Tag Archives: home insurance

Dundalk water-main break triggers coverage questions | RHH Insurance

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The extensive damage caused by the water-main break in Dundalk last week has lead to many coverage questions and potentially erroneous interpretations.
Normally this type of loss should be considered a flood, and in order for there to be coverage there must be a Flood Policy in effect.  This was confirmed by the Maryland Insurance Administration.  Some insurance companies, however, have indicated they might cover the claims under homeowners’ or other property policies.  This will depend on the wording of the individuals’ policy, specifically the water-damage exclusion, coverage for burst pipes and/or backup of sewer and drains coverage.
Here are the MIA’s official guidelines concerning this incident:
•    People who have flood insurance can file under their flood policy
•    People who don’t have flood insurance should file a claim with their property  insurer and get any denial in writing; and
•    The MIA will handle any complaints they get and look at the specifics at that time.

Floods can happen anywhere and everyone is at risk, as demonstrated by the Dundalk water-main break.  This is a perfect example of why even if you don’t live near the water you still need a Flood Insurance Policy!

Quick Flood Preparation Tips

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Everyone in the United States lives in a potential flood zone – but only about 2 percent of Americans have flood insurance. Following are helpful flood preparation tips to encourage your insureds to add this necessary coverage

• Review your current homeowners and/or business insurance policy and become familiar with what is and is not covered. Remember – damage due to flooding is typically not included in your policy.

• Call your independent insurance agent to purchase flood insurance for your home and business – and its contents.

• Make a flood plan and establish evacuation routes with your family. Ask someone out of state to be a “family contact” in case you get separated from loved ones.

• Before a flood or natural disaster occurs, get ahead of the game by itemizing and taking pictures of your possessions.

• To avoid water damage during a flood, keep valuable items and family heirlooms on the upper floors – or on high shelves in your closets – of your home or business.

• For more information about how to prepare for a flood, visit www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/preparation_recovery/before_a_flood.jsp.

 

How does life expose thee? Let us count the ways

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Six good reasons to have a personal umbrella

There is no question that the ownership and use of our autos present us with the greatest personal liability exposure. But our normal daily activities can expose us to the potential of a large liability claim that could threaten our personal assets. One of the best ways to understand the need for a personal umbrella policy (PUP) is to review actual claim examples. Listed below are actual personal liability claims that illustrate the need for higher personal liability limits.

Loss #1
A couple hosted a pool party for their teenage children. They did not provide any alcohol, but it was brought by some of the guests and was available. After leaving the party, one of the guests was severely injured in an auto accident, and the injury was attributed to his consumption of alcohol. This case went to the Wisconsin Supreme Court which decided that anyone who sells or furnishes alcohol to a minor is responsible for the minor’s injuries as well as any injuries caused by the minor. The opinion of the court was that the homeowners should have prevented the consumption of alcohol by minors on their premises. Both the homeowners’ and personal umbrella policies responded to this claim.

Loss #2:
The insured hosted a party at his home. Among the guests was a family friend, who was also the insured’s financial advisor. The friend brought his wife, their 2-year-old child and their baby to the party. The insured gave them a jug of spring water to mix formula for the baby. The 2-year-old child also had a drink of the water. Shortly thereafter, both children became ill. The family left the party and took the children to the hospital. The hospital confiscated the water jug which was found to contain arsenic. An old label was found wrapped around the handle with the words “weed killer” printed on it. The insured had mistakenly given the jug, which was similar to the ones containing spring water, to the family. The baby died and the 2 year old survived after being in critical condition several days. The personal umbrella liability limit was paid.

Loss #3:
The insured’s 18-year-old son was driving his parents’ car to the store with his 19-year-old girlfriend. He left the roadway and hit a tree. The son told the police that another car cut him off, but there were no witnesses, and the girlfriend had no recollection of the accident. She was hospitalized for over a month with multiple fractures and internal injuries and received extensive physical therapy. The personal umbrella insurer settled with the girlfriend for the policy limit.

Loss #4:
An 18-year-old college student was struck by a fraternity paddle during initiation. He sustained facial fractures and blindness in his left eye. The fellow fraternity members and their families were sued. The court awarded $1,300,000.

Loss #5:
A 28-year-old engineer dove into a friend’s above-ground swimming pool, struck his head on the bottom and, as a result, became a quadriplegic. He sued both the homeowner and the pool manufacturer. The court found the homeowner to be 60 percent responsible and the pool manufacturer to be 40 percent responsible, and awarded $10,000,000.

Loss #6:
A babysitter left a 5-month-old infant unattended in a walker. The infant toppled the walker, struck her head on the floor and suffered brain damage. The parents of the infant sued the teenage babysitter and her parents. The court awarded the parents $11,000,000.
The above losses show the consequences of situations that can quickly exhaust the liability limits of the underlying policies.

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day, most folks can purchase a personal umbrella policy with a limit of $1,000,000, possibly $2,000,000 or even $5,000,000.
Jerry Milton, CIC, contributed this resource. The legal profession recognizes him as an expert on insurance coverages. He is also an education consultant for IA&B, working with CISR, CIC and on-demand CE programs.

FIRST NATIONAL TEST OF NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

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On November 9th FEMA, DHS and FCC will conduct the first national test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System test. This test will kick off at 2:00 p.m. (EST). The test will be nationwide, running concurrently across all time zones.

This system test is the first of its kind. It is designed to broadcast a nationwide message to the American public. Nothing like it has been conducted in the history of the country. There have been tests in the past but none to all parts of the Nation at the same time. The test will run concurrently on all radio and TV bands and the message will run for three minutes. Most messages in the past were anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute.

There is great concern in local police and emergency management circles about undue public anxiety over this test. The test message on TV might not indicate that it is just a test. Fear is that the lack of an explanation message might create panic.  Please share this information with your family and friends so they are aware of the test.

Below are two websites, that will provide more information…
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm
https://nationaldialogue-emergencyalertsystem.ideascale.com/

In Case of Disaster

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CALL US AT (410) 465-4300 IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY
 
As Hurricane Irene approached our area, we posted important announcements for you on our website and Facebook page. Rossmann-Hurt-Hoffman put detailed disaster plan in place, so even in the event we suffer a loss, you will still be able to reach us for assistance. We are here for YOU!
 
Here are some steps you can take to stay safe.
 
Preparing Your Family
• Check your disaster supplies and replace or restock items as needed.
• Talk with members of your family and create an evacuation plan.
• Make sure you know where the closest local shelter is located.
• Put together an Emergency Supply Kit that includes the following:
- Water-at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day.
 
- Food-at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare
   non-perishable foods such as cereal or crackers, and canned goods. 
 
- Can opener
 
- Flashlights and extra batteries (Count on the power being out for at least a
   day or two)
 
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio,
 
- First aid kit,
 
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with
   extra batteries,
 
- glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane),
 
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items including toilet paper
 
- Cell phone with charger,
 
- Extra cash (remember that ATM’s will be non-operating),
 
- Emergency blankets,
 
- Map(s) of the area,
 
- If needed, baby (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers) and pet
   supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl),
 
- Extra set of car keys and house keys,
 
- Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes,
 
- Rain gear.
 
- If you have children – computer games will operate for only a limited amount
   of time. Consider packing board games, a deck of cards, arts and crafts
   supplies and crayons.
 
If you need to leave your home be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.

Preparing Your Home
• Bring in or secure anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).
• Close your windows and doors. If needed or advised to do so, windows and doors can be boarded up with plywood.
• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.
• Turn off all propane tanks
• Fill your car’s gas tank.

General Safety Information
• Drive only if necessary
• Keep far away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.
• Stay out of any building that has water around it.
• Use flashlights in the dark, avoid using candles.
• Before preparing food or drinking tap water make sure it is not contaminated.
• Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
 
Preparing your business
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 during 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.

These and other tips on how to stay safe during hurricanes and other natural disasters are available on the FEMA website. There is no harm in being overly cautious.  Please be safe!

Rossman Hurt Hoffman Insurance

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Rossman, Hurt, and Hoffman Insurance known as RHH Insurance offers several personal insurance coverage options. Events in life are sporadic and unexpected. That’s why it’s important to be protected at all times. It’s better to have, than to not have by being prepared and feeling safe. RHH has homeowners insurance to protect your really important and valuable personal property, such as, your home and any buildings that sit on your property and even, what it holds including – clothing, furniture, and appliances. They offer auto insurance covering bodily injury to others and personal injury protection. Optional coverage components can always be added, make sure you let them know specifically what you want insured.

Additionally, RHH offers life insurance to provide for your surviving loved ones upon your passing. This is crucial to cover any estate costs, pay for burial and for any other bills your family may incur. Health insurance is also another product to help cover health care costs. It’s very important to have in the event of unforeseen medical emergencies that could potentially be extremely expensive. By having health insurance you would then alleviate much costs and future debt. RHH even has a wedding protection plan.

RHH is upfront and honest and is sure to provide you with the necessary details to ensure you choose the right coverage plans. Their website provides informative feedback with a Frequently asked Q & A section. An added feature is their online insurance quote form. You can input your information in and receive a quote instantly without leaving home but if you want to speak with someone you can always call them using their toll-free number 1 (866) 847-0449. RHH insurance agents will be happy to explain all policy information to make sure there is no content that’s unclear to you. Go ahead and get your price quote today. http://www.rhhinsurance.com/personal-insurance.html

NOAA hurricane outlook indicates an above-normal Atlantic season

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Did you know that June thru November is the “official” hurricane season in the United States? Oh, and just in case you forgot, we are already into the first week of June! During hurricane Isabella some shingles blew off my roof and water blew in my patio door damaging hardwood floors. Very small potatoes compared to the damage in many areas of Maryland and other states. Do you know that many homeowers policies have a separate “hurricane deductible” which applies to damage solely from hurricanes, and that the deductible can range from one to 5% of a home’s insured value?  What is your experience with hurricanes?  Have you ever had any damage caused by a hurricane or a story about going through one?  Share your story here on our Blog!

10 Reasons Your Insurance May Need a Checkup

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Does your insurance need a checkup?

• Have you gotten married or divorced?
• Have you had a baby?
• Did your teenager get a driver’s license?
• Have you switched jobs or experienced a significant change in your income?
• Have you done extensive renovations on your home?
• Have you decided to buy a vacation or potential retirement home?
• Have you acquired any new valuables such as jewelry, electronic equipment, fine art, antiques?
• Have you signed a lease on a house or apartment?
• Have you joined a carpool?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, give us a call to update your policy. (410) 504-1002

How to Deal with Bed Bugs in Your Home or Business

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Here are some tips from your friends at RHH Insurance on how to deal with bed bugs. If you find bed bugs in your home or business, it’s important to get rid of them as quickly as possible, as they can breed and spread very quickly. Patience and persistence is the key to ridding your premises of bugs.  Stop bugs from hiding in your bed Double-sided carpet tape attached to the base of bed legs does not allow the bugs to crawl up to you. Also effective is mineral oil or petroleum jelly applied at the base of the bed leg. Don’t forget that crawling up a bed leg is not the only way a bug can end up hiding in a bed. Use a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs to eliminate many hiding spots. 

Hire a pest management professional (PMP) Hiring a PMP is the best way to get rid of these pesky bugs. Licensed PMPs know what products should be used, and where. If they are affiliated with a state or national association it’s likely that they stay up-to-date on current practices. They also know best how to find bed bugs. Unfortunately, you will need more than one treatment, and potentially several. The PMP will have to come back two weeks after the initial treatment to apply more insecticides to kill any eggs that have hatched. Insecticides do not kill the eggs. In order for the PMP to do the job properly, he will require prep work from you. If the PMP does not require you to do prep work, call the next company on your list.

Cleaning Thoroughly cleaning a room can help to eliminate bed bugs. Scrub infested surfaces with a stiff brush to dislodge eggs and use a powerful vacuum to remove the bugs from cracks and crevices. This will not ensure that you’ve got all the eggs, but it will help. When vacuuming, use the smallest attachment to suck the bed bugs out of hiding. Bed bugs in the vacuum bag or canister will still be alive. Put the bag or canister contents in a sealed plastic bag and freeze for two weeks to kill the bugs.

Heat treatments Steamers and heat treatments will kill eggs and adults on contact. It is unclear how deeply the high heat of a steamer will penetrate wood and fabric; therefore, steaming may not kill all the eggs or adult bed bugs. Because steam can carry electricity, stay away from switch plates, electrical outlets, and appliances. In order for heat treatment to work, items must be in a dryer on the hottest setting for 60 minutes. Spraying The pesticides used in the middle of the century, such as DDT, have been removed from the market due to environmental and health concerns. There are sprays that claim to kill and repel bed bugs, but they are not your best defense. You should not apply insecticides on your own. You may cause the bugs to hide in different places, which will make it more difficult for a PMP to exterminate them. “Don’t let the bed bugs bite” is no longer just the rhyme it once was.

House Fires – How to Stay Safe

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The National Fire Protection Association indicates house fires are the leading cause of all fire deaths in the United States. According to the NFPA, there were 403,000 residential fires in 2008, resulting in 2,780 deaths and 13,560 injuries. The NFPA acknowledges cooking as the leading cause of house fires in the United States and heating related fires as the second most common cause.
 
Here are some safety tips, brought to you by RHH insurance, to help prevent house fires:
 
Cooking
According to the NFPA, cooking related fires account for approximately 40% of all house fires. Most cooking fires are started when an oven or stove is left unattended or when items are left too close to a heat source. To reduce the risk of a cooking related fire:
- Make sure to never leave your oven or stove unattended while it is on.
- Keep all items at least 3 feet from the heat source, including cookbooks.
- Be sure to keep a properly charged fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
- Consider an automatic appliance shut-off switch for elderly or disabled persons.
 
Heating
NFPA statistics show most heating related fires occur in December, January and February and the majority of these fires are caused by fixed and portable space heaters. Extreme caution should be taken whenever alternative heating units are used. Kerosene heaters, electric space heaters, wood burning stoves, pellet stoves and fireplaces all provide hazards which could increase the chance of a fire loss. To reduce the risk of a heating related fire, consider the following:
- Kerosene: Kerosene heaters are extremely dangerous and should not be used inside the home. If a kerosene heater is used in the garage or a separate structure, be sure to choose a model that has been UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed. Also, make sure the unit has an automatic starter, a fuel gauge and a safety grill. Use only crystal clear K1 kerosene and make sure to slightly open a window for ventilation.
- Electric space heater: Electric space heaters should not be used in wet places such as bathrooms and should always be used on the floor, rather than on top of furniture. Also, be sure the plug fits snugly into the electrical outlet and avoid using an extension cord.
- Wood-burning/Pellet stoves: Have a certified professional install the woodburning or pellet stove and have a certified chimney sweep annually inspect the vent pipe or chimney. Burn only seasoned hardwood and refrain from using the stove to burn cardboard boxes or trash.
- Fireplace: Hire a certified chimney sweep to annually inspect your chimney for cracks, blockages, leaks and creosote build up. Use a sturdy screen or door to keep embers inside the fireplace and use a metal container for ash removal.
 
Electrical
Electrical related fires are also a leading cause of house fires. The most prevalent types of electrical fires involve the improper use of light bulbs and problems with the home electrical system.
- Light bulbs: Never use a light bulb that exceeds the maximum wattage listed on the manufacturer’s warning label. Also, do not place anything over a lamp, such as a towel, clothing or paper.
- Home electrical systems: Allow only qualified electricians to perform electrical work in your home and have any faulty, inadequate or outdated wiring replaced. Avoid using an extension cord to plug in an appliance.
 
Smoking
The NFPA determined smoking to be the leading cause of fire fatalities in 2008, accounting for nearly 25% of all residential fire deaths. Most smoking fires start when a cigarette, cigar or pipe comes in contact with upholstered furniture, such as a couch or a chair, or when a person falls asleep while smoking in bed. As a precautionary measure, make sure to:
- Never smoke in bed
- Require anyone who smokes, to do so outside.
 
Miscellaneous
- Kitchen oven: Never use a kitchen oven to stay warm.
- Generator: When using a generator, be sure to ventilate properly. A generator should not be kept in a garage but should be kept outside, to prevent gases from seeping into the home.
- Candles: Never leave a lit candle unattended, especially if there are pets or small children in the home. Also, extinguish any decorative candle when it gets down to the last ½ inch, as the glass may crack and allow hot wax to leak out and potentially cause a fire.

Follow these tips and a life could be protected and the risk of suffering a devastating fire loss can be drastically reduced.