by Downey Insurance Group | Aug 26, 2011 | Blog
Safety for individuals
- Create a disaster plan. Plan an evacuation route in advance and determine where you would go if you were told to evacuate.
- Prepare a survival kit. Stock up on drinking water, non-perishable goods, a first-aid kit and medicine for everyone including your pet. Include extra clothing, blankets, batteries, flashlights and a portable radio.
- Conduct a home hazard hunt and make your home as safe as possible. Secure all outdoor objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture. Close storm shutters and board up all windows.
- Review how to shut off utilities in an emergency with all family members.
- Locate important papers and documents and have them ready to take with you should you need to evacuate. Protect documents in plastic storage bags if you’re remaining in your home.
- Make sure you have insurance policies with claim contact information, an inventory of your home’s contents and cash.
- Ask an out-of-state friend to be your family contact. After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long-distance than to make a local call.
- Finally, leave promptly when ordered to evacuate. Leaving too late or not leaving at all only endangers yourself and others.
Safety for businesses
In addition, you and your business insurance customers should consider taking the following precautions to help protect people and property and guard against disruption of operations:
- Review your business continuity plan and communicate emergency evacuation and business interruption instructions to employees. If you don’t have a written plan, now is the time to create one. Each business should have an emergency plan including a detailed procedure for evacuation, a checklist for shutting down processes and protecting buildings, contents, equipment, and yard storage. Procedures should include salvage instructions to follow post-event.
- Back up critical data and computer records off-site so that operations can continue after a disaster. Consider keeping a backup generator and plenty of batteries on hand so your business can continue to operate after a power loss.
- As a hurricane approaches, quick actions should to be taken to install temporary protection features including:
- Shutter or board up windows to protect them from flying debris
- Clean out floor drains and catch basins to ensure maximum drainage
- Anchor structures, trailers and yard storage so they are more likely to stay put in high winds
- Fill emergency generator and fire pump fuel tanks
- Shut down production processes safely
- Shut off all flammable and combustible liquid and gas lines at their source
- Shut off electrical power at the main building disconnect before the hurricane strikes
- Once the storm has subsided and it is safe to return, a salvage team should be assembled and repair work prioritized, assuring proper supplies are available and safety procedures followed.
This list was shared with us by our friends at Travelers Ins.
by Downey Insurance Group | Aug 25, 2011 | Blog
We are all watching closely as hurricane Irene continues to track north towards New England. A Hurricane watch has been issued for the Carolina cost line as this slow moving storm makes its way toward the eastern seaboard. It is being forecast that the storm with hit the New England area Sunday night into Monday. Most insurance companies will be issuing a hold on binding new Property Insurance coverage leading up to the storm. If you are expecting to obtain a new homeowners policy or commercial property insurance within the next week, please call your agent to discuss.
There are a few reasons why the experts are watching this storm particularly close. First it is unusually large with hurricane force winds of 74 miles per hour that extend 70 miles from its center, and tropical-storm force winds of 35 miles per hour extending 255 miles in all directions. It is also very slow moving. This storm is moving at an average of 12 miles per hour, while similar storms this size in the past have traveled 30 to 40 miles per hour. Both of these factors could increase damage done to the US coastline by exposing it to large amounts of wind and rain for an extended duration.
Power outages and down trees are likely in the Massachusetts area, with the possibility of evacuations. Massachusetts Emergency management Agency has issued a Disaster preparedness plan with a list of supplies that every family should have on hand.
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Canned goods and nonperishable foods that do not need cooking
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Manual can opener
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Bottled water (1 gallon per person/per day)
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Prescription medication
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Extra eyeglasses
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Pet food/supplies
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Disposable plates, cups, and utensils
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Infant care items
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First aid supplies
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Masking and duct tape
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Flashlight or lantern, with extra batteries
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Battery operated radio, with extra batteries
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Watch or battery operated clock
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Ice chest
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Matches
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cash
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Important documents (Such as wills, deeds, prescriptions, passports, birth certificates, health record, proof of address, Social Security number)
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Plastic trash bags
To read the full list as well as the full hurricane disaster preparedness plan visit MEMA website.
by Downey Insurance Group | Aug 19, 2011 | Blog
Every Massachusetts employer with one or more employees is required by law to carry workers compensation coverage at all times for their employees, but MA law varies by type of business when it comes to businesses owners. This important coverage will not only pay for injured workers to get medical care and partial wage replacement, it will also protect the insured employer from potentially damaging lawsuits. Here is an overview by type of business.
Corporations
All corporations are required to carry workers compensation for their employees. Corporate officers who have at least 25% interest in the Corp. may request to be exempt from their workers compensation policy with a form filed with the Department of Industrial Accidents. Link to form: Here
LLP, LLC, Limited partnership and Sole Proprietors
Members of the business types above are not required to carry workers compensation for members, partners and sole proprietors. They do have the option to include themselves on their policy if they so choose. Whether or not they choose to cover themselves they would need to have a policy in place for any employees of the business.
Independent Contractors
Independent contractors in Massachusetts are not considered employees and are not required to be covered by a workers compensation policy. Although if you have an independent contractor doing work for your business you should take extra effort to make sure they are not improperly classified as an independent contractor. The insurance company may decide that their wages should be covered under your policy if they do not have a policy for themselves, or if they are improperly classified. You can read more about independent contractor law: Here
If you have any questions regarding how to best protect your business with Workers Compensation we would be happy to help you with your MA Insurance, NH Insurance, or VT Insurance needs.
by Downey Insurance Group | Aug 16, 2011 | Blog
An insurance policy can be an invaluable thing to have in the event of a loss. One of the main purposes of an insurance policy is to replace damaged or lost property or to protect you during a liability claim. This is part of the responsibility of the insurance company as stated in the insurance contract. But the insurance company is not the only party that has a responsibility to adhere to the contract. The Named Insured also has many responsibilities including notifying the insurance company in the event or a loss. Also notifying the insurance company of any changes, purchases, or additions to that have taken place since your policy was first written is also very important. In the event of a loss a typical insurance policy would require you to do the following:
Notify your insurance agent or company as soon as you are able. Notice I did not say “as soon as possible” there is a reason for this. There may be other circumstances that need your immediate attention before making the call to your agent. Additionally your insurance company may require you to take pictures of your loss, and to do any necessary fixes at their advisement to avoid further loss.
Inform your Agent of all the details related to your loss. More information is better that less, if you think it might be relevant let them know. Who is involved, where the loss took place, and how it happened. Holding back important information can have a negative effect on the claim, and at the extreme could cause it to be denied.
Allowing your agent to have quick and complete claim information will allow them to do their job to the best of their ability. If you have any questions about the legal requirements of your New Hampshire Insurance Company or any other insurance company policy please don’t hesitate to contact your agent at Downey Insurance.
by Downey Insurance Group | Aug 11, 2011 | Blog
One week remains for Massachusetts disaster survivors to register for federal disaster assistance. Along with Massachusetts Insurance companies FEMA has been providing disaster assistance to the people affected by the severe weather of June 1st.
Survivors must register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and return their U.S. Small Business Administration loan applications by Monday, August 15, to be considered for FEMA and SBA disaster assistance.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), FEMA and its federal partners encourage any person or business owner who had storm-related damage to their home, vehicle, personal property, business as a result of the June 1 severe storms and tornadoes and has not registered to do so quickly.
Anyone in Hampden and Worcester counties who was impacted by the severe storms and tornadoes should apply for assistance, regardless of whether a survivor has insurance or is unsure if they are eligible. Survivors should still contact their insurance companies and file necessary claims.
Disaster assistance may include rental payments for temporary housing for those whose residences are unlivable, grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance. There are grants to replace personal property and to help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state or charitable aid programs.
Anyone who has not registered with FEMA for disaster aid, and has questions about an application or seeks more information about recovery programs, should call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call (TTY) 800-462-7585. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and multilingual assistance is available. Online registration is available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or through a smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.
Monday, August 15, also is the deadline for filing an application for a low-interest disaster loan with the Small Business Administration. While survivors are not required to accept a disaster loan, completing the SBA application is essential to receiving other assistance from FEMA.
Low-interest disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, nonprofits and businesses of all sizes. They are the largest federal source of disaster funds for repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed property.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
