Be Ready, Nat´l Preparedness Month is Here! Series - Part 1 - Developing a Family Disaster Plan

Would you be ready if there were an emergency? Throughout September there will be activities across the country to promote emergency preparedness. More than 3,000 organizations – national, regional, and local public and private organizations – are supporting emergency preparedness efforts and encouraging all Americans to take action.

September 2014 marks the eleventh annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.   Visit our Blog all this week to learn valuable tips for preparing for unexpected events.

Developing a Family Disaster Plan

Families can cope with disasters by preparing in advance and working together as a team. If something were to happen, how would you contact one another, how would you get to a safe place, and what would you do in different emergency situations? Planning what to do before a disaster strikes provides the best protection for you and your family.

Create a Family Communication Plan

Because you and your family may not be together when a disaster hits, it’s important to create a communication plan to help you and your loved ones connect and get help. Complete a contact card for each family member. Have them keep these cards handy in a wallet, purse, or backpack.

More Tips:

·         Identify an out-of-town contact, such as a friend or relative, who family members can call to let them know they are safe. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, because phone lines can be jammed. An out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

·         Teach your family members how to text. It may seem like second nature to some of us, but not everyone texts. During an emergency it’s often easier to get a text message delivered rather than a phone call.

·         Subscribe to an Emergency Alert System. Check with your local health department or Emergency Management Agency to see if there is one offered for your area. Post emergency telephone numbers by home phones or save them in your cell phone (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).

·         Teach children how and when to call 911 for help.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debunking Insurance Myths - Series Final

Insurance is about managing risk. Insurance companies use sophisticated algorithms to determine how risky each of us is, and they price policies accordingly. That's why smokers pay more for health insurance and bad drivers pay more for car insurance.

Still, insurance can be confusing and aggressive sales agents only make the problem worse. To help clear things up, we're debunking some of the most pervasive myths about different types of insurance.

Life Insurance

Myth: Everybody needs life insurance.

If you have dependents or shared debts with anyone else, then you absolutely need to have life insurance. But if you're single with no outstanding debt, life insurance is optional. The only benefit of having it is to cover the cost of medical or funeral expenses that may come up. But if you have sufficient assets to cover those costs, than life insurance isn't necessary.

 

FACT:

When the beneficiary receives the death benefit from a life insurance policy, the money is free from income tax. The money that is accumulating in the cash value account is also tax free. If you decide to borrow against your policy by receiving a policy loan, the money will not be subject to taxation. However, your policy proceeds can bump your estate value above the federal threshold and trigger a tremendous federal tax hit--as much as 55 percent. The easiest way to avoid estate taxes on your policy is to assign it to another owner, such as the beneficiary, who isn't named to your estate. As long as it is outside your estate at the time of your death, the policy is safe.
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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.





 

Debunking Insurance Myths - Series Part 3

Insurance is about managing risk. Insurance companies use sophisticated algorithms to determine how risky each of us is, and they price policies accordingly. That's why smokers pay more for health insurance and bad drivers pay more for car insurance.

Still, insurance can be confusing and aggressive sales agents only make the problem worse. To help clear things up, we're debunking some of the most pervasive myths about different types of insurance.

 

Homeowner's Insurance

Myth: If something happens to your home, you'll be given the money to replace your items.

Many people mistakenly believe their homeowner's insurance will pay for them to replace an item if it's damaged or stolen, but that's not usually how it works. If you lose an old computer most policies won't foot the bill for a brand new one. All they'll give you is the amount of cash your old one was worth when you lost it. Policies do exist that cover full replacement of items, but you'll pay a higher monthly premium for those.

FACT: According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), homeowners insurance covers the structure and contents of your house in case of damage. It is also required by lenders as long as you have a mortgage.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debunking Insurance Myths - Series Part 2

Insurance is about managing risk.  Insurance companies use sophisticated algorithms to determine how risky each of us is, and they price policies accordingly. That's why smokers pay more for health insurance and bad drivers pay more for car insurance.

Still, insurance can be confusing and aggressive sales agents only make the problem worse. To help clear things up, we're debunking some of the most pervasive myths about different types of insurance.

Renter's Insurance

Myth: Your landlord's insurance will cover your stuff if something happens to the building.

Your landlord has building insurance, but the coverage does not extend to replacing your stuff. That's your responsibility. Don't expect someone else to pick up the tab if your property is ruined or stolen. That's what renter's insurance is for.

Important Fact : Coverage

Renters insurance can provide coverage for items and incidents inside and outside of an apartment or rental house. Renters are usually aware that belongings stolen from their homes could be covered by renters insurance, but fewer may be aware that items stolen from their vehicles could be covered as well. A renter whose child floods an apartment bathroom by leaving water running in a bathtub would likely end up paying out of pocket for the damage caused by the incident without renters insurance. That's because landlords' insurance policies usually cover damage to their buildings if the damage isn't caused by a tenant.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.