How to Prepare for a Hurricane

A Hurricane Watch is issued 48 hours prior to the anticipated onset of the tropical storm conditions. A hurricane is defined as sustained winds of 74 mph or higher and occurs within a specified area associated with a tropical, subtropical or post-tropical cyclone. It is important that you begin to prepare your home and review your plan for evacuation once a warning goes into effect. The National Weather Service (NWS) continuously broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts and non-weather related hazards on NOAA Weather Radio All Hazard (NWR).

Family Emergency Plan

It is important to prepare yourself and your loved ones for the unexpected. Prior to developing a plan, be sure you understand the hazards. Find out from your local National Weather Service office exactly what type of emergencies could occur and how you should respond to them. Assess your home and identify how you can make your dwelling safer. Choose two places for your family to meet in case of an emergency: one outside your home and another away from your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Choose an out-of-state family member or friend as a point of contact, in case everyone becomes separated in an emergency.

As part of your plan, post emergency numbers by the phone. Be sure your home is equipped with safety features, such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Look for objects in your home that can fall, break or catch fire and move or rearrange them. It might be a good idea for your family members to learn CPR and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and, how and when to turn off water, gas and electricity in your home. Assemble an emergency supplies kit and store it in a sturdy, easy-to-carry container and keep important documents in a waterproof container.

Before a Hurricane Hits…

Fill your car’s gas tank, once a hurricane watch is issued. Shutter or board up the windows in your house. Secure loose items in your yard, such as lawn furniture. Fill the bathtub with water to use for washing and cleaning. Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the lowest setting.

If you must evacuate…

If you are forced to evacuate, before returning to your home, assess the damage by checking for loose power lines, gas leaks and any structural damage. DO NOT ENTER if you smell gas, there is floodwater around the building or your home was damaged by fire and has not yet been declared safe. If it’s safe to go inside your home, enter carefully and check for damage. Be careful of loose boards or slippery floors. If you smell gas, open a window and leave your home. Turn off the main gas valve from outside, if possible. Turn off the electricity if appliances inside your home are wet or you notice any frayed or broken wires. If pipes are damaged, turn off the main water valve. Be careful when opening cabinets for objects that may have shifted and can fall. Be sure to TAKE PICTURES of any damage to show your insurance agent and keep records of repair and cleaning costs.

How can I receive compensation in the event that my home is damaged?

Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not include coverage for flood damage. Most standard flood policy limits are $250,000 for dwelling and $100,000 for personal property. Give us a call today to discuss which flood policy would be a good fit for you.

Flood Insurance: A Wise Investment for Most

In a high-risk area, your home is more than twice as likely to be damaged by flood than by fire.
Last year, about 25% of claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program weren’t in high-risk areas.
Flood insurance may be required to close your loan.

Why Purchase Flood Insurance?

It’s the most common natural disaster in the United States and is not limited to coastal areas.
Flood damage is not covered under a standard homeowners policy. See what just a few inches of water can do to your home. Watch FloodSmart’s interactive demo. Keep in mind that flood maps have changed recently, so you could be at increased risk for flooding as a result of natural disasters and not know it. Visit floodsmart.gov for a Flood Map Update Schedule.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover?

Through USAA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), you can be protected from:
- Overflow of lakes, rivers, streams and drainage systems
- Coastal high tides or storm surges
- Unusual and rapid accumulation of surface water runoff
- Mudflow caused by excessive rain

Coverage through USAA and the National Flood Insurance Program is available up to $250,000 for your home and $100,000 for its contents. Through the USAA Insurance Agency Inc., coverage is also available in excess of $250,000 dwelling and $100,000 contents through a third-party carrier. It provides up to $25,000 for additional living expenses and provides maximum coverage on high-value properties.
Don’t wait for a flood threat to occur — a 30-day waiting period applies.

Other Important Considerations

Life Insurance

Flooding kills more people in the U.S. each year than hurricanes, tornadoes, wind storms or lightning, according to the National Weather Service. Belongings can be replaced, but people cannot. Life insurance can provide loved ones with financial security during a time of tragedy.

Financial Assistance

Whether it’s the recession, declining home values, or a tough job market, financial problems can make natural disasters even worse. USAA is dedicated to helping members and their families achieve financial security and can help guide you through tough economic times. Members enjoy access to free financial advice.

More Flood and Water Damage Protection Tips

See the Flood Smart list of additional tips and recommendations from the National Flood Insurance Program for preparing and safeguarding your home and your family from the dangers of flooding.

We can help you find a customized boat insurance policy that’s right for you. You can be at ease each time you head out for a spin knowing that you are covered for Roadside Assistance, On-Water Towing, Total Loss Replacement, plus a number of other options. The type of coverage you may need can also vary – we can insure a personal watercraft, jet boat, sailboat, fishing boat or even a house boat.

When choosing the best coverage for you, it’s important to consider the following. Some homeowners’ policies will offer boat coverage up to a certain size or value. It’s important that you verify the coverage limits, if any, offered by your homeowners’ (HO) insurance because your boat or watercraft may be too big or too expensive to be included on this policy. Even if you are covered, you should also consider the options for specialized insurance, which may not be offered under a HO policy. Roadside assistance, which covers the towing of your boat; On-Water Towing, in case you become stranded on the water; Fuel Spill Liability and Wreckage Removal coverage can also be added to your boat insurance policy. Other important points for consideration when choosing a policy include travel limitations (some coverage is only valid within a certain radius) and replacement costs (certain companies only offer actual cash value if your boat is damaged or destroyed). You may also want to look into Uninsured Boater coverage, which protects you against damage or injury caused by another boater who does not have boat insurance.

Contact us at Morrell today to find out how you can obtain property and liability insurance for your boat or personal watercraft and how you can customize your coverage to include some of the features mentioned above. Bon voyage!

Immediately following an accident, try to stay as calm as possible. Check for injuries and call an ambulance in case of any doubt. If it is a minor accident, move the cars to a safe place, away from traffic. Turn on your hazard lights and, if you have them, use cones or flares to warn other vehicles. Call the police, even if the incident is minor. Be sure to contact your insurance agent right away.

The police will prepare an accident report which you will need to give to your insurance agent. Do not sign anything unless it is for the police or your insurance agent. Take notes on the incident, including specific damage to all vehicles, witnesses, etc. It is a good idea to take photos immediately of damage (to vehicles and/or property), the accident scene (road conditions, skid marks, debris in roadway, position of vehicles), location identifiers (intersection, address, exit number) and ID information (insurance cards, license plates). Request driver information and auto registration (especially if the two are different) from the other parties involved. If the driver and registration are different, write down the relationship between the two. Be sure to document the names, phone numbers, addresses and email addresses of all occupants, including number of occupants in other vehicle(s), as well as witnesses, the location of the accident (intersection, address, exit number), the company name, policy number and phone number for the other party’s insurance carrier, any emergency service responders (officer name(s), badge number, ambulance company, fire department). Do not ever say that the accident was your fault, even if you think it was. Just state the facts and keep the discussion of the accident to a minimum, mainly with the police and your insurance agent. Try not to leave the scene of the accident before the police and other parties do.

We hope that you will not need to use this information, but in the event that you are involved in an accident, try to remain calm and follow the suggestions mentioned above. Please contact us immediately if you are involved in an auto collision. Remember we are in business to service and protect your interest.

The cost of being held liable for property damage or bodily injury that occurs at your event, or for an alcohol related incident, could end up being quite significant in comparison to the expense of hosting the event itself. For this reason, it is extremely important to protect your risk with event liability insurance. Often, venues will request that you provide proof of event insurance, sometimes listing them as an “additional insured” on your event liability policy, before they will agree to hold your event.

With Special Event Liability Insurance, you can obtain coverage for bodily injury and property damage liability, host liquor liability and even for an endorsement should you need to cancel the event. If you must cancel or postpone your celebration, event insurance will often cover all the funds lost in deposits for venues and services. It may also cover theft or damages to equipment or property, such as video and photography equipment, venue furnishings and even formal attire. If you find yourself overwhelmed with preparing for the event, do not worry, you can purchase liability insurance up to the day before your event. Give us a call today to find out how you can protect yourself from liabilities during your special day.

You can purchase landlord’s rental property insurance in one of two ways: as landlord’s rental dwelling insurance (rental buildings designed for one to four families) or rental condominium insurance (for condo rentals). With respect to the building coverage, you may obtain coverage only for fires or for losses in general. Fire insurance may be purchased on a “basic” or “special” form basis. The basic form provides coverage on a “named perils” basis. Named perils include fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, explosions and smoke. Special form policies provide coverage for all types of losses, unless they are excluded (for example mold and mildew). However, both policies only cover “sudden and accidental” losses. Those which occur over a period of time (such as leaking toilets that lead to dry rot) are not covered. Additional coverage can be added to include loss of rent, general liability, or additional umbrella insurance.

Another way to protect your investment property is with a Business Owners Package (BOP), which bundles all available coverage into one policy. Fire coverage (on a special form basis), loss of rents, theft of money or loss of business property owned by the insured are just some of the provisions that may be written in a BOP policy. Terrorism insurance is also available, but exposure is usually limited. Exclusions may include employment practices liability, wrongful termination, discrimination and earthquake coverage.

At Morrell, we can help you find the type of policy that is right for your investment property. Give us a call today to find out what options will best meet your insurance needs!

Nancy became president of Wm. E. Morrell, Inc. in 1972 when she took over her father’s business in order to support her two boys, John and Eric who were young children at the time. Today, she works with her son John and grandsons Rick and Bruce at the agency, which is now 104 years old and the oldest agency in White Plains. She was the first person of the Aetna Casualty & Surety in her area to purchase the Gemini, the Aetna computer.

Nancy has served on the Board of the IIAWC among her many contributions. She is also currently Vice President of the Memorial United Methodist Church in White Plains, having served many years as President of the Trustees, a head usher, a Board member of the Early Childhood Center and Board member & President of the Joint Council of Shared Ministries, an alliance between the Korean Congregation and Memorial United Methodist Church. She is also Vice President of the White Plains Rural Cemetery.

In addition to these contributions, her many achievements include:
• 2003 Honored by Church Women United (CWU)
• President of the White Plains Agents Association
• Executive Board member of the White Plains Republican Committee
• Ran the stewardship campaign at the United Methodist Church (MUMC) for 3 years
• A committee member for the reconciling ministries
• Finance Chair for the MUMC for many years
• Served on the IIABNY board for 2 terms
• Both she and Wm. E. Morrell, Inc. were recognized by IIABNY for over 55 years of continuous membership
• Wm. E. Morrell, Inc. was part of the Great Performance Club for many years, one of a select group of Independent Insurance Agencies to qualify for membership in an organization dedicated to the highest standards of excellency among agencies representing Aetna (now merged with Travelers).

We at Morrell would like to congratulate Nancy and express our gratitude for all that she has done for the agency and her community. We are very proud of this and her many other achievements!

At Morrell, we offer policies that are designed to provide you with adequate coverage for your landscaping business. Give us a call today to learn more about a Progressive Commercial Advantage program, which could include a Business Owners Policy, General Liability Insurance, Workers’ Compensation and Commercial Vehicle Insurance. General Liability Insurance is essential to your landscaping business, in that it protects against lawsuits and other financial liabilities that may result from on-the-job accidents. The Workers’ Compensation portion of the Progressive Commercial Advantage program could assist with the medical costs and lost wages of an employee who is injured or becomes ill while working. Find out how Commercial Vehicle coverage can protect your crew, ranging from pickup trucks used to transport machinery to vans for carting around tools. Types of vehicle insurance available include pickup truck & trucks, vans, dump truck and trailers. Progressive also offers commercial claims experts to help you get back on the road following an incident as soon as possible.

Landscaping insurance requirements vary by state, so contact us today to find out if you currently meet your liability coverage obligations. Let us help you protect your business by tailoring a landscaping insurance policy to meet your needs!

Government emergency responses from the storm have already racked up a bill of $2 billion. Further voting is expected to take place this month for an aid package worth $51 billion. As the case with other previous natural disaster relief funds, this aid proposal did not provide offsetting spending cuts. However, lawmakers within the northeast have explained that flood insurance funds are critically needed to assist the victims of one of the worst disasters since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.