 Last month The Weather Channel called Lake Charles "The most weather-battered city in America" and they weren't kidding!
2 major hurricanes last year, an ice storm/freeze and flooding this year and now there's a disturbance in the Gulf that has everyone on edge. From what we can gather, we here in SW LA, will undoubtedly get a bunch of rain and hopefully not more than that. Although, a repeat of May's torrential deluge would certainly be no picnic for us but please, don't panic people. In our last post, we discussed some things to help you relax and stay calm during the upcoming Hurricane Season. This is one of many posts here on our blog that offers tips, tricks and advice on many things Weather and Insurance related. So grab a snack, follow the links in each post and read on so that you'll be as prepared as possible to handle whatever Mother Nature throws at us. Until next time, take care and remember.... Organization is key to any plan, especially in case of evacuation. Tommy Curtis and Staff  The National Hurricane Center is considering changing Hurricane Season from June 1 to May 15th. You’ve got to be kidding me – Right!?! Let’s face it, many of us haven’t fully recovered from 2020 hurricanes and now, as if we don’t have enough to fret about, the powers that be in the Weather Center want to add 2 more weeks of hurricane worry upon us. RELAX.
Regardless of when the National Hurricane Center states hurricane season starts or ends, there is no need to panic or fear. Being prepared and having a plan, however, is imperative. We may not be able to control Mother Nature, but here are some things you can do… Have an Evacuation Plan. No matter if the storm hits east or west of us, having an evacuation plan in place helps alleviates the stress of leaving. Review Your Home or Renters and Flood Insurance Policy ahead of time. Understanding your policy coverage, deductibles and limitations makes you a responsible homeowner/renter. Take pictures or a video of your home, contents, sheds or outbuildings, and yard helps you be more organized if you have to file a claim. Include pictures of closets and drawers, dishes, pots, silverware – everything! Many folks lose out on valuable reimbursement without proper documentation of what you own – especially those who have total or near-total losses. Have items in storage? Have pictures and an inventory list of those too as a percentage of your contents coverage extends to these things. It is especially important to record any existing damage on your home! If you happen to get caught with a new claim, this will help you and your insurance company from butting heads over details between claims. Keep a travel kit ready. A single suitcase or tote or briefcase with policies (including life, health and auto), Vet Records, Kid’s immunization records, Medications and/or a list of medications (include dosage!), Allergies, legal documents that may be important if you or a family member becomes ill or dies during evacuation, etc. saves you from having to think about these things when preparing to evacuate. Find more ideas on what to bring with you or have on hand if you decide not to evacuate in this post. Other important things we learned during 2020 hurricanes can be found HERE and more tips for travelling smart are listed in THIS blog post. Hopefully we’ve provided you enough information in this and other posts to help ease the stress of travelling or evacuating. Until next time, take care and remember…. Preparation is the key to success. Tommy Curtis and Staff  Well, August is half over and it’s hot, hot, hot! To say it’s been quite a year, is an understatement, yet, here we are…
Summer is drawing to an end and kids are returning to school so, please be careful of those young drivers out there! There’s still plenty of fun in the sun to be had though, so check out our safety tips. Hurricane season is nearly half over but we’re not out of the woods yet. If you haven’t reviewed your Home Insurance policy, now would be a good time to do so. Now is also a good time to get that Flood policy in place. There is a standard 30 day wait on flood insurance, so don’t put it off any longer – give us a call today!  We’re in our second month of Hurricane season and I am forever amazed at some of the phone calls we receive for home insurance. Although we have discussed understanding home insurance in detail, binding restrictions, riders and endorsements, have FAQ’s and have covered policy discounts, many people aren’t aware of the guidelines and regulations regarding a home insurance policy.
Here are a few things to consider before calling us, or anyone, for a home insurance quote….  Due to the stay-home orders which have been in place for months now, insurance companies are receiving several claims from not unusual, but uncommon, damages. This led to some important information you need to know to help keep your home safe.
Although Fire Safety was covered in our Jan. 2018 blog post, we need to reiterate some of that information here, mainly, keeping the batteries changed in your smoke detectors. One of the biggest sources of fires outside of winter months are candles. Therefore, it is imperative you do not leave candles burning unattended! Also, keep candles away from drapes, towels, rugs, and other flammable items. Another cause of fire claims lately – Dryer Vents. Dust and Lint are fire hazards so keeping your dryer vent clean and clog-free will help alleviate heat build-up which could result in a fire.  *Image by Larisa Koshkina from Pixabay Bet the title of this post has you wondering what that old adage about the weather has to do with Insurance.
Lots! Brought on by Spring storms, March winds can mean anything from a gentle breeze to huge gusts to tornadoes. April showers sometimes mean flooding and those May flowers for June brides lend to thoughts of insuring your love.  If you call for a home, mobile home, or flood policy or to add comprehensive and/or collision insurance to your auto policy and are told no because the company is under binding restrictions, it may confuse or even irritate you.
What in the world are binding restrictions and why do insurance companies implement them?  Image by Plume Ploume from Pixabay You’re not quite ready to buy but anxious to be out on your own, and have finally found the perfect place to rent. Your lease agreement says you must maintain ‘Renters’ or ‘Contents’ insurance. You call your agent and purchase the coverage, but don’t fully understand what you’ve got.
Renters or contents coverage offers many of the same features as home insurance. Hopefully you’ll get a better understanding of your policy from this post. |
Tommy Curtis
Is an insurance agent with integrity and your best interest in mind. Call to speak directly to him. Contact us Phone: 337-433-1683 Address: 509 7th Street Lake Charles, LA 70601 Office Hours: M-F 9a - 5p (CST) Follow Us
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