Are you ready for winter?

It’s that time again, winter is coming.  Not only does that mean cooler temperatures, hunting season, and the holidays, it also means harsh weather, flu season, and the possibility of snow or ice.  Are you prepared for winter?  Although the season officially begins on December 22, cool weather begins much sooner.  Take these steps to make sure that you’re ready for all that winter throws at you.

Winterize your home.  Replace damaged weather stripping around doors and windows, insulate exposed pipes, and clean out gutters.  Check your heat.  Have your heating system cleaned and serviced by a professional to ensure that it is working and ventilated properly.  Clean out fireplaces and chimneys, and test batteries in smoke detectors.  It is also a good idea to install a carbon monoxide detector.  This colorless, odorless gas is deadly, and is produced by appliances that use natural gas, LP gas, oil, kerosene, coal, or wood.  It is important to ensure that such appliances are properly ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.  The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and confusion.

Prepare an emergency kit in case of a weather emergency or power outage.  Include food that does not need refrigeration, water, batteries, a flashlight, radio, first-aid kit, and extra medicine. 

Now that you’re prepared for winter inside, take these steps to stay safe outdoors during winter.  Wear layers of light, warm clothing, mittens, hats, scarves, and waterproof boots.  Avoid traveling when the weather service has issued advisories, inform family of travel plans and expected time of arrival, and carry a cell phone.  Make sure your car is ready for winter, too.  Service the radiator and refill antifreeze if the level is low, check to make sure the tread of your tires has not worn down, and use a wintertime formula in your windshield washer.  Keep a winter emergency kit in your car that includes an ice scraper, blankets, food, water, jumper cables, a compass, maps, and a flashlight.  If you are ever stranded in your car due to winter weather, run the engine and heater for only ten minutes every hour, keep a downwind window open, and make sure that the tailpipe is not blocked.  Stay visible by putting bright cloth on the antenna, turning on the overhead light while the engine is running, and opening the hood once snow stops falling. 

During a winter emergency, check on neighbors and family who are especially vulnerable to cold weather, such as young children, the elderly, and the chronically ill.  Bring pets inside if possible; if not, provide them with a warm shelter and unfrozen water to drink. 

Winter will be here before you know it.  Follow these steps to prepare for winter, and you will be safe and comfortable when it arrives. 

Race for the Cure

Saturday, the staff of Barry Insurance will participate in Race for the Cure, an event inspired by Susan G. Komen’s battle with breast cancer.  This incredible foundation has brought breast cancer from an over-looked and little talked about condition to a monumental movement made up of a network of survivors and supporters.  The Susan G Komen Race for the Cure has done more for breast cancer research than any other non-profit organization.  The following information was taken from komen.org, to provide some background information about this extraordinary foundation.

“Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1.9 billion since inception in 1982. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure®, and generous contributions from our partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, we have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.”

The legacy that Susan G. Komen began continues this weekend in Texarkana.  Each year the event grows stronger, and at Barry Insurance we're excited to be a part of it.  We look forward to seeing you at Race for the Cure on Saturday.  We’ll be there bright and early; stop by our booth and see us!

The Dangers of Extreme Heat

It’s hot.  Very hot.  And while most of us will agree that such extreme heat is unpleasant, it’s also dangerous.  For those who work outside, it can even be deadly.  Both workers and employers should be extra cautious about health and safety in such times of extreme heat.  Illness from heat can rack up costly Worker’s Compensation claims and missed work time if the proper precautions are not taken.  The information below about illnesses caused by heat, and precautions that can be taken to guard against them, was taken from the Center for Disease Control’s  website. 

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Have you ever been working in your yard on a hot day, and decided to cool yourself off by spraying yourself down with the water hose?  Instantly, you feel cooler, and even the faintest breeze cools you down dramatically.  Sweating is essentially the body’s way of naturally spraying you down with a hose when there isn’t one around. 

When a person’s body temperature becomes too high, the body sweats so that the water on the skin can evaporate and cool the body.  However, when conditions are too humid for the sweat to evaporate effectively, workers become hot and tired more easily. “Alertness and mental capacity also may be affected. Workers who must perform delicate or detailed work may find their accuracy suffering, and others may find their comprehension and retention of information lowered.”

Heat can often result in safety problems, as hot workers face accidents due factors such as sweaty palms, dizziness, or the fogging of safety glasses, as well as irritability.

Heat Stroke

The most dangerous result of overheating is heat stroke.  When a person becomes overly hot, and loses large amounts of fluid by sweating, heat exhaustion can occur due to excessive loss of salt.  Symptoms include extreme weakness, fatigue, digginess, nausea, and/or headache. 

When a person suffering from heat exhaustion’s conditions worsens, heat stroke may occur.  “A heat stroke victim's skin is hot, usually dry, red or spotted. Body temperature is usually 105°F or higher, and the victim is mentally confused, delirious, perhaps in convulsions, or unconscious. Unless the victim receives quick and appropriate treatment, death can occur.”

“Any person with signs or symptoms of heat stroke requires immediate hospitalization. However, first aid should be immediately administered. This includes removing the victim to a cool area, thoroughly soaking the clothing with water, and vigorously fanning the body to increase cooling.”

Drink water, and lots of it!

“In the course of a day's work in the heat, a worker may produce as much as 2 to 3 gallons of sweat. Because so many heat disorders involve excessive dehydration of the body, it is essential that water intake during the workday be about equal to the amount of sweat produced. Most workers exposed to hot conditions drink less fluids than needed because of an insufficient thirst drive. A worker, therefore, should not depend on thirst to signal when and how much to drink. Instead, the worker should drink 5 to 7 ounces of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes to replenish the necessary fluids in the body.”

Source:  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/86-112/

Could your "hobbies" be considered an in-home business?

A friend of mine once worked with a man who had a great hobby:  restoring old furniture.  Out in his detached garage he would work for hours each evening, perfecting antique furniture that people brought him to restore.  He even made a good bit of money while doing it. 

What he didn’t realize, was that his “hobby” was actually an in-home business.  Moreover, because his business was conducted in a detached garage, none of that antique furniture would have been covered by his homeowners insurance policy in the event of a loss.  He could have been liable for antique furniture worth thousands of dollars.

Could your “hobby” be considered an in-home business?  If you make money with your hobby, it might be.  Some examples could be having frequent and regular garage sales, selling items frequently on Ebay, in home day-cares or classes, etc. 

If your hobby brings in extra income, it could be considered an in-home business.  Often, all that is needed for such a venture is an endorsement on your homeowners policy.  Don’t take the risk of exposing yourself to a loss that may not be covered with a standard homeowners policy.  Give us a call today to make sure that all of your “hobbies” are covered!

Tornado Safety

Spring is here!  And while that means sunshine and warm weather are on their way, it also means that the possibility of tornadoes is coming, too.  Prepare yourself and your family by reviewing the following information from FEMA.gov.

Tornadoes are dangerous weather phenomenon, and at times may strike quickly, with little or no warning.  In the South, they are most common from March through May, and generally move southwest to northeast.  The majority of tornadoes occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., and may not be easily visible due to cloud cover, rain, or lack of dust and debris in the air.

Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

If your area is under a tornado watch, tune into local radio or television stations for the latest weather updates, and look for approaching storms.  Some signs that a tornado might be in your area are:  a dark, greenish sky, large hail, a large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating), and a loud roar, similar to a freight train.

If you are in a sturdy building while a tornado is in the area, go to a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest part of the building. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows. 

If you are in a vehicle, trailer, or mobile home, get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

If you are outside with no shelter, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.  Be aware of the potential for flooding.  Do not get under an overpass or bridge.  You are safer in a low, flat location.

Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.

Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

Of course, if your house or vehicle sustains damage during a severe thunderstorm, be sure to give us a call!

Source:  http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm

Travel Insurance

Imagine you’re headed to Cancun for a week of sun, sand, and relaxation.  You plan to melt into a lounge chair on the beach, and never get up.  As the date for your vacation draws near, you become worthless at work; you spend countless minutes lost in daydreams of palm trees and undulating ocean waves.  You’re ready.  You’ve packed your bags with swimsuits, sandals, and sunscreen; you can almost taste the piña coladas.

But are you really ready?  Nobody wants things to go awry on a vacation, but there’s always a chance something might.  Maybe your flight is canceled, or your belongings are stolen.  Worse yet, you get sick or have an accident, and have to be admitted into a foreign healthcare system.  

Don’t panic.  Travel insurance can cover missed trips due to illness, injury, death, labor strikes, bad weather, auto accidents, or layoff.  It can also provide assistance with issues such as lost or stolen passports or money, medical quarantine, and natural disasters.  If your bags are lost, stolen, or damaged, don’t worry.  That will be covered too, as will any emergency medical expenses.

Instead of worrying about everything that could go wrong on your vacation, let someone else worry about it for you.  Get travel insurance for your vacation, and go back to daydreaming about those palm trees.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Do you have it? Do you need it?

Imagine this:  you’re sitting at a stoplight, it turns green, and you press down on the accelerator.  As you roll out into the intersection, another driver runs the red light and crashes head-first into the side of your car.  What is probably one of the first thoughts that pop into your head?  I hope they have insurance.

But what happens if they don’t? 

If you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage, your collision coverage will cover the damage to your vehicle, but it will not cover any injuries to yourself or to passengers in your car.  This could leave you paying out of pocket for thousands in medical bills.

Uninsured motorist coverage is a smart option, because it is very inexpensive, and it typically has a low deductible of around $250.  Collision coverage, on the other hand, has a deductible of anywhere from $500 - $1000.  That means if you are hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance, you’ll have to pay up to $500 or $1000, depending on your deductible, before your insurance company will cover the rest of the repairs to your vehicle.  If you have uninsured motorist coverage, however, you’ll only have to pay the uninsured motorist deductible of around $250.  Another benefit of having uninsured motorist coverage is that a claim filed under this type of coverage will not cancel your claim free discount with your company.

Uninsured motorist coverage is important to have to ensure that you’re covered in the event that you are hit by a driver without insurance, or if the limits on their insurance are too low to cover the cost of the accident.  It is inexpensive, and will not add much to your monthly premium. 

If you’re not sure whether or not you have uninsured motorist coverage on your auto policy, call us to ensure that you’ve got the coverage you need!

Listing Your Contents

Do you know how much all of your possessions are worth?  Can you list from memory everything in your house?  If you are the victim of theft, or of a house fire, these are questions you may be asked.  If you’re thinking, “how could I possibly remember everything I own?”  I may have a suggestion for you.

To prove exactly what you own and what you are owed in the event of a property loss on your homeowners policy, it’s a good idea to film the contents of your house with a video camera.  Open up all of your closet and cabinet doors before you begin, then slowly walk through your house, taking care to get a good shot of everything you own.  Once you’re done, store the film in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box at the bank, or a fire proof safe.  Then, voila! You have proof of ownership for all of your possessions.

Another good idea is to take pictures of any big ticket items, such as expensive jewelry or big screen televisions, and put them in a safe place along with the receipt.  By taking these steps, you will be ensuring that you will be properly reimbursed if you ever have to file a claim with your insurance company.

Liability Insurance: How much do I need?

The state minimums for liability coverage for your auto are $30,000 per person and $60,000 per occurrence for bodily injury coverage, and $25,000 for property damage.  That means that if you cause a wreck, each person in the other vehicle(s) involved could get up to $30,000 to cover their injuries, but only up to a total of $60,000.  If more than two people are seriously injured, $60,000 may not be enough to cover their medical expenses.  Another thing to consider is that the actual damage to their car would be covered up to $25,000, but if their car is worth more than that, you could be left paying out of pocket for the repairs. 

Because the state requirements for liability coverage are so low, and may leave you exposed financially in the event of a wreck, at Barry Insurance we recommend coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury coverage, and $50,000 of coverage for property damage.  These higher limits on your policy will ensure that you are completely covered in the event of a wreck. 

What stops people from looking into this higher coverage?  Many people have the misconception that with higher coverage comes much higher rates, but this is typically not the case.  An increase in coverage to $50/$100/$50 is usually not much more expensive than limits of $30/$60/$25.  In fact, sometimes the higher coverage amounts are actually cheaper! 

If you have any questions about your liability coverage, come see us or give us a call at (903) 831-3493.  Don’t wait until it’s too late to make sure you’re fully protected!

Do you need renter’s insurance?

I’m lucky.  My mother has worked at Barry Insurance for as long as I can remember, so I’ve always had the right insurance to meet my needs, right when I needed it.  Before I even knew I needed insurance, the policy was there waiting for me to sign it.  Had my mother not been in the insurance business, I’m sure there would have been times when I would have never known what insurance I needed, or how to get it. 

In particular, I remember moving into my first apartment.  Before moving day even arrived, my mother sat me down to talk about renter’s insurance.  I gave her a confused look and asked, “They have that?”  As I soon found out, they do!  And even better, it’s affordable.  For only $10.58 a month, I was able to get $300,000 dollars of liability coverage – in case I burned the place down, which would be an easy feat for an accident prone individual like me.  And I got $25,000 dollars of personal property coverage on my stuff – in case I left my keys in the door again and someone stole it all.   

I was lucky to have my mom, and Barry Insurance, there to look out for me.  Remember, we’re here to look out for you, too!

Brandi Smith

Go Red for Women!

Did you know that, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease is the number one killer of women, taking the life of one in three women each year?  Heart problems are often associated with men, and as a result, women’s heart disease is often overlooked or misdiagnosed.  The symptoms of women’s heart disease can even differ from men’s.  According to the AHA, “as with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort.  But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.”

 February 4^th is “Go Red for Women” day in Support of the AHA’s fight against women’s heart disease.  Individuals across the country raise awareness of this issue by wearing red on February 4^th.  You can find information on the initiative at: http://www.goredforwomen.org/

If you’re wondering what you can do to make sure you have a healthy heart, a balanced diet, exercise, and quitting smoking are a great place to start.  Giving up smoking also has the possible bonus of lowering your health insurance rates!  GoRedforWomen.com even has a free twelve week program online to improve your overall health.  Check it out at http://www.goredforwomen.org/betteru/index.aspx.

Join us in the fight against women’s heart disease by wearing red this Friday, February 4^th.  Here’s to a healthy heart!

The Little Red Umbrella

You may have seen it recently in a commercial featuring a scruffy dog fretting over his bone:  the little red umbrella.  But what is it? 

Aside from the logo of The Travelers, a major insurance company, it’s a symbol for umbrella insurance, which is what my mom calls “Sleep Easy Insurance”.   It gives you an extra layer of protection over your other insurance policies.  Umbrella policies “kick in when policyholders reach the limit on the liability coverage in their home or auto policies.”

I know what you’re thinking: “Could that happen?”  Yes, it could.  A son or daughter could be involved in a car accident, causing you to be sued, a friend or their child could be injured in your swimming pool or bitten by your dog, or a passerby could simply trip and fall on your sidewalk.

As The Hartford, another major insurance company, puts it, “Today, anyone can be sued, and million-dollar judgments are becoming more common.  And, alarmingly, any amount exceeding your standard liability policy would fall to you.”

That’s where a personal umbrella policy comes in.  It protects you from claims you could be held liable for beyond your auto and homeowners policy limits.  Coverage starts at $1 million, and is relatively inexpensive – as low as $200 a year.  That’s a low price to pay for peace of mind.

Brandi Smith

Source:  The Hartford’s Extra Mile: Winter 2011, “Umbrella Insurance” p. 4

Winter Driving

While snow and ice aren’t common in the Ark-La-Tex, there are times when winter weather heads our way, as last week’s snow reminded us.  The safest course of action during such times is to stay at home, but for those of us who have no choice but to venture out onto slippery roads, here are some driving tips for less than ideal winter driving conditions:

-          Wear sunglasses. You might want to keep a pair in the car just in case the sun is reflecting off the snow.

-          Be extra cautious of pedestrians and other vehicles in intersections.

-          Allow extra time for braking and increase the distance between you and the car ahead of you.

-          Reduce your speed and don’t exceed the posted limit.

-          If you start to lose traction, don’t panic. Take your foot off the gas and gradually reduce your speed. Accelerate again slowly once you feel traction is regained.

-          If you start to skid, steer in the direction of the skid. Remember, steering can be more important than braking on slippery roads.

Source:  hartfordauto.com/tips