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Monday, October 17, 2011

Winter-Proof Your Home

Home damages related to winter exceed a billion dollars in losses each year.  A staggering statistic!  Even the Deep South is not exempt, because The Farmers’ Almanac is predicting COLDER THAN NORMAL temperatures this winter for “the eastern third of the country, (New England down to Florida and as far west as the lower Ohio River and Mississippi River Valley).

The Insurance Information Institute recommends the following to protect your home from extreme weather and a winter-related disaster:
+ Clean out gutters and install gutter-guards
+ Trim trees and remove dead branches
+ Repair stairs and handrails
+ Seal cracks in outside walls and foundations
+ Keep your house warm and have your heating system serviced
+ Add attic insulation
+ Make sure your smoke and fire alarms are working
+ Protect any outside pipes

“Standard homeowners policies cover winter-related disasters such as burst pipes, ice dams, and wind damage caused by weight of ice or snow, as well as fire-related losses,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. “Coverage for flooding is available from the National Flood Insurance Program and from some private insurance companies. Winter-related damage to cars is generally covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.”

Now is a good time to contact your Trusted Choice agent and and review your insurance coverages to be sure you have adequate coverage and proper endorsements such as water/sewer backup.

Your Trusted Choice agent can analyze your personal and business operations and recommend coverages from a variety of insurance providers for you to consider. They can also help you find cost effective ways to manage your risk exposures, implement safety and security plans, and understand different deductible levels. All of these will help you to manage your overall cost and help you to understand the complexities of the coverage you need.

To help you through the maze of coverages, carriers, premiums, and ways to save money on your insurance, if you are on the Gulf Coast, contact your Trusted Choice agent, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com/ / , SERVICE TEAM: Angelyn Treutel, Tammy Garfield, Tammy Hogue, Wendy Johnson, Denise Russell, Melissa Moran, Alex Treutel, Mike Benvenutti, and Whitney Zimmerman at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: atreutel@southgroup.net , phone:228-466-4498, fax:888-415-8922, FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast , or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel !

We offer the following Lines of Coverage: Workers Compensation, Auto, Home, Life, Health, Disability, Motorcycle, Boat, Wind, Flood, Commercial Property, General Liability, Directors and Officers Liability, Bonds, Group and Individual Life/Health/Dental/Disability/Vision/Long Term Care, Business Owners, Builders Risk, Commercial Crime, Errors and Omissions, Dwelling Fire, Commercial Flood, Group Accident, Garage Dealers, Inland Marine, Law Enforcement Liability, Pollution Liability, Professional Liability, Personal Umbrella, Commercial Fire, Commercial Umbrella, Excess Flood, Identity Theft, more…

We serve Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and many other states. We specialize in coastal exposures.