.1% rate was followed by […]
Climate Change May Affect Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy
You only need to watch the news once to understand that weather events have become more dramatic over the past 10 years. According to Maryland State Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer, whether you’re talking about tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, or wildfires, “Both the number and severity of natural disasters have increased” – and so have the number […]
Extreme Weather, Its Effect on the Economy and You
Extreme weather is a meteorological event that falls outside the realm of normal patterns. Weather describes conditions in the Earth’s atmosphere that occur over a short period such as days. Climate describes the weather that occurs over a longer time such as decades. Climate affects weather. For example, weather in the temperate areas is more […]
Flood Insurance
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States, causing billions in economic losses each year. According to the National Flood Program (NFIP), 90% of all natural disasters in the United States involve flooding. There is no coverage for flooding in standard homeowners or renters policies or in most commercial property […]
Common Questions About Flood Insurance
Check out the answers to some common questions about flood insurance. Answers all come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). I Don’t Have Flood Insurance – Why Do I Need It? Floods are the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster and cause millions of dollars in damage every year. Floods cost America, on […]
Water Damage in Your Home
Water damage is the leading cause of property-related losses for homeowners, according to Chubb claims data. A recent Travelers report revealed similar findings. After analyzing eight years of claims data, the insurer found that 20% of homeowners claims were attributable to non-weather water issues including plumbing, sewer or appliance leaks and failures – making non-weather […]
Winter Holiday Travel Tips: 8 Good Ideas for your Trip
It can be especially stressful and arduous to travel during the winter holidays: Airports and flights are crowded. Roadways are jammed with vehicles. Snow and ice storms can delay your journey. You can’t make other people or bad weather just go away as you try to reach your destination, but you do have ways to […]
The Best Things to Do Inside During the Winter
Whether you live in a particularly cold climate or you’re just dealing with fewer hours of daylight, wintertime often means spending a lot of time inside. While staying indoors can often feel boring and repetitive, there are actually plenty of fun things you can do to pass the time inside on a cold winter day. […]
What if a tree falls on my house? My car? My fence?
Trees are beautiful. Tall. Majestic. Green. And also very, very heavy. Which is why if a tree falls in the direction of your house it’s terrifying. Trees have the power to cause some pretty serious damage to your home—they’re not picky about which way they fall if a sudden storm or wind gust pops up. […]
Flooding: Know Your Risk
What Flooding is an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods can happen during heavy rains, when ocean waves come on shore, when snow melts too fast, or when dams or levees break. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. […]
Winter Tire Tips
Do You Need Winter Tires? You know it’s coming. Snow and slush. Freezing rain. Maybe even black ice. But do you know if your tires are ready for all of that? When driving in Ohio, in the wintertime, your tires just might be the most important safety feature on your car. The right ones can […]