Insure Your Holiday Goodies

Were you on Santa’s “nice” list this year? Did he leave you diamonds rather than coal in your stocking? Or maybe you received a timeless piece of fine art on the 8th day of Hanukkah? If you received any valuable articles for the holidays (or any time of year!) now is the time to contact your insurance specialist to be sure your gifts are covered.

One of the best things about insurance is the way that it offers something that is very hard to find: peace of mind. The key to acquiring this success is to invest time with your agent to establish an insurance policy that is perfectly attuned to the needs of your lifestyle. Your agent is the expert on insurance coverages, but you are the expert on what you have that should be covered. Your home and family grow over the years and whether you add, subtract, renovate, move, upsize or downscale to meet your needs, your insurance coverage should also change and grow with you.

Homeowners, Condo and Renters Insurance policies provide a certain amount of personal property protection, but your coverage has limits and may not cover valuable additions. The limit on these policies refers to the maximum amount payable for each loss of or damage to unscheduled property. Unscheduled property is that which has not been specifically named  for coverage on your policy.

The scheduled personal property endorsement is available as an addition to your Home/Condo/Renters Insurance policy. For an additional premium, your policy will cover loss or damage to personal property items whose value exceeds the personal property coverage limit available under your standard Home/Condo/Renters policy.

The following is an example of the limits imposed on different categories of property and may not reflect your specific homeowner’s policy provisions:

• $200 on money, bank notes, gold, silver, platinum, coins and metals;
• $1,500 on securities, accounts, deeds, personal records, passports, tickets and stamps;
• $1,500 for jewelry, watches, furs, precious and semiprecious stones;
• $2,500 for firearms;
• $2,500 for loss by theft of silverware, goldware and pewterware;
• $2,500 on property at the residence premises used at anytime or in any manner for business purposes.

Other items you may want to schedule:

• Digital, still and video cameras plus any additional equipment
• Musical instruments
• Fine Art (paintings, drawings, sculptures, vases)
• Antiques
• Sports equipment  

Simply, if any of your prized possessions are worth more than the limits specified on your policy, the full amount for the items will not be covered. That is when you may choose to schedule the item, or list it specifically on the policy so that it will be covered. The best way to decide if you should schedule items on your policy is to communicate your concern with an insurance professional; we can help. Call or e-mail us today: 914-598-3004 or jaime@assetsecurityrm.com. Remember, as your life changes, your insurance needs tend to change along with it.

Side note: Get a load  of this gem–it’s Saudi Prince Waleed’s Mercedes-Benz SL 600. Holy bedazzling, Batman. Are those skunks on the seats?

Winter Driving Safety

The snowy season is a thrilling time for winter sports, building snowmen, admiring nature’s beauty and curling up by a (closely-tended) fire with loved ones.  Winter driving, however is not a winter sport and it poses daunting threats to even the most cautious drivers.  The surest way to remain safe is, of course, to avoid driving in snowy and icy conditions, but we understand that the snow days of yore may be a distant memory.

While you may not have the luxury of staying home and building snowmen, you can minimize the special risks of traveling in snow and ice by heeding certain precautions while driving and by employing defensive driving to anticipate the mistakes of others.

Travelers, one of Asset Security’s trusted insurance carriers, has created a Winter Driving Safety Quiz where you can test your automobile acumen and learn valuable safety tips. Topics include defensive driving, speed, safety concerns, weather conditions, driving habits, and accident reduction techniques.  I scored a cool 10/10! What will you score?

Take the Travelers Winter Driving Safety Quiz now and then continue on below for more safe driving tips!

Consider the following:

• Get an engine tune-up in the fall.  Switch to winter-weight oil if you aren’t already using all-season oil. Be sure all lights are in good working order. Have the brakes adjusted.
• Battery and voltage regulator should be checked. Make sure battery connections are good.
• If the battery terminal posts seem to be building up a layer of corrosion, clean them with a paste of baking soda and water. Let it foam, and then rinse with water. Apply a thin film of petroleum jelly to the terminal posts to prevent corrosion, and reconnect.
• Be sure all fluids are at proper levels. Antifreeze should not only be strong enough to prevent freezing, but fresh enough to prevent rust.
• Make sure wiper blades are cleaning properly. Consider changing to winter wiper blades, which are made for driving in snow. They are covered with a rubber boot to keep moisture away from working parts of the blade.
• Don’t idle a cold vehicle’s engine for along time to warm it up – it could harm the engine. The right way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it.

Try to be equipped with the following, especially for emergencies:

• Snow shovel.
• Scraper with a brush on one end.
• Tow chain or strap.
• Tire chains.
• Flashlight (with extra batteries).
• Abrasive material (cat litter, sand, salt, or traction mats).
• Jumper cables.
• Warning device (flares or reflective triangles).
• Brightly colored cloth to signal for help.
• Sleeping bags or blankets, ski caps, and mittens.
• First-aid supplies.
• Compass.

Getting Unstuck:

•   Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way. Keep a light touch on the gas, and ease forward. Don’t spin your wheels–you’ll just dig in deeper.
• Rocking the vehicle is another way to get unstuck. (Check your owner’s manual first–it can damage the transmission on some vehicles). Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
• Front-wheel drive vehicles, snow tires should be on the front – the driving axle – for better traction in mud or snow.
• Turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.
• If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
• If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), keep your foot on the pedal. If not, pump the pedal gently, pumping more rapidly as your car slows down. Braking hard with non-anti-lock brakes will make the skid worse.
• Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but  don’t try to steer immediately.
• As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently. 

Source: The National Safety Council’s “Winter, Your Car and You.”

If your rear wheels start to skid:

• Turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.
• If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
• If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), keep your foot on the pedal. If not, pump the pedal gently, pumping more rapidly as your car slows down. Braking hard with non-anti-lock brakes will make the skid worse.

If your front wheels start to skid:

• To avoid skids, brake carefully and gently on snow or ice. “Squeeze” your brakes in slow, steady strokes. Allow the wheels to keep rolling. If they start to lock up, ease off the brake pedal. As you slow down, you may also want to shift into a lower gear.
• When sleet, freezing rain or snow start to fall, remember that bridges, ramps, and overpasses are likely to freeze first. Also be aware that slippery spots may still remain after road crews have cleared the highways.

Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Driver’s Manual

Remember: Ice and Snow? Take it slow!

Ben Stein Loves Insurance Agents

An excerpt from Ben Stein’s article in the New York Times:

“Many years later, an insurance broker came to call on my wife about disability insurance. I scoffed at him and told him how incredibly unlikely it was that a healthy woman like my wife would ever be disabled. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘That’s what we think, too. That’s why it’s so cheap and pays so much if she does get disabled.’

I bought the policy, and when my wife did get temporarily disabled, it paid off magnificently and we needed it.

In particular, I’ve come to love insurance sales representatives. After many years of skepticism, and despite many warnings from consumer ‘experts,’ I have come to believe that you can rarely have too much insurance, and that whatever insurance you don’t have is exactly what you will wind up needing. The fact that so many people in insurance sell you what’s good for you, even when smart alecks are telling you not to buy it, makes their work extremely impressive. I wish I had paid more attention to them.“

As Ben Stein has come to appreciate, we hope that you also trust that at Asset Security, Inc. operates in a different league. We are genuinely concerned with helping you realize the best ways to protect your livelihood and your financial health.  At Asset Security, we realize the unique risks that each of our clients face and work tirelessly to safeguard them from catastrophe.

To let us help you choose personal or business insurance that is “good for you,” contact us at 914-598-3004 or jaime@assetsecurityrm.com.

Free Year-End Tax Planning Seminar

Like securing good insurance converage, managing your taxes is an important component of ensuring your financial health. I found information about this free seminar to be held in Hartford, CT through the  University of Connecticut Alumni Networking Group on LinkedIn:

“Ameriprise Financial invites you to join us for a special seminar, Managing Your Taxes: Use the Opportunities in Current Tax Laws*

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

50 Founders Plaza
East Hartford, CT 06108

This is an informational seminar. There is no cost or obligation. During this complimentary seminar, you’ll learn ways to: 

• Manage the amount you pay to the government in taxes.
• Align tax treatments with your investment objectives.
• Find the right balance of before- and after-tax investments for your situation.

Space is limited.  Please make a reservation by Monday, November 23, 2009 for you and up to 4 guests. Call 860-334-1404.”

*Disclaimer: Asset Security, Inc. may periodically provide information about other companies or websites, which might be useful for you.  Asset Security, Inc. does not endorse any of these companies or websites.  Asset Security, Inc. accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for their actions, contents, or for any consequences arising from any use of, or reliance on, the information provided by them.

Thanksgiving Insurance plus Pumpkin Spice Bars Recipe

Okay, there is no such thing as Thanksgiving insurance, but you can manage risks by cautiously cooking up that Thanksgiving storm (Thanksgiving Day is the peak day for home cooking fires and home insurance claims according to the National Fire Protection Association) and by ensuring that your home is protected with adequate insurance coverage.  Although financial times are tough, now is not the time to retreat and skimp on insurance; you may even consider increasing your limits.  During the holiday season, your home sees more guests bustling in and out, which may increase liability risks, and more cooking, which may expose safety hazards.

Below are a few things to be mindful of when entertaining your family and friends for the holiday:

“You can’t tell if a food is safe to eat by how it looks or tastes. Proper storage, cooking and handling are the only ways to ensure safe food.” Read this food safety information to prevent food poisoning.

If you are deep-frying your turkey, consider doing it in the garage or out on the deck. If you must do it inside, do not leave it unattended!

Stay in the kitchen while anything is being cooked. You want to make sure nothing spills, catches fire or boils over.

LEARN HOW TO PUT OUT A GREASE FIRE.

Be the Top Chef in your kitchen and make sure anyone helping you is being cautious.  Beware of letting children help in the kitchen–they can be injured and if it is a friend or relative’s child, a liability risk can arise.  

Invest in a fire extinguisher. It could stop a fire from becoming overwhelming and it can grant you a discount on your homeowner’s policy!

Push your sleeves up and wear fitted clothing so that loose articles don’t get set ablaze.

Keep your kitchen tidy and make sure paper towels, pot holders and packages are away from the stove.

Clean up spills or anything on the floor immediately to prevent slips and falls.  

Learn how to do the Heimlich Maneuver in case anyone is choking.

If anyone has had a bit too much to drink, do not let them drive away from your house. If they are involved in an accident, the subsequent liquor liability lawsuit could absolutely devastate your financial stability.

One guarantee for a great Thanksgiving is this recipe for pumpkin spice bars! It is yum in the tum and will give you a little insurance that everyone’s stomach is happy! 

Pumpkin Spice Bars

4 large eggs

1 3/4 cup sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups fresh pumpkin puree*

2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (avail in gourmet dept)

2 cups golden raisins 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In mixer, beat eggs until frothy.
• Add sugar and beat for 2 minutes.
• Beat in vegetable oil and pumpkin.
• Sift dry ingredients over the raisins and fold dry mixture into the egg mixture. Do not over mix.
• Pour into a greased and floured 13″x9″ pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until firm to touch in center.
• Cool on rack and cut into 24 squares.
• DEVOUR.

*To prepare fresh pumpkin for baking, follow these steps:

• The best and sweetest pumpkin to use is the sugar pumpkin. Baking it concentrates the sugars and flavors.
• Wash the pumpkin, discard the stem and quarter the pumpkin.
• Remove seeds and save.
• Place skin side down in a roasting pan filled with one inch of water
• Bake at 325 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until knofe pierces flesh easily.
• Remove from pan and cool
• Spoon out flesh infor food processor and process until smooth.

What Superlative Would Your Insurance Win?

Car insurance may not be all that glamorous, it probably would not win “Most Fun” in the high school yearbook and it may not be the hottest industry on the stage.  When the spotlight hits, though, it is undeniable what a star good insurance coverage can be.  Understanding the ins and outs of insurance can be complex, but it is of utmost importance to keep yourself educated about what your insurance policies are doing for you and how they will perform when you need it most.

Why Is it So Important? Like a good doctor, insurance is in place to heal you when you’ve been broken. It’s there to fix the worst case scenario. The goal of both medicine and insurance is to pick up the pieces and put them back together so that you look the same as you did before the loss occurred. Doctors may mend a broken arm or leg, while insurance fixes a broken car or home. What we must remember is that insurance is an important part of restoring your life, but it can be equally important when you are not the victim in an accident.

Car insurance liability limits are in place to pay for any bodily injury or property damage that you cause (and are found legally liable for) to another person. People often think that because they have insurance, they are covered, plain and simple. The fact is, though, that insurance has LIMITS. If the costs to rectify an accident fall outside of those limits, the victim may have no choice but to sue you for the remainder, causing you complete financial devastation. No bueno.

Want Some Examples?  My friend, [Low Limit] Lisa works for an NFL team and I recently discovered that her car insurance liability limits are shockingly low.  Her limit is 25/50/50: her insurance company will pay up to $25,000 to each person injured, but they will only pay a maximum of $50,000 total per accident (so they’ll only pay a max of $25K to two people) and they will pay a max of $50,000 for damage caused to property.  Let’s play pretend and imagine that she is pulling out of the player parking garage…

• Lisa hits a player, damaging his $100,000 car and breaking his $10 million running back leg
• Player sues Lisa for damages in court
• To fix the car, pay for his medical bills and make up for the wages he is losing while out of work, the court awards $500,000
• Lisa is now liable for $425,000 out of pocket
• Superlative: Most Likely to Drive Lisa into Deep Debt for Decades

We may not all work for professional sports teams, but we do interact with people and face risks on a daily basis. This one is a true story:

• My friend–we’ll call him Crash–was in a car accident last year
• He was at fault for hitting a Mercedes-Benz operated by a NYPD detective
• The accident wrecked the Benz, injured the detective’s shoulder, put him through surgery and rehabilitation and kept him out of work for 6 months
• The court awarded the detective $90,000 in a settlement.
• Crash’s insurance company paid for an attorney to represent
• Crash’s liability limit was a Combined Single Limit (as opposed to the split limits of 25/50/50 we saw earlier) of $500,000
• Superlative: Most Likely to Suffer NO Financial Loss

Another example:

• A restaurant owner has a teenage son who drives his car into someone’s luxury home
• Their insurance carries a $100,000 liability limit on property damage 
• Homeowner sues and court awards $2 million in damages
• Superlative: Most Likely to Foreclose Their Home and Sell Their Restaurant In Order to Pay the Remaining $1.9 Million

We never expect that we’ll be in such a position, but that is why insurance is so essential: it is our backup plan when the unexpected actually happens. Increasing your liability limits will cost a little more, but it is the smartest, easiest way to truly protect yourself and the life you’ve built in the event that the unthinkable occurs. Think of ways to cut back in other areas of your life–maybe you can put that Starbucks money toward having coverage that wins “Most Likely to Succeed.”

Talk to your insurance agent or call/e-mail us for guidance: 914-598-3004 or jaime@assetsecurityrm.com

NJ Motorists Must Comply w/ New Law or Get Caught on Thin Ice

NJ Legislators have passed a law requiring drivers to clear snow and ice from cars or be subject to a fine.

Let me set the scene: It’s the day after a snow storm and you need to head to the market, so you’re shoveling your driveway and digging your car out of the snow.  You clean off the snow and ice that have accumulated atop your vehicle and then you finally hit the road (if you haven’t stopped to take another shower and a nap because all that work got you perspiring and tired!).

You’re on the road now and even though the snow has stopped, you see snow and ice flying at your car from all directions because the cars in front of you failed to clear their cars of the wintery mix. Besides being a nuisance, snow and ice on cars presents a serious safety hazard. In the event that a sheet of ice becomes dislodged from a car, it could find its way to another car’s windshield, causing property damage, an accident or injury.

In an effort to protect drivers from this hazard, a recent New Jersey law requires motorists to make all reasonable efforts to remove ice or snow from vehicle or face a fine.  The lawstates that a police officer may stop a motorist whose vehicle has accumulated ice or snow which may pose a threat to persons or property.  The driver will be subject to a fine of not less than $25 or more than $75 for each offense, regardless of whether any snow or ice actually dislodged from the motor vehicle.  The law assures “no motor vehicle points or automobile insurance eligibility points shall be assessed for this offense.”

Though you may not live in New Jersey, take it upon yourself to clear your car of snow and ice before driving. The consequences of failing to do so could be much greater than a $75 fine.  If a piece of ice takes flight from your car, you could be held liable for damaging one’s property or causing bodily injury to another.

OH, DEER…

The Insurance Information Institute (III) reported that deer-to-vehicle collisions are on the rise, spiking 18.3% over the last five years. The average property damage cost of these incidents was $3,050 and if your policy does not cover deer collision, guess who’s paying. Unless you can harangue that deer to write you a check for a cool $3,000, the money will be coming out of your pocket.

Here’s How it Works:

• All states require motorists to have liability insurance. This means that if you are responsible for causing an accident, your insurance company will pay for any bodily injury or property damage to others…
• …But there is no mandate that you must insure against damage to your car.  Even the most cautious and conscientious driver can be involved in an accident, though, so you may consider securing collision and comprehensive coverage.  
• Collision coverage pays for loss due to collision with another vehicle or object (like a tree that came out of nowhere!). It also covers loss due to upset (if your car does a triple lutz or a back flip).
• Comprehensive coverage provides coverage for any direct damage to your vehicle other than collision. This includes: fire, theft, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, missiles (whoa), falling objects, hail or water, flood, vandalism, riot and civil commotion, glass breakage, contact with birds or animals (oh deer!)

Contact us for a complimentary policy review to ensure that your coverage protects your car adequately: 914-598-3004 or jaime@assetsecurityrm.com

Take Preventative Measures:

The III offers these defensive driving tips to avoid hitting a deer:

• Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions.
• Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland. Deer seldom run alone. If you see one deer, others may be nearby.
• When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway.
• Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
• Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in car/deer crashes were not wearing their seat belt.
• Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.

If your vehicle strikes a deer, get your car off the road, if possible, and call the police.

Happy and safe driving!

Gettin’ Busy: Growing Your Business Online

Last week I traveled to Boston for Safeco’s “Bricks & Clicks: Growing Your Business Online” workshop. I was a bit apprehensive because I thought I already knew everything there is to know about using the internet and the resources which it has to offer (ooh, the arrogance of today’s youth)!  My apprehension was met, though, by an incredibly informative workshop led by sharp, knowledgeable instructors. They were able to artfully deliver engaging presentations on topics that normally would have lulled me to sleep.  The wealth of information, ideas, advice, tools and resources the workshop provided was almost overwhelming, but exciting nonetheless.

I’ll share with you some of the valuable INSIDER information (ooh la la)! I learned and will be implementing on our re-vamped site!

What Your Customers Want:

• People want to manage their affairs and finances online
• …and they want to do it on their own time—are you there (with your online presence) when they need you?
• Online shoppers (i.e. looking for insurance quotes) want speed, convenience & objectivity à they want a virtual producer, available after the 9-5
• People network online; they refer, endorse and review
• Users look for relevancy, familiarity, quick answers/info and calls to action—what should they do next?
• LISTEN! They’ll tell you what they want! If not, ASK! 

How You Can Deliver with Your Website:

• Clarify: What you need, want and don’t want. Create a PLAN.
• Find out: Who is visiting and from where are they navigating?
• Ask: What do my customers/prospects expect when they get to my site?
• Address: User needs in terms of aesthetics, content, usability—you know what they say about first impressions!
• Try: The 5-sec test & have others test it for you: what will people glean from your site in 5 seconds? Will they know who you are and what you do?
• Engage: Identify valuable content! Keep it current and succinct.
• Use: Free advertising in your favor! Put customer feedback & testimonials on your website and use them to your advantage—they show your value to prospective customers!
• Create: a plan to review your site regularly. Keep it current!
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Improve the volume & quality of traffic to a website from search engines via search results
• Use: Free SEO tools like Google’s—www.google.com/webmasters/start  and check your page rank here: www.prchecker.info/check_page_rank.php  
• Or: Hire a SEO company. They improve your organic rating, ensure search-engine friendly content, conform to search engine guidelines, improve your site’s relevance in search results
• Use: E-mail marketing to build and strengthen customer relationships (marketing, upselling/cross-selling, newsletter); measure your results
• Have: A strategy! Be creative, implement an organized deployment plan (have a database or hire vendors/e-mail services that do it for you [i-contact, constant contact, jango mail, mail chimp, responsys, cheetah mail, epsilon, yes mail, exact target]
• Track and measure: Your marketing efforts! Is it working? What can you do to make it better?

Social Networking

Visit us on:

• It’s your digital business card! Extend your hub of connection, control your online reputation and reach out!
• A human approach to business and marketing
• Have a conversation w/ your audience & clients
• Engage audiences in an authentic way to provide helpful info, solve problems & build relationships to achieve business goals
• Address problems, concerns, what’s going on in your industry, news, relevant seasonal info, self-written articles, guest spots on your blog, community events and info
• Listen (gather feedback & customer insight)! Talk (spread the message about your company/product/service)! Energize (enthusiastic customers use the power of word of mouth)! Support (tools to help customers engage w/ you and each other)! Embrace (integrate customers into how your business works & use their help for new products or improved services)!

If you are a Safeco agent, seriously consider attending a Bricks & Clicks workshop in your area. I enthusiastically endorse the program!

Now go get busy!

Floody Waters: Insure Your Home/Business & Ensure Calm After the Storm

Erik de Castro, Reuters • Typhoon Ketsana ravages The Philippines

Flooding in the aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana has left millions in The Philippines devastated–the homes of nearly 1.9 million were flooded; displaced–nearly 380,000 people have been brought to evacuation centers; and dead–the death toll has risen to at least 240 and it is expected to increase as many remain missing (The National Disaster Coordinating Council).

The Philippines may seem worlds away from us, but just days ago, flooding in our state of Georgia has left many devastated, displaced and dead.  A woman in Georgia affected by the flood suggested that she “knows it’s not Katrina,” to which Vice President Biden replied, “For someone who is in a situation the people here in this shelter are in, it is Katrina. It is not Katrina in its scope by any stretch of the imagination, but the impact on their lives, on your lives, we understand it is Katrina.”

In a flash, disasters such as these remind us how inherently unpredictable and unforgiving nature is. Even if a hurricane or tropical storm doesn’t rip through your area, flooding is still a real threat. Anywhere it rains, it can flood. Whether floods are rare, unexpected or frequent where your home or business is, a flood risk is always present and it takes just an inch of water to cause damage to your property and disruption to your life or business.

Your homeowner, condo, renter and business policies do not cover damage by flooding (in fact, flooding is explicitly excluded), so it is important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains, snowmelt and other conditions that impact the U.S. Consider the possibilities of what flood damage can do to your assets… and then strongly consider protecting your home and business. If your home or business is covered by flood insurance, you can rest assured that there is calm after the storm.

Call or e-mail us at Asset Security to discuss protecting your home and business against flood damage. 914-598-3004 or jaime@assetsecurityrm.com.

Not-So-Fun Flood Facts…

Floods and flash floods happen in all 50 states.

Everyone lives in a flood zone.

Your car can easily be carried away by just two feet of floodwater.

Your home has a 26% chance of being damaged by a flood during the course of a 30-year mortgage, compared to a 9% chance of fire.

One-third of all claims paid are for policies in low-flood-risk communities.

Floods are the #1 most common natural disaster in the United States.

90% of floods aren’t declared federal disasters leaving the full cost to rebuild up to the home or business owner. Flood insurance protects you whether or not a disaster is declared.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) awarded over $16 billion in flood claims in 2005. Source: www.floodsmart.gov