While tornados are less likely to occur in the Northeast, Massachusetts sees on average one or two touch down annually, so tornado warnings should be taken very seriously! They are crucial indicators of potential danger and demand immediate action to ensure the safety of individuals in their path. At Stephen Benjamin Insurance Agency, we understand the significance of tornado warnings and aim to provide our clients with the necessary information to protect themselves and their property.
Tornadoes, with their destructive power and unpredictable nature, can cause severe damage within a matter of minutes. To minimize the potential risks associated with these natural disasters, it is essential to be well-prepared and educated about tornado warnings. Here are a few key points to consider:
1. Understanding Tornado Warnings
Tornado warnings are issued when a tornado is either observed visually or detected by weather radar. These warnings are prioritized by meteorological agencies to alert individuals in the affected areas. It is important to have access to reliable sources of weather information, such as local news channels, weather apps, or NOAA Weather Radio, to stay informed about any tornado warnings in your vicinity.
2. Taking Immediate Action
Upon receiving a tornado warning, it is vital to take immediate action to ensure personal safety. The first step is to seek shelter in a sturdy, interior room on the lowest level of your home, such as a basement or a windowless bathroom. If you are outside or in a mobile home, it is crucial to find a nearby sturdy building to take shelter in. Remember to stay away from windows, as flying debris are a significant hazard during tornadoes.
3. Preparing an Emergency Kit
Preparing an emergency kit in advance can make a significant difference in the face of a tornado warning. Your kit should include essential supplies like non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, and a portable weather radio. It is also advisable to have a plan in place for your family, including a designated meeting point and a designated person to contact in case of separation.
4. Reviewing Insurance Coverage
Ensuring that you have appropriate insurance coverage is crucial to protect your property in the event of a tornado. Review your homeowner's insurance policy to understand the extent of your coverage and consider additional policies, such as flood insurance or windstorm coverage, if you reside in a tornado-prone region. At Stephen Benjamin Insurance Agency, we are committed to helping our clients navigate their insurance options to provide the necessary coverage to meet our clients needs.
For more tornado information and safety tips click here.
Leave the RMV headaches to us... We offer in-house RMV services!
Who has time to stand in line at the RMV? And even if you do have the time… who wants to? No one! Let us do the standing in line for you. For our Massachusetts auto clients, we offer several MA Registry of Motor Vehicles services. Contact us today and we’ll take care of everything from assisting with the paperwork to the waiting!
Many of our clients take advantage of “one-stop shopping” for their auto-related errands. And while we cannot handle all transactions associated with the RMV - such as driver’s license transactions, we can process most of your vehicle or license plate needs.
New Plates
Plate Transfers
Plate Renewals
Plate Returns
Our registry runner service will save you plenty of time and headache. Plus, we’ll make sure you have all the necessary paperwork in order before it goes to minimize failed transactions.
For more information on our Mass registry services, please contact our office!
What is umbrella insurance and do I need it?
Umbrella insurance works very much like an umbrella you would use to keep the rain away. It extends the protection your home or auto affords. A personal umbrella policy provides liability insurance over and above your primary insurance policy limits, such as homeowners and auto. It’s used when you are found liable for a claim that exceeds the limits of your underlying policies.
Let’s tackle a few questions about umbrella insurance coverage to clear up some common misconceptions.
What does umbrella insurance cover?
Bodily injury liability covers the cost of injuries to another person
Property damage liability covers the cost of damage or loss to another person's tangible property
Other personal liability covers other actions a policyholder could be sued for, such as:
Slander (an injurious spoken statement)
Libel (an injurious written statement)
False arrest, detention, or imprisonment
Malicious prosecution
Mental anguish or shock
What are some examples of when you may need an umbrella policy?
You cause a 10-car accident and your auto insurance property damage coverage isn’t high enough to replace all 10 accident victims' vehicles. Nor is your personal liability coverage high enough to pay for their medical bills.
You send sandwiches to your son’s school for a field trip lunch. Several students develop food poisoning and their parents sue you.
Have a pool in your backyard? Say you host a backyard BBQ and a neighbor who can’t swim ends up in the deep end. Your homeowners insurance liability limit alone might not be high enough to cover all of the medical or legal costs from this incident.
Your child gets in a fight at school and breaks another kid’s arm. The parents of the injured child sue.
So do I really need umbrella insurance?
As a general rule, you should purchase umbrella insurance if the total value of your assets, including ordinary checking and savings accounts, retirement and college savings and investment accounts, and home equity is greater than the limits of your auto or homeowner's liability. The idea behind this advice is that you want to have enough liability insurance to fully cover your assets so you can’t lose them in a lawsuit.
A second piece to consider is “Am I at risk of being sued?” and the answer here is that while yes, everyone is, especially in the lawsuit happy world we live in, however some may be more at risk than others. If you own property and rent it out, if you employ household staff, have a trampoline or a hot tub, or swimming pool, if you often host large parties, have teenage drivers, or if you are a well known public figure, all of these types of activities can put you more at risk.
Ok, so what is it going to cost me?
Compared to other types of insurance, umbrella coverage is quite affordable. As far as the “Bang for your buck” factor goes - umbrellas are tough to beat! The Insurance Information Institute says most $1 million policies cost $150 to $300 per year. You can expect to pay about $75 more per year for $2 million in coverage, and another $50 per year for every extra $1 million in coverage beyond that. Most insurance companies’ umbrella liability policies start at $1 million in coverage, with higher limits available.
Why is umbrella insurance so cheap? It’s partly because you have to carry plenty of homeowner's and auto insurance before an insurance company will issue you an umbrella policy. You’ll need to carry certain liability coverage available under your homeowner's and auto policies before you can purchase an umbrella policy.
What doesn’t an umbrella policy cover?
Damage to your own property. Remember, it’s a liability policy, so it will only cover you if you’re held responsible for damage to someone else’s property.
Damage that you or a covered member of your household cause on purpose. If you deliberately pushed your party guest down the stairs, umbrella insurance wouldn’t cover the costs of the lawsuit or judgment (and neither would your homeowner's insurance).
Liability incurred in business or professional activities. You’ll need business liability insurance to cover these incidents.
If you have questions about your liability coverage and whether or not you need umbrella insurance, please contact our office. We’d be happy to review your current policies and situation to help you weigh the costs and potential benefits of this coverage.
How to Prepare for Extreme Cold
With the upcoming deep freeze heading towards New England we encourage you to be prepared for the extreme cold, however short lived in may be! Here are some tips to consider as we head into this weekend.
Drain outside faucets and use insulated faucet covers
Keep cabinet doors open to let warm air circulate around the pipes under sinks and adjacent to outside walls
Turn on all faucets at a slow drip to keep water moving and to prevent pressure from rising
Set the thermostat no lower than 65 degrees. And don’t turn your heat down at night! You want to maintain your heat throughout the night when this cold weather hits. Depending on what type of heating system you have, when you turn your thermostat down at night your heat system won’t cycle for a while and during that down period the heat lines can freeze.
If you have an attached garage, keep the doors shut except for during exit and entry. Garages (and the pipes in them) get colder than you might expect!
If you’re leaving your property for an extended period of time, consider shutting off the main water supply line and winterizing your appliances. A licensed, fully insured plumber can perform this work for you. Additionally, keep your heat on and ask someone to check on your property regularly.
Know the locations of your water mains and supply lines. Mark them so they can be easily shut down in the event of an emergency, such as a burst pipe or structural damage.
Remember that if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented and wind up lost. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.
Problematic Pests - Protect Your Home, Especially in Winter!
It’s the time of year to be cozy here in New England. With temperatures plummeting and snow on the ground, you might be spending a lot of time inside your home. It’s only logical that in this time of year we see an increase in some unwanted house guests: rodents and insects who also want to start warm in the winter months! From mice to termites to squirrels, all types of creatures can make their way into your house during the winter — leaving a trail of destruction. Let’s talk about how you can keep your home pest-free this winter.
Winter Pest Problems
Pests can cause problems in a home any time of year but winter is a very common time for them to do so. Why?
Those that don’t hibernate are searching for food and shelter in the winter months, both of which they can easily find in your home. You want to be warm and toasty indoors, so do they!
When you brought live greenery inside for the holiday season, like wreaths and trees, did you inspect it for the spiders, moths, and other pests that like to nest in greens?
That fireplace sure is cozy! But you should leave the firewood outside unless you inspect it for pests before bringing it indoors.
In addition to food and shelter, with the dry air, pests are searching for moisture. Just like us, pests and insects need water to survive and they can often find it in your bathroom or kitchen.
Potential Dangers of House Pests
Aside from the fact that pests indoors are simply a nuisance and are invading your personal space, there are serious threats they pose to you and your family that go beyond headaches.
Structural damage - Lots of cold weather pests like rats and raccoons can cause serious structural damage to walls and electrical wiring as they gnaw through a house looking for food or warmth.
Spreading disease - Mice and and other pests can carry diseases like Hantavirus and Salmonella which will make family members sick if contracted.
Mess - Even if the problem doesn’t escalate to structural damage or disease, rodents are still capable of creating a big mess for you to clean up. It’s not fun to find animal droppings in your belongings or torn-through items.
If you ever suspect an infestation of any kind of pest, you should call a professional exterminator immediately.
Here are some steps you can take to be proactive in preventing a pest problem this winter:
Take out the trash as often as you can.
Keep food sealed in air-tight containers.
Clean up food and beverage messes, including crumbs and residue, immediately after spills or cooking.
Check for vulnerable spots around your house. Even the smallest of openings are easy access points for pests.
Seal gaps, cracks, and holes around the house. Install weather stripping around windows and doors. Seal interior holes and gaps with good quality caulking or protective sealent.
Check for broken vents on the home’s exterior. Repair any loose siding or shingles.
If you have a chimney, consider a chimney cap to stop creatures from entering from above.
Clean gutters regularly to avoid pooling water—the perfect breeding ground for some insects.
Keep areas clear of clutter where mice and other creatures like to hide. It’s time to clean out those closets!
Follow the preventative measures we’ve provided above and if these critters still manage to make their way into your living space, take immediate action.