Flood Insurance? I Don’t Live in a Flood Zone

Here’s the thing… Mother Nature decides whether you live in a flood zone or not. Given the right conditions, she can make it flood anywhere at any time. Not even Meteorologists can be 100% correct on the weather, especially if you live in Texas. It can snow in the morning and by the afternoon the snow has melted leaving a soggy mess.  Luckily, the quick melting snow didn't cause flooding this year… Next year could be different. This is the very reason why you need  Flood Insurance because a little water can cause big damage. 

While you can purchase Flood Insurance at any time, in most cases, there is a 30 day waiting period between the time of purchase to the time your coverage begins. Having Flood Insurance is having one less thing to worry about when it comes to your home and possessions that you've worked so hard for. Flood Insurance is an option for you and can be affordable whether you own a home, a business or you are renting.

Knowing what your flood risk may be is important in determining whether you are in a High Risk Zone or a Low-to-Moderate Risk Zone. If you live in a High Risk Zone your home or business would be more likely to be effected by a flood. In a Low-to-Moderate Risk Zone your chances of being effected by a flood are lower. Even if you don’t live in a High Risk Zone, I think it's important to know that The National Flood Insurance Program states that 25% of flood insurance claims come from those in Low-to-moderate Risk Zones.

Do you need to be concerned about flood damage if you already have Homeowners Insurance?  Absolutely! Most Homeowners Insurance policies typically cover hurricanes, tornadoes and fires but flood damage is most likely not covered. Give me a call so we can get started on finding the Flood Insurance that best fits you for your home and/or business. 

Put Your Phone Down and Drive

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Wow... Is it really that big of an issue to have an entire month dedicated to distracted driving awareness? The more I think about it, yes, when I'm driving I do notice people on their phones and they are not usually talking. Smart phones have given us the ability to be up to date with ‘virtually’ everything every minute of the day and so most of us take advantage of the cyber world, driving or not. 

Recently, the Texas Department of Transportation issued a campaign called, “Talk/Text CRASH” to raise awareness of the dangers of texting and driving. The purpose for this campaign is to urge Texans to put their cell phones away and concentrate on the road. I’m sure everyone has seen the, “YOU TEXT. YOU TALK. YOU CRASH” and the, “DRIVE NOW. TALK OR TEXT LATER,” signs on the highways.  Or… maybe you've been too distracted with other things besides driving and didn't notice these signs. These signs are apart of the campaign.

TxDOT estimates that over 100,000 crashes last year were attributed to driver’s not having their complete attention on the road while driving. That’s just in Texas. While texting is not the only cause of distractions while driving, it is the easiest to detect. The National Safety Council found that there is not a safe way to use a cell phone while driving. The SMARTest thing we can do is cut out the distraction by putting your phone away and concentrate on driving.

So please, put your phones down and drive. For your safety and the safety of others, just drive! If a situation arises and you absolutely have to use your phone, pull over. With the rising numbers of accidents and deaths because of distractions while driving, don’t chance it.  Life is too precious so leave the LOL’s (laughing out loud), TBH’s (to be honest) and SMH’s (shaking my head) until you’re not driving, 4COL (for crying out loud).  There should be an automatic reply of DND (do not disturb) when you receive a text while you’re driving. I wonder if there's an app for that. 

Roadside Safety – 101

It’s never fun to have car issues and be stuck on the side of the road. No one has time for that. Seems we are all always in a hurry and being on the side of the road is never on the list and can be flat out annoying. If you do get stuck, make sure to be and stay as safe as possible. Your safety and the safety of those in the car should be your main concern.  

Here’s a few tips to help when you are up against a roadside annoyance… I mean emergency:

1. Move as far away from the road as possible.  If at all possible, look for an emergency lane, exit, rest stop or a parking lot.  You never want to pull over or stop in hard to see places like over hills, bridges, blind corners and narrow roads. If none of these are an option, at least try to get to the right shoulder and out of the flow of traffic.  

2. Turn your hazard’s on. This will help alert other drivers to move over if possible.

3. Stay in your car until you’re out of traffic. Do not get out of your car if you are stuck in traffic.  In this situation, stay in your car and wait for Roadside Assistance. (We’ll talk about that in a bit.)

4. Get out of your vehicle.  Only if the coast is clear and you can exit safely, then get out of the car. Whatever side has the least or no traffic is the side you want to pick to exit on. You are better off climbing over to the passenger side and getting out that way if there’s heavy traffic on the driver’s side.

5. Set flares out or reflective triangles. This will make you more visible to oncoming traffic. If you don’t have flares or reflective triangles, you can raise the hood of your car to indicate you are having car issue and could use some help.

6. Give Farmers Roadside Assistance a call. You can call Farmers Roadside Assistance 24/7 at 800-435-7764 and someone will be happy to get you help. It’s a good idea to put the number in your phone instead of having to track it down in an emergency situation.

7. Have an emergency supply kit in your car at all times. It’s always a good idea to be prepared. Always have a first aid kit in your car. A blanket, flashlight, snacks and some water are great things to keep on hand. Fix-a flat, tools and a spare tire could always come in handy if you blow out a tire or have a flat.

8. Stay calm. It won’t do anyone any good to panic. Stay calm and follow the steps above and all will be fine.

In a roadside emergency it is key to keep yourself and anyone in your vehicle safe. Follow these steps and you should be just fine. 

Ask and You Could Receive Lower Premiums

Several factors go into play for setting up premiums for car insurance. Your agent will need to check out your driving record, what kind of car you drive, how safe the car you drive is, your occupation… These components, and a few more, are what needs to be taken into consideration when figuring out what sort of premiums you will have.

Let’s talk about your driving record and how it can help with your premium. Good thing, if you are a safe driver, Farmers has a safe driver discount. The longer you go without any accident’s or moving violations, the lower your premium will be.

Are you looking into buying a new car? Make sure to check out the Top Safety Picks List¹.   This list will help you pinpoint those vehicles that are considered safe and could also lead to a lower premium. Vehicles that have safety features (anti-lock brakes, security system, air bags, automatic seat belts) could help with savings on your premium. Safety for your family and possible lower rates? Not a bad deal.

Teenage driver in the house? How can there possibly be a way to cut cost for that? Well, I’m glad you asked because there is! Good students can account for a policy discount.  If they live away at school, that can also bring a discount as well. You can set up a separate plan for them, but your chances to get a discount are better when you add them to the family plan.

 
Purchasing multiple polices could also result in additional discounts. Add home, multiple vehicles, an RV and you could save on premiums that way as well.  Even a life insurance policy will add to your savings.

Are you a nurse, teacher, firefighter, or a doctor? These occupations and a variety of others could also provide added discounts and bring down your premium. 

You can also choose to go with a higher deductible. Monthly premiums will be lower but it will also mean that in case of an accident, your out of pocket will be higher.

It’s always a good idea to review your insurance annually. Farmers offers a Farmers Friendly Review® where an annual reminder is sent to you, reminding you to meet with your agent to review your policy or policies and make sure your coverage is still a good fit. It also is an opportunity to check and see if there are any new discounts to offer as well.  If there is ever a life changing event, as in a marriage or sending a child off to college, please do not hesitate to call and we can set an appointment to review your insurance at that time as well.

¹ Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Top Safety Picks. The Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.