Swimming Pools and Your House Insurance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there are about 10 1/2 million swimming pools in the United States.

Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for very young children.  And the CDC statistics say more than 3,400 people drown in the US each year.

What can you do to protect people around your swimming pool?

Keep track of kids.  Don’t allow kids near the pool when they’re alone.  CDC statistics also show that drowning deaths of 85 year olds and older climb again.

Fence in the pool.  Have a locking gate.  Kids, whether little kids or local young people who come in without your permission, have no perspective on danger.  Insurance companies won’t insure pools without a fence.

Keep a safety kit.  Include a flotation device you can throw, your strainer with a long handle, first aid kit, scissors to cut clothing or hair free from a drain (or even to cut the pool cover).

Have an alarm that will go off if someone falls in.  You can save a child, or even a pet.

Diving boards.  Not every insurance company will insure pools with diving boards.  Again, children suffer the most diving board injuries.

Keep all equipment and covers in good repair.

Don’t leave toys floating in the pool when not in use.

Click here to check the CDC web site for more pool injury statistics and safety tips.

Thanks to the MSO insurance organization for much of this material.

Call GBW Insurance at 800-548-2329 extensions 112 or 117 if you would like homeowners policy information, advice, or insurance quotes in NJ.

Tropical Storm headed toward you?

Insurance companies prohibit adding or starting property coverage when named storms approach. A tropical storm is approaching the Atlantic coast of the US. If you want property coverage, if your coverage is inadequate, act now.

If you need help in with New Jersey insurance coverage, call us today. 1-800-548-2329. or http://www.GBWinsurance.com

If you want flood insurance, it may be too late for this month, but you should get started if you want it before September.  Hurricanes in the Northeast peak late in the season.

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Flood Insurance – Hurricane Season Coming Soon

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) sent us this warning/outlook for flood insurance 2013.   In summary, another tough hurricane season forecast, which means more  flooding.  And flood insurance takes 30 days to get in place.  (Click here for our flood insurance page and quick quote page.)

Hurricane Season Outlook 2013
Experts are calling for an active Atlantic hurricane season, which means it could also be an active flood season. In their annual spring forecast, Colorado State University Meteorologists Philip Klotzbach and William Gray predicted 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4 additional major hurricanes. They suggest there is a 96 percent chance a storm will hit the United States.
Hurricane season is the optimal time to speak to new and existing customers about flood insurance. The prospect of potentially damaging storms provides context for the flood talk, as it reminds consumers that flood risk is real. Homeowners still remember Hurricane Irene’s impact in 2011 and the destruction from Sandy last October. While flood risk is top of mind, you have an opportunity to target existing customers without a flood insurance policy and teach them how flood insurance can help them recover from a flood. For clients in a Non-Special Flood Hazard Area (NSFHA) who are within the “one mile buffer zone,” explain that floods don’t stop at a line on a map.
Show clients and prospects who don’t have flood insurance how they might be affected by hurricane season. Use the Flood Risk Scenarios tool to illustrate how tropical storms and heavy rains can cause flooding. Remind them that if it can rain, it can flood. It’s also important to let your clients know that most homeowners insurance policies do not cover floods; instead, only flood insurance provides the financial protection property owners need.
Help your clients protect their assets by encouraging them to obtain flood insurance today. There’s a 30-day waiting period before a flood policy takes effect, so don’t delay in communicating this important message.

Prepare for disasters in advance

Hurricane season for 2013 starts in less than a month.  Preparing in advance may take more time than we have before the next hurricane.  Or you may have a couple of years before the next major hurricane strikes you.  Either way, here are some locations for preparation advice.

Residential preparation: Click here for the DisasterSafety.org pamphlet on preparing for hurricane damage to homes.

Or go to this GBWInsurance.com link for more catastrophe preparation and response info and suggestions from Travelers Insurance and Hanover Insurance.

Business preparation: Click here for the DisasterSafety.org page leading to a full business recovery preparation program.  This is an excellent introduction to developing a step by step business recovery plan.  If you would like help with this or additional resources, call us at 1-800-548-2329 ext. 101

After two years of significant hurricane damage in the Northeast, we should all be on our toes about catastrophe preparation and catastrophe insurance (flood and windstorm).  The odds of another serious storm are exactly the same as they were in 2011 and 2012.

Autumn Maintenance

Thanks to Peerless insurance, here are tips and a link to a video with brief suggestions about preparing for Fall weather.  Some forms of damage would be covered by most insurance packages, some wouldn’t.  Either way, it’s a lot easier to not have the loss in the first place.

• Ice Dams
• Flat roof problems
• Pitched roofs
• Gutter guards
• Of course, ladder safety goes with all that
• Preparing vehicles
• Protecting property
• Sprinkler preparation

Link to Autumn Maintenance video by Peerless Insurance

Click here to get a quick quote or insurance review in New Jersey

Hurricane Season is coming. How long does it take to get Flood Insurance?

In case the East Coast did not learn anything from 2011, here we are at the start of the traditional hurricane season.  We at GBW Insurance are busy going to seminars about hurricane preparedness and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  If you’re not ready, or would like some suggestions, head to our page of advice and connections (click here).

And the answer is… most of the time it takes 30 days to get Flood Insurance.  And insurance companies shut off new and addtitional business about 48 hours before a hurricane hits.  So neither the NFIP nor private companies are available just before a hurricane arrives.  Plan ahead.  We can help.  1-800-548-2329

Home summer safety

We’ll break away from our focus on commercial insurance to relay these tips on home summer safety.

Protect your family and your home this summer by taking these simple precautions during your favorite activities.

Swimming:
• Stay with your kids while they’re at a pool, even if they can swim.
• Enclose your pool with a fence that’s at least 4 feet high with a self-locking gate. The lock should be out of kids’ reach.
• At a minimum, keep safety equipment like a life preserver and shepherds hook (a long pole with a hook on the end) ) nearby for emergencies.

Grilling:
• Only use grills outdoors. Carbon monoxide builds up quickly in enclosed spaces like garages.
• Keep grills away from other outdoor activities to prevent burns.
• Check your gas grill for leaks. Your local propane gas supplier can suggest a leak-detection solution.
• Don’t pour starter fluid in a gas grill or an already-lit charcoal grill.

Landscaping:
• Wear sturdy shoes and fitted clothing while mowing the lawn to keep your feet and skin protected, and turn off your mower before removing a stuck object.
• Use only GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets outdoors. Test them monthly by following these instructions.
• Replace power cords that are frayed or damaged.
• Unless power tools are marked “submersible,” don’t get them wet.
• Be aware of pets and children—and keep a safe distance—while using lawn equipment