Unlike hurricane, earthquakes and floods, damage to your home caused by tornadoes is covered under a basic home insurance policy. What many homeowners discover too late, however, is that their traditional homeowners insurance package was insufficient to help them repair or rebuild following a severe tornado event. Tornadoes are an extremely common natural disaster in the United States. According to the Disaster Prevention Organization, an average of 1,200 twisters touches down each year across the country. More than 200
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Before making plans to enjoy the outdoors in your RV this summer, be sure that you have the insurance coverage you need before traveling. An RV insurance policy will offer you coverage for a wide range of circumstances that basic car insurance policies are not designed to cover. What makes a good RV insurance policy? Most RV insurance policies also offer liability and personal belonging replacement limits that are higher than car insurance policies. After all, you keep many more items of considerable value in your RV than
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Whether it is the winter storms in the northern part of the country, tornadoes in the south central and Midwest, or hurricanes along coastal regions, storms affect everyone. Preparing your home for the next big storm is an important part of homeownership. The American Red Cross has a great checklist of steps you can take to protect your family, home and belongings from storm damage. Here are the highlights: Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for storm updates from the National Weather Service. Check your disaster
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It’s that time of year that most boat owners start dusting off the motors, untangling the fishing line and replacing old or broken equipment. Preparing the boat for a new season can be time consuming and require a bit of an investment, but you don’t want to be stranded on the water the first time out this year. You prepare your boat because you enjoy the relaxation and entertainment of being on the lake, river or ocean. You also have boat insurance for when all of those careful preparations are just not enough. According
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When your teenager starts driving it can be a scary yet liberating experience for both of you. You need to make sure your teen is safe behind the wheel and understand your expectations. In addition, you need to protect yourself and your teen by making sure you have sufficient car insurance. When your teenager gets his or her driver’s license, you must immediately add them to your auto insurance policy. Most Texas personal auto insurance policies extend liability coverage to anyone driving one of your covered vehicles with
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Getting ready to head out for a vacation? Be sure to take all of the necessary precautions to keep your home safe while you are away. You can avoid the stress of worrying, and make sure you don’t come home to a disaster. Tell someone you can trust—family, friends or neighbors—the exact dates you will be gone and ask them to keep an eye on your home. On the other hand, don’t broadcast your plans on social media or to anyone else who doesn’t absolutely have to know of your whereabouts. Leave a key to your home with
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If you live in a historic home how serious are you about preserving its heritage? Living in a community or property that has historical significance can be exciting and fun, but you can also enjoy elevated real estate values, so long as you look after the property carefully. When insuring historic homes what type of coverage should you look for? You need to have all your replacement options covered. Will you be opting for full restoration, or something not quite as authentic? It's important to check your historic home
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The consumer advocacy publication Consumer Reports offers a variety of tips for safe travel at Christmas time. Have a full tank of gas before you leave. Check your fluids and tire pressure and make adjustments if necessary. Bring a winter emergency kit that includes a flashlight, blankets, a first aid kit, some basic tools, water, snacks, an ice scraper and snowbrush, a towrope, jumper cables and sand or kitty litter (for traction if you get stuck). Pack lightly and don’t overload your car. Also be sure to pack
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Christmas tree lights can cause electric shock and fire. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, one-fifth of the injuries from holiday decorations treated in hospital emergency rooms are associated with Christmas tree lights. And Christmas trees are involved in nearly 400 fires every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association, resulting in more than a dozen deaths, dozens of injuries and more than $10 million in property damage and loss. Short circuiting lights are cited as the main cause
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