Personal Insurance

Flood Awareness – FEMA Mobile App

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September is National Preparedness Month, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has launched a mobile device app that will notify Americans with weather alerts, safety tips, how to prepare for an emergency, and it will even list shelters that are open in your area. With South Carolina having just endured hurricane Hermine, remember that we are still in hurricane season until November 30th, so if you are in a high flood zone area and/or coastal county, this is the app you should keep on your phone. Our tip to you: Receiving early notification is critical to how well you can prepare for the future.

 

RECOVERING AFTER A FLOOD

From the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) website: www.floodsmart.gov

The Road to Recovery

As soon as floodwater levels have dropped, it’s time to start the recovery process. Here’s what you can do to begin restoring your home.
•If your home has suffered damage, call your insurance agent to file a claim.
•Check for structural damage before re-entering your home to avoid being trapped in a building collapse.
•Take photos of any floodwater in your home and save any damaged personal property.
•Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their purchase date and value with receipts, and place with the inventory you took prior to the flood. Some damaged items may require disposal, so keep photographs of these items.
•Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety.
•Boil water for drinking and food preparation until authorities tell you that your water supply is safe.
•Prevent mold by removing wet contents immediately.
•Wear gloves and boots to clean and disinfect. Wet items should be cleaned with a pine-oil cleanser and bleach, completely dried, and monitored for several days for any fungal growth and odors.

LEARN HOW TO FILE A FLOOD CLAIM>>

Recovering After A Flood

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From the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) website: www.floodsmart.gov

The Road to Recovery

As soon as floodwater levels have dropped, it’s time to start the recovery process. Here’s what you can do to begin restoring your home.
•If your home has suffered damage, call your insurance agent to file a claim.
•Check for structural damage before re-entering your home to avoid being trapped in a building collapse.
•Take photos of any floodwater in your home and save any damaged personal property.
•Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their purchase date and value with receipts, and place with the inventory you took prior to the flood. Some damaged items may require disposal, so keep photographs of these items.
•Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety.
•Boil water for drinking and food preparation until authorities tell you that your water supply is safe.
•Prevent mold by removing wet contents immediately.
•Wear gloves and boots to clean and disinfect. Wet items should be cleaned with a pine-oil cleanser and bleach, completely dried, and monitored for several days for any fungal growth and odors.

LEARN HOW TO FILE A FLOOD CLAIM>>

Umbrellas in Sunny August

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“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.”
― Vladimir Nabokov

Conceptually speaking, your ordinary wire canvased umbrella is an extremely well designed tool for protecting you on rainy days, and that is exactly why the insurance industry coined the word when naming what is known as umbrella insurance. Characteristically, umbrella insurance adds an additional layer of liability protection to your existing insurance, and as its name suggests, an umbrella policy can even guard against insurance gaps that your primary insurance will never cover.

Quite frankly, when it rains, it pours, and when it pours, an umbrella policy shields you against the financial burden of exhaustive lawsuits. As your underlying liability limits run out of funds, all of your hard earned assets are now at risk for becoming financial fodder to pay legal settlements. This includes your car, your house, any retirement accounts, vacation/rental homes, watercrafts, any businesses, and it even includes the future income you intend to earn from your assets. So when considering what is really at risk, an umbrella policy becomes an extraordinarily powerful financial planning tool to ensure that your investments are there for you in the future.

At Taylor Agency, we understand what “rain” insurance can do for you, and we want you to know it is available for you. According to the TrustedChoice© Independent Agent website, the standard $1 million to $2 million protection offered by an umbrella policy costs an average of $380 per year. From our perspective, that qualifies as the cheapest lawyer you will ever retain, so let us put our professional insurance agents on your team and see what real value we can offer you in protecting your financial future.

-Taylor Agency

As a TrustedChoice© Independent Insurance Agent, we pledge that you are a person and not a policy. Call us and experience the difference. If you would like to learn more about umbrella insurance online, visit the trusted choice website here.

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Vandalism

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When unexpected damages occur to your home and your emotions are running high, it is important to remember that time is of the essence. Your first priority after reporting any claim is to immediately curtail any further damage to your property. If the damage is substantial, make sure to ask your insurance carrier if using a disaster restoration company is the best option to help you during the recovery/claims process. If approved, most restoration companies will work directly with your carrier to make sure you recapture your peace of mind.

In part three of a three part series, here is some practical advice from the team over at ServiceMaster Clean Restoration on what to do when mitigating vandalism damage to your home.

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Vandalism

What NOT to Do:

  • Do not use household cleaning products on fabrics, upholstery, or carpets.
  • Do not attempt to remove chemical stains, including ink or paint.
  • Do not operate damaged electrical appliances.

What to Do:

  • Make a list of all damage while taking detailed photos for documentation.
  • Keep the receipts for all of your costs during the recovery process.
  • Fast action is most likely required to prevent further damage. If approved, call a professional.
  • Use a shop vacuum to remove glass particles from carpet and upholstery.
  • Remove any debris from carpet or interior walls. Scrape or blot carpets and furniture – do NOT rub.
  • Wash any egg or other residues from the building exterior using water.

If you need to report a claim and want a list of disaster recovery companies in the Greater Charleston-Metro Area, click HERE.

 

-Taylor Agency

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Smoke/Fire

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When unexpected damages occur to your home and your emotions are running high, it is important to remember that time is of the essence. Your first priority after reporting any claim is to immediately curtail any further damage to your property. If the damage is substantial, make sure to ask your insurance carrier if using a disaster restoration company is the best option to help you during the recovery/claims process. If approved, most restoration companies will work directly with your carrier to make sure you recapture your peace of mind.

In part two of a three part series, here is some practical advice from the team over at ServiceMaster Clean Restoration on what to do when mitigating smoke & fire damage to your home.

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Smoke/Fire

What NOT to Do:

  • Do not touch anything with your bare hands. Oil from your hands can permeate upholstery, walls, and woodwork, thus causing additional damage.
  • Do not wash walls. Incorrect cleaning could compound the soot residue.
  • Do not attempt to clean carpets or upholstered furniture.
  • Do not use electrical appliances until having them checked.
  • Do not use ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet.

What to Do:

  • Take detailed photos and keep receipts for all of your costs during the recovery process.
  • Corrosive byproducts can cause irreversible etching in as few as 72 hours. If approved, call a professional.
  • If the temperature is above 60 degrees, air out the house to reduce smoke odor.
  • Clean Formica, chrome, porcelain, and aluminum fixtures to prevent tarnishing or etching.
  • Change the air filter on your furnace if it uses forced hot air.
  • Tape damp cheesecloth over returns and supply registers to capture loose soot in the air.
  • Discard any open food packages.
  • If the electricity is off, clean out the refrigerator and leave doors propped open.
  • Send clothing with heavy smoke damage to a qualified restoration dry cleaner.

If you need to report a claim and want a list of disaster recovery companies in the Greater Charleston-Metro Area, click HERE.

 

-Taylor Agency

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Water

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When unexpected damages occur to your home and your emotions are running high, it is important to remember that time is of the essence. Your first priority after reporting any claim is to immediately curtail any further damage to your property. If the damage is substantial, make sure to ask your insurance carrier if using a disaster restoration company is your best option to aid you during the recovery/claims process. If approved, most restoration companies will work directly with your carrier to make sure you recapture your peace of mind.

In part one of a three part series, here is some practical advice from the team over at ServiceMaster Clean Restoration on what to do when mitigating water damage to your home.

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Water

What NOT to Do:

  • Do not enter a room with standing water until electricity has been turned off.
  • Do not use a regular household vacuum to remove water.
  • Do not lift tacked-down carpet without professional help.
  • Do not use electrical appliances while on web carpet or flooring.
  • Do not disturb visible mold.

What to Do:

  • Take detailed photos and keep receipts for all of your costs during the recovery process.
  • Damage from water and bacteria growth can begin within hours. If approved, call a professional.
  • Remove as much water as possible by mopping and blotting.
  • Remove wet area rugs or other floor coverings not permanently attached. Do not attempt to start removing your wall-to-wall carpet.
  • Lift draperies off the floor, loop through a coat hanger, and place the hanger on the drapery rod.
  • Wipe furniture, prop up wet furniture cushions for even drying, and place aluminum foil under furniture legs.
  • Move photos, paintings, and art objects to a safe, dry location.
  • Do not remove books from shelves. Rather pack them tightly to prevent warping of pages until a restoration professional can begin this specialized drying.

If you need to report a claim and want a list of disaster recovery companies in the Greater Charleston-Metro Area, click HERE.

 

-Taylor Agency