Life Happens 365 - Are You Managing the Risk?

By Diane Tait Image courtesy Pixabay Now that we’re in the middle of hurricane season, I thought it time to give you a little head’s up on several things that keep your home from being wrecked by a named storm.   Depending on when your home was built could make all the difference between the amount of damage done to it when the wind shrieks and the rain comes down in buckets.    Below are seven areas you should investigate before the next hurricane is announced on TV.

By Diane Tait Image courtesy Pixabay Did you know last week was National Hurricane Preparedness Week?   Most people didn’t give it a second thought.   But when you realize last year’s hurricane season was a record breaker with thirty named storms in the Atlantic, maybe it’s time to pay attention.   Historically, named storms have caused the most loss of life and property than any other weather-related event.   Due to global warming, NOAA has officially moved the start of hurricane season from June 1 to May 15 for the first time.   With that in mind, I thought I’d take the time to give you a rundown on what the 2020 season produced, as well as the forecast for 2021, plus what you can do to get prepared.     

By Diane Tait Image courtesy Good Free Photos A couple weeks ago I wrote a blog entitled, “Insurance Agents are Masters of Disasters” that extolled the virtues of contacting the people who know how to deal with calamities of all kinds.   This week, I want to take one additional step to show you how to prepare for a disaster that is all too common here in sunny Florida: Hurricanes.   In the past four years the Sunshine State has weathered two hurricanes that created more than $70 billion in damages.   While insurance can help mitigate the damage wrought by named storms like Matthew and Irma, what many homeowners and business owners don’t know is with a little foresight and preparation they can take a few steps that can both reduce the amount of damage done to their property, as well as making sure they get every penny that’s coming to them when they file a property damage claim with their insurer.

By Diane Tait Image courtesy flickr Thankfully as I write this blog, I’m breathing a sigh of relief that Hurricane Dorian gave Jacksonville a wide berth.   That being said, hurricane season isn’t over yet.   That means another named storm could head this way within the next couple of months.   While I’ve covered what you need to do to prepare for the worst for both your home and business, the last area of concern for many is what to do with their pets.   Believe it or not, this can adversely affect the decision to evacuate, since many pet owners would rather shelter in place rather than have to risk being on the road in an emergency with their pets.   If you’re a pet owner who lives in Florida, you need to read this week’s blog.

By Diane Tait Image courtesy flickr Two weeks ago, I wrote a blog telling business owners what they needed to do when a hurricane is imminent.   Now, with Hurricane Dorian a distinct possibility next week, I thought it high time to help homeowners prepare for the worst.

By Diane Tait Image courtesy wikimedia As an insurance agent, I am always trying to help my clients get covered in case that the worst comesto pass.   Whether this is to help protect their home from the worst that Mother Nature can throw at them, or it is insuring their teenage daughter who is only just learning to drive, in case of a worst-case scenario if she should be involved in an accident.   Since as Ben Franklin pointed out a couple hundred years ago, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” I thought I’d take the time to help all my readers out there prepare for the worst.