by cdowney | Feb 27, 2014 | Blog
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reaffirmed by the American Psychological Association, one out of four girls and one out of six boys will be sexually abused prior to adulthood. Is your organization doing enough?
When evaluating current abuse prevention efforts, consider these two facts:
• Less than 10% of sexual abusers will encounter the criminal justice system
• More than 90% of children who are sexually abused fall victim to someone they know and trust.
A safety system that includes comprehensive training on sexual abuse misconceptions, common grooming behaviors, effective risk reduction strategies, response to warning signs/signs of abuse, and reporting requirements. The Experts here at Downey Insurance Group headquartered in marlborough, Ma. can help you to help others by Implementing startegies to help mitigate risk. heres two Helpful Links as well. Visit or Call on us Today 508-485-0130
by cdowney | Feb 17, 2014 | Blog
When you think of floods, what comes to mind? You may automatically think of the most extreme form of flooding when people are stuck on rooftops and riding boats down the streets. Of course, that is certainly something to think about. But flooding can happen simply due to the ground thawing after an excessively snowy winter. This year, we may be experiencing a bit more ground water than we have in the past considering the excessive amount of snow we have had. Here are some tips to prevent flooding in your home:
• Install a sump pump. Keep water out of your basement or crawl space by having it pumped out periodically by a reliable sump pump. You may want to have the pump attached to a back up power source in case your power goes out for any reason.
• Plant a garden. Once the ground has thawed enough to get a shovel in there, go for it. Plants can help soak up excess ground water while making your home even more aesthetically pleasing.
• Dig a French drain around your home. If you have a problem with water seepage, a drain around your home can help keep that water out.
• Check the grading of your property. Make sure that the grade is sloped away from your home and that water can properly flow away from any structures.
• Call us about flood insurance. We want you to have the coverage you need in the event that your home does experience any flooding. Your standard homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover flood damage. We can offer you a quote that will cover you for the damage that the spring thaw might bring.
We hope you do not have to worry about flood damage this spring or ever. If you have any questions about what your homeowner’s insurance does cover and how a flood policy may help you, give us a call.
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by cdowney | Feb 3, 2014 | Blog
Does the thought of riding your motorcycle in the winter make you shiver? Or does it make you feel exhilarated? If you have been contemplating a winter motorcycle ride, we say go for it! Just remember to take a few extra precautions before you head out. Here are some tips for your first cold weather winter ride:
• Dress appropriately. Layers are your best bet when the weather is on the more-than-chilly side. You will want to have enough clothing to keep heat in and block the cold wind from your skin. You will also want to have the ability to remove wet clothing and replace it with dry clothing when necessary.
• Make sure your motorcycle is in good working order. Check the fluids and the battery to make sure you can safely get to your destination.
• Check your tires. Not only should they have a good tread, but you need to remember that the cold temperature will cause them to be more firm than usual. Your traction may be less than you are used to. Be extra careful during your starts and stops.
• Check the weather forecast. Simply put, if there is any bad weather coming your way, skip your ride. It is not worth the dangers that can be caused by bad weather. Slippery surfaces, impaired vision, and salted roads can really be dangerous.
• Check your insurance. Make sure you have the right motorcycle insurance for your next ride. We can certainly offer you a competitive quote on a motorcycle policy to cover yourself, your bike and any accidents that may occur.
Have a great time out there during your wintery motorcycle ride! If you have any questions or need any additional pointers on your motorcycle insurance, be sure to give us a call. We would be glad to help.
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by cdowney | Jan 20, 2014 | Blog
We know that paying your bills can be a daunting task each month. If you are like a lot of us, some months are worse than others when it comes to matching your income with the amount you will need to pay out to creditors. It might feel like an impossible task. Somehow you get it done, but wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t have to worry so much each month? Here are a few tips to help make paying your monthly bills a bit easier:
• Set aside at least two set days each month for getting your accounts in order and paying bills. Check your reoccurring bills to see when they are due and match them according to their approximate amounts and your bill paying dates. It will be easier to gauge how much you will need for each bill.
• Think you are paying too much? Give your creditors a call. You may be able to lower interest rates or request a loyalty discount in some cases. You may even be able to skip a payment if you have been a punctual payer up to this point.
• Call your insurance agent to see what type of premium discounts you may be able to qualify for. Missing an insurance payment could result in a non-payment cancellation which means no coverage. It also means that you will have a non-payment cancellation on your record when you try to apply for future insurance- for up to three years. It is worth having your policy reviewed before your next payment is due to avoid a non-payment cancellation.
We hope your monthly bills can become a lesser stressor for you and your family. If we can help with any advice or insurance questions, please call us any time. We are here to help.
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by cdowney | Jan 6, 2014 | Blog
OK, so our last post was about how quickly the holidays showed up and now here we are wondering where they went. Time sure does fly, doesn’t it? But one thing probably remains in your house even though you may have already packed away your holiday decorations. All those gifts your family received can most likely be found in random corners of each room- just looking for a permanent home that you are not quite sure about yet.
Before you throw your hands up and stash those new items in a closet somewhere, take a few minutes to reorganize your current storage areas. Pick one place to start and take everything out to thoroughly inspect. You will probably find items in there that you forgot about and could really use. On the other hand, you will also most likely find items that you do not need or want anymore. In that case, put those items aside.
Once you have made piles of things you want to keep and things that you want to give away, then you can decide how to store everything. Place all your new items in with the old ones and take pictures for your homeowner’s insurance carrier. If you ever need to file a claim involving any of your household items, it is always easier to explain your loss when there is a picture to back up your claim.
Once everything is put away in its new proper place, look up a charity like
www.goodwill.org to see about donating all your unwanted items. Remember to get a receipt when you donate so you can apply it to your tax return. And don’t worry… before we know it the holidays will be here again and we can do this all over again. Hope you have a wonderful New Year!
by Downey Insurance Group | Dec 23, 2013 | Blog
When did that happen? It feels like we were just discussing bus safety at the beginning of the school year and yet here we are only a few days before Christmas. You may be scrambling to get everything complete before the big day. If you just popped onto the computer for a few minutes of mindless web browsing, here are a few Christmas-y things to make you chuckle and help you de-stress a bit before you get back into wrapping presents:
• Your tongue really will freeze to a metal pole outside, so don’t try it. However, if you do find yourself stuck to a random pole, have someone pour lukewarm water on your tongue while you slowly pull away. Do not try to pull too quickly or you could find yourself spending your holidays at the doctor’s office.
• The first candy cane was made over 350 years ago.
• According to the Roger Highfield book The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodynamics of Turkey, Rudolph’s nose was probably red due to a parasitic infection of his respiratory system.
• Using stats from boxofficemojo.com, the top three best selling Christmas movies from 1980-present are Elf ($173,398,518), The Polar Express ($183,373,735) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas ($260,044,825)
• If Santa has insurance, it is probably a hefty policy. With all the travel he does (granted, it is usually only one day a year that he takes a trip) he would need to have a good comprehensive policy for his sleigh AND some serious business coverage for all the work his elves do each day.
We hope you have a wonderful holiday and get to enjoy every minute with your loved ones.
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