A year of heavy rainfall can be dangerous to a home in many ways. Something you may not know is that damage to a home from runoff, and river or lake overflow, is something specifically excluded by most home insurance policies. To cover this type of loss the National FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Flood Insurance program was enacted. If you have a Flood Insurance Policy and need to make a claim, along with your policy number, here are some numbers you should keep handy:
To report a claim:
1-800-54-STORM (1-800-547-8676)
To obtain information regarding an existing claim:
1-888-202-3716
If you do not have Flood Insurance already, unfortunately now is not the time. FEMA has a mandatory waiting period of 30 days for all new applications. Even without insurance, there are things you can do to prepare yourself and your family.
In cooperation with the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations Department we have the following suggestions:
Assemble a Supply Kit Containing:
A First Aid Kit
Canned Food (don't forget the can opener!)
Bottled Water
Rubber Boots and Gloves
Battery Powered Radio, Flashlights and plenty of extra batteries
Find an emergency evacuation location. These may include a friend's home, a motel, or a local shelter.
Avoid traveling through areas which have been issued Flood Warnings. Roads can sustain severe damage and may have closure periods, which can cause you to be cut off from your home and resources. Wet, or submerged roads, can also be a serious driving hazard. Even at a low rate of speed a vehicle can easily loss control.
Have emergency contact information on you. In the event of serious injury this will help local authorizes and hospitals to obtain necessary medial information.
Inform both a local and an out of town friend or relative (preferably one on your emergency contact list) of your emergency plan, including your evacuation location. If you, or a family member (especially a child) goes missing, this information could be vital.
For more information regarding current Flood Warnings and affected areas please use this link....
http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/EmergencyOperations/default.htm
Check with your local Fire Department, most will loan chimney brushes to clean your chimneys. It has been recommended by a local Fire Chief to Clean your chimney once a month. Please do not burn garbage or green wood in your home wood stoves, because of the increased creosote causes congestion and increased risk of fires.
Please stop by and pick up a calendar today! If you wish we can mail you one as well. Currently we have the large Calendars (sports cars or successories), the small sticky calendars, and the pocket calendars. Send an email or call, we can set one aside or mail one to you right away. katherinehood@allstate.com
Now that school is underway, it's time to consider another way that to save on your auto insurance. The Resident Student Discount offers a discount for licensed children attending school away from home. This discount is available in Alaska. To qualify for the Resident Student Discount, the operator must:
Although home inventories are not required, they are highly recommended. But don’t be intimidated if you have a lot of stuff. There are many ways to accomplish your inventory with little inconvenience to your busy schedule. Here are some suggestions:
Automobile drivers, not motorcyclists, are responsible for more than two-thirds of car-motorcycle crashes. Many times, drivers don't see the motorcyclist until it's too late to avoid a crash. Motorcycles are already more difficult to spot than cars because of their smaller profiles, and drivers are conditioned to look for other cars, not motorcyclists. Traffic, weather, and road conditions require motorcyclists to react differently than drivers, so it is often difficult to judge and predict when riders may take evasive action.
Have you ever walked out of the store to find your vehicle damage, and no note or anyone that saw the accident occur? What happens from here? Well the first thought that comes to every one's mind is call the police. Unfortunately because this usually occurs on private property they will not respond. Here is the catch, ALL hit and runs have to have a police report done within 24 hours to fall under Uninsured motorist coverage (stated in your policy). If this report isn't done there is a risk of the coverage being denied(if you only have liability) or covered under your collision coverage(filled as an at fault accident). If the claim is filled under collision there are discounts or rewards that would be lost. So if this happens to you, please drive to the nearest law enforcement facility and file a police report (there must be a case number), fill out an accident form (located on this blog top right) and then call us for the insurance steps.
Thinking about buying a home this year? 
