Oak Creek Insurance Agency

By

Be Informed

Disaster_EmergencyPreparednessChecklistLearn what protective measures to take before, during, and after an emergency.

MYTH: I DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT DISASTERS WHERE I LIVE.

Emergency preparedness is not only for Californians, Midwesterners and Gulf Coast residents. Most communities may be impacted by several types of hazards during a lifetime. Americans also travel more than ever before to areas with different hazard risks than at home.

Knowing what to do before, during and after an emergency is a critical part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count. Use this site to learn about potential emergencies that can happen and how to prepare for and respond to them.

BASIC PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR ALL HAZARDS

Some basic protective actions are similar across many different hazards:

  • Physical safety is a concern for all hazards and may involve sheltering or evacuating.
  • Develop a family communications plan
  • Make an emergency supply kit to be prepared for any type of disaster.
  • Learn about receiving emergency alerts and local emergency plans for shelter and evacuation, local emergency contacts, and local advance alerts and warnings.
  • When recovering from a disaster, safety as well as mental and physical well-being must be considered.

DISASTER SPECIFIC PREPAREDNESS

There are important differences among potential emergencies that should impact the decisions you make and the actions you take.

This site contains the following helpful information for each type of disaster:

  • How to plan with your household and prepare in advance so you are ready
  • Signs of hazardous events that come with very little warning
  • How to protect your household during the disaster
  • Begin recovery following the initial disaster

Learn this information for each type of disaster that could affect you:

  • Natural Disasters
  • Technological & Accidental Hazards
  • Terrorist Hazards
  • Pandemics
  • Home Fires

Source: FEMA. “Be Informed” http://www.ready.gov. Accessed December 2, 2015. http://www.iii.org. http://www.ready.gov/be-informed

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

By

IN: June Is National Home Safety Month

Dear Valued Customer,

This issue of “———————–” is focused on home safety. According to the Home Safety Council (HSC), unintentional injuries in the home result in nearly 21 million medical visits each year. During “Home Safety Month,” the HSC uses education to empower both families and businesses to take actions that will make homes safe.

Read about the HSC and their leading role in protecting life and promoting help in our country. Understand important safety issues and find out how to make a difference.

We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,

By

National Safety Month

People_Disaster_ChildInMedicineCabinet-PoisonInjuries are a leading cause of disability for people of all ages – and they are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44. But many injuries can be prevented when people practice safe behaviors.

Make a difference: Spread the word about strategies for reducing the risk of injuries. Encourage communities, workplaces, families, and individuals to identify and report safety hazards.

How can National Safety Month make a difference?

We can all use this month to raise awareness about important safety issues like:

  • Prescription drug abuse
  • Slips, trips, and falls
  • Being aware of your surroundings
  • Distracted driving
  • Staying safe in the summer heat
  • Everyone can get involved in reducing the risk of injuries. Together, we can share information about steps people can take to protect themselves and others.

How can I help spread the word?

We’ve made it easier for you to make a difference! This toolkit is full of ideas to help you take action today. For example:

Add information about safety to your newsletter.

  • Tweet about National Safety Month.
  • Host a community event where families can learn about the many ways to prevent injuries.
  • Add this Web badge to your Web site, blog, or social networking profile.

Source: healthfinder.gov. “National Safety Month” http://healthfinder.gov/NHO/JuneToolkit2.aspx Accessed December 2, 2015.

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

By

National Safety Council

Trouble ahead concept, Businessman with umbrella standing in theThe National Safety Council (NSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nongovernmental public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health in the United States of America. Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, NSC is a member organization, founded in 1913 and granted a congressional charter in 1953. Members include more than 55,000 businesses, labor organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals. NSC is nonpolitical and does not contribute to or support any political party or candidate.

NSC focuses on areas where the greatest number of preventable injuries and deaths occur. The areas NSC focuses on include: workplace safety, teen driving, cell phone use while driving and safety in homes and communities.

History: First Cooperative Safety Congress

In 1912 the first Cooperative Safety Congress was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The event was sponsored by the Association of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers. The approximately 200 attendees, representing industry and government, resolved to “organize and create a permanent body devoted to the promotion of the safety to human life in the industries of the United States.[1]

Formation of National Safety Council

At the Second Safety Congress in 1913, the National Council for Industrial Safety was established. It was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and Robert W. Campbell served as first president and William H. Cameron served as secretary.[2] The name was changed to National Safety Council in 1914 to reflect the organization’s expanded scope to include traffic and home safety. As membership increased, the NSC began producing posters, technical fact sheets, and other publications.[3] In 1953, the U.S. Congress and President Dwight D. Eisenhower recognized the importance of the NSC’s efforts with a Congressional charter to: “…arouse and maintain the interest of the people of the United States… in safety and in accident prevention, and to encourage the adoption and institution of safety methods by all persons, corporations, and other organizations.”[4]

Focus areas

Traffic safety
Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of unintentional injury deaths. NSC has teamed with public and private partners to lead the effort to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the road.

Defensive driving
The National Safety Council has offered defensive driving courses since 1964 was the first approved course in New Jersey and New York.[5]

Fleet safety
The NSC and its partners have hosted various symposia to bring international attention to the number of fleet driver fatalities that occur and to develop strategies for protecting workers while on the road.

Teen driving
NSC has a strategy to reduce teen driving motor vehicle fatalities by 30 percent over the next four years. Through education about Graduated Driver Licensing, an education process proven to reduce teen driving fatalities by 20 to 40 percent by gradually exposing teen drivers to higher crash risk situations. GDL puts restrictions on high crash risk factors such as passengers and nighttime driving.

Workplace safety
NSC is aligned with government agencies, such as OSHA and the Department of Labour, to further strengthen workplace safety and help reduce the number of unintentional injuries and fatalities.

Training
NSC offers training courses for occupational safety and health, driver improvement and emergency care.

Off-the-job
NSC brought together multi-national corporate leaders and federal safety experts to establish the nation’s first Off-the-Job Safety Symposium to help bring about a reduction of injury-related fatalities that occur off-the-job.

Home and community safety
Emergency preparedness/first aid
The NSC is a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps, a network of organizations and individuals dedicated to raising awareness about the need for preparedness. Since the NSC’s Emergency Care Services program began in 1991, more than 8 million rescuers have been trained in the program.

Elder falls
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among older adults. The NSC is part of the Falls Free Coalition, which hopes to advance the national action plan among key national stakeholders and build community awareness and support for fall prevention activities among older adults.

Safe Communities America
As part of the World Health Organization’s Safe Communities program, NSC is a designated Affiliate Safe Communities Support Center and Safe Communities Certifying Center for the United States. Communities apply for the Safe Communities designation by indicating their long-term commitment to the promotion of safety.

Organization
Board of Directors and Board of Delegates
NSC is governed by a Board of Directors and a Board of Delegates. The Board of Directors [1] manages fiduciary and strategic affairs. The Board of Delegates develops the mission agenda, creates public policies, and tracks safety, health and environmental trends. More than 2,000 volunteers, drawn from NSC industry volunteer divisions, assist the boards in determining policies, operating procedures and programs to be developed and implemented by the Council’s professional staff.

Chapters
The National Safety Council’s network of 40 local Chapters [2] conducts safety, health and environmental efforts at the community level, providing training, conferences, workshops, consultation, newsletters, updates and safety support materials, as well as networking avenues. Located in cities and towns across the United States, the Chapters provide a voice for advocating local safety issues.

Networking and events
Divisions or Special Interest Groups
Members of NSC are segmented into Divisions, also known as special interest groups.[3] Division members plan and create programs for the annual NSC Congress & Expo, and participate in discussions of research findings, new concepts, trends, and solutions for safety challenges. Divisions meet twice a year and have ongoing communications. The divisions are Business & Industry, Construction, Highway Traffic Safety, Labor, Motor Transportation, and Utilities. Some divisions are further segmented into sections.

NSC Congress and Expo
Held each fall, the NSC Congress & Expo [4] attracts between 15,000-18,000 safety and health professionals, plus industry suppliers from around the world. The event showcases the latest safety and health products and services, and provides an opportunity for members to exchange ideas and learn about new safety technologies and training methods. Members attending the annual Congress can also earn continuing education credits by participating in technical sessions and professional development seminars.

National Safety Month
In 1996 NSC established June as National Safety Month [5] to increase awareness of the leading safety and health risks and ultimately decrease the number of unintentional injuries and deaths. Each week focuses on a specific safety venue: workplace, traffic, home, and community.[6]

See also
Department of Public Safety
Robert W. Campbell Award
CEOs Who Get It – Every year Safety+Health Magazine recognizes CEOs who have made safety a core value of their organization. CEOs Who “Get It” ensure that best practices for safety and health are adopted consistently throughout their companies. They lead the establishment and measurement of safety initiatives throughout the organization. They create systems that measure and reward employees for their safety performance to drive the desired behavior. CEOs Who “Get It” who have been featured in the National Safety Council’s Safety+Health magazine are listed to the right.
Rising Stars of Safety – Celebrating the safety leaders of tomorrow, the NSC Rising Stars of Safety program recognizes individuals younger than 40 who have distinguished themselves by improving workplace safety.
Does your company have an early- to mid-career employee who has resolved a difficult safety problem?
Is there a young safety innovator in your department whose ideas have helped eliminate workplace hazards, reduce exposure and minimize risk?
Or has a particular member of your team gone above and beyond to transform your organization’s safety culture?
Green Cross Medal for Safety
Notes and references[edit] Jump up ^ First Co-operative Safety Congress, National Safety Council, Chicago, IL, 1912.
Jump up ^ Second Safety Congress of the National Council for Industrial Safety, National Safety Council, Chicago, IL 1913.
Jump up ^ Third Annual Safety Congress of the National Safety Council, Chicago, IL, 1914
Jump up ^ Transactions of the National Safety Council, Forty-First Annual Safety Congress, Chicago, IL, 1953.
Jump up ^ Imhoff, C. “DDC – The First 10 Years.” Traffic Safety v.74 no.10, October 1974, pp.8-11,35-37.
Jump up ^ “June is National Safety Month.” Safety & Health v.153 no.6, June 1996, p.26
External links[edit] National Safety Council Official Website
Safety+Health magazine
Categories: Safety organizationsMedical and health organizations based in the United StatesCompanies established in 1913Non-profit organizations based in IllinoisItasca, IllinoisPatriotic and national organizations chartered by the United States Congress

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.

Source: Wikipedia. “National Safety Council” http://www.wikipedia.org. Accessed December 2, 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Safety_Council

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

By

What Is Covered By Standard Homeowners Insurance?

Understanding the four essential protections provided by your homeowners policy

Homeowners coverage provides financial protection against loss due to disasters, theft and accidents. Most standard policies include four essential types of coverage: Coverage for the structure of your home; Coverage for your personal belongings; Liability protection; Coverage for Additional Living Expenses

Coverage for the structure of your home

Your homeowners policy pays to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged or destroyed by fire, hurricane, hail, lightning or other disasters listed in your policy. Most policies also cover detached structures such as a garage, tool shed or gazebo—generally for about 10 percent of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of the house.

A standard policy will not pay for damage caused by a flood, earthquake or routine wear and tear.

When purchasing coverage for the structure of your home, remember this simple guideline: Purchase enough coverage to rebuild your home.

Coverage for your personal belongings

Your furniture, clothes, sports equipment and other personal items are covered if they are stolen or destroyed by fire, hurricane or other insured disasters. The coverage is generally 50 to 70 percent of the insurance you have on the structure of the house.

The best way to determine if this is enough coverage is to conduct a home inventory.

Personal belongings coverage includes items stored off-premises—this means you are covered anywhere in the world. Some companies limit the amount to 10 percent of the amount of insurance you have for your possessions. You also have up to $500 of coverage for unauthorized use of your credit cards.

Expensive items like jewelry, furs, art, collectibles and silverware are covered, but there are usually dollar limits if they are stolen. To insure these items to their full value, purchase a special personal property endorsement or floater and insure the item for its officially appraised value.

Trees, plants and shrubs are also covered under standard homeowners insurance—generally for about $500 per item. Trees and plants are not covered for disease, or if they have been poorly maintained.

Liability covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members cause to other people. It also pays for damage caused by your pets. So, if your son, daughter (or even your dog) accidentally ruins a neighbor’s expensive rug, you are covered. (However, if they destroy your rug, you’re out of luck.)

The liability portion of your policy pays for both the cost of defending you in court and any court awards—up to the limit stated in your policy documents.

Liability limits generally start at about $100,000, however, it’s a good idea to discuss whether you should purchase a higher level of protection with your insurance professional. If you have significant assets and want more coverage than is available under your homeowners policy, consider purchasing an umbrella or excess liability policy, which provides broader coverage and higher liability limits.

Your policy also provides no-fault medical coverage, so if a friend or neighbor is injured in your home, he or she can simply submit medical bills to your insurance company. This way, expenses can be paid without a liability claim being filed against you. It does not, however, pay the medical bills for your own family or your pet.

Additional living expenses (ALE)

ALE pays the additional costs of living away from home if you cannot live there due to damage from a an insured disaster. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other costs, over and above your usual living expenses, incurred while your home is being rebuilt.

Keep in mind that the ALE coverage in your homeowners policy has limits—and some policies include a time limitation. However, these limits are separate from the amount available to rebuild or repair your home. Even if you use up your ALE your insurance company will still pay the full cost of rebuilding your home up to the policy limit.

If you rent out part of your house, ALE also covers you for the rent that you would have collected from your tenant if your home had not been destroyed.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “What Is Covered by Standard Homeowners Insurance?” iii.org website. Accessed May 2019. https://www.iii.org/article/what-covered-standard-homeowners-policy

© Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.