Earthquakes..


PALMER, Alaska - A magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit the waters in the Kodiak Island region.
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says the quake occurred at 8:54 p.m. Wednesday about 46 miles south of Homer but apparently caused no damage.
The earthquake was 31 miles deep.
The information center says residents in Homer, Anchor Point, Seward and Soldotna reported feeling the ground move.

Reminder: Earthquake is an optional policy. Check to see if you are covered, also find out what your deductible is.

Flood warning


FAIRBANKS — An ice jam on the Tanana River continued to cause flooding at Salcha on Wednesday and record-high temperatures could mean more ice is on the way.
A half dozen families in the community 40 miles south of Fairbanks chose to move to higher ground as the water continued to rise Wednesday.
Salcha Fire and Rescue volunteer Jim Skotnicki said at least six families who live along the Old Richardson Highway had evacuated their homes and were staying with friends until the water dropped. Other homeowners stayed behind to do what they could to prevent water from seeping into their houses.
“Some hard-core folks are hanging in there to weather the storm,” Skotnicki said.
The ice jam near Mile 330 Richardson Highway is acting as a dam and pushing water over the bank of the Tanana River and into the yards of several homes along the Old Richardson Highway, which parallels the river.

Reminder: Flood insurance has to be purchased it is not included in a home policy. There is a 30 day mandatory waiting period.

Loss Assemement coverage for Condos


If you own a condo or know someone that does, please add Loss Assessment coverage to your policy. With our agency it is $10 dollars a year, it pays up to 50,000 dollars for any levies your Condo Association could assess you for a claim. Read this article for more information. (we are calling all our condo policy holders to add this very inexpensive coverage.

Deadline for Studs Friday


Alaska motorists must remove studded tires from their vehicles as of Friday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Create your own vitual Pile up!

This is great! check it out..
This is mine

Extended Warranty's


Beware when buying extended warranties, today there is an announcement by the Better Business Bureau there is an extended warranty company scamming the public. In our experience it is best to buy a warranty from the dealership the work will be preformed. Warranty's are very expensive here in Alaska and it only seems natural to shop for a "good" price. However if the dealership won't honor the brand X warranty then you're worse off. Perhaps if you do find a company with a less expensive warranty, check with the dealership first to see that they will honor it and verify with BBB to ensure they are legit.

Don't Forget!


We are getting several calls in to reinstate motorcycles, seasonal cars and motorhomes, but every year involving cars that weren't reinstated. Just a reminder physical damage isn't on the vehicle until reinstated, matter a fact they are not legal to drive in Alaska. Please call us or email us before driving.

Alaska Personalized Plates Online


This is great, pick the plate you want and personalize it!


Motorcycle Helmet Law for Alaska


Helmet Requirements:
1) Any operator under 182) Any passenger on a motorcycle, regardless of age3) Anyone with an instruction permit, regardless of age4) Anyone taking a road test for their motorcycle license, regardless of age.
More information and Alaska Law:

Alaska's New Driving Law, Text Messaging Ban


Starting September 1st 2008, Alaska’s House Bill 88 (HB 88) will go into effect. Although the new law is known more as “Alaska’s Text Messaging Ban” the bill actually relates to “televisions, monitors, portable computers and similar devices in motor vehicles;”
The law specifically prohibits unlawful installation of television, monitor or “similar“ device. In the State of Alaska it will be considered a crime if a person driving a motor vehicle;


The vehicle has a television, video monitor, portable computer, or any other similar means capable of providing a visual display that is in full view of a driver in a normal driving position while the vehicle is in motion; and the monitor or visual display is operating while the person is driving.


A person who violates this new law (depending on the circumstances) would be guilty of a misdemeanor. If the driver is involved in an accident and there is a injury or death, the driver would be charged with a felony.



Accidental Life Insurance, is it worth it?

The statistics in this site prove that accidental death isn't a high concern. Buy coverage that will pay in any type of death, don't buy a policy with restrictions or exclusions.
http://www.the-eggman.com/writings/death_stats.html

Alaska Provisional Licensing


Effective January 1st, 2005
If you are under the age of 18, the following applies to you:


Your parent, legal guardian or employer must provide proof that you have had at least forty (40) hours of driving experience. This must include at least ten (10) hours of driving in challenging circumstances such as inclement weather and nighttime driving.
If you are convicted of a violation of a traffic law, you must wait for six months before you can apply for your provisional driver license.


PROVISIONAL LICENSING: AS 28.15.055 (1/1/99) & AS 28.15.057 (1/1/05)

The laws referenced above changed what is required to obtain and keep a driver’s license.
You must have held a valid instruction permit for a minimum of six (6) months before you can apply for a provisional driver license.


While practicing with your valid instruction permit, the adult with you must have been licensed for 1 year and must be 21 years of age or older.


If you receive traffic citations which total 6 or more points in a 12 month period or 9 or more points in a 24 month period, you must take a nationally certified defensive driving course. If you do not take a course, the DMV can suspend your privilege to drive.


Provisional License Restrictions (Minimum of six months - up to the age of 18)


You may NOT carry passengers under the age of 21, except siblings.
You may NOT operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Exceptions:
unless accompanied by a person who is at least 21 years of age that is licensed to drive the type or class of vehicle being driven.
unless driving to or from your place of employment or within the scope of your employment. All driving must be along the most direct route.

Fort Richardson melt floods neighbors

(water from outside your home is not covered under renters or home insurance, it is a separate policy via FEMA)
A water problem is pitting one Anchorage neighborhood against the military. Residents in the Chugach Foothills neighborhood say a fence between them and Fort Richardson has resulted in a series of rivers and lakes.

Beware!


AKBadDrivers, a Twitter feed that started last month, allows drivers to write in and publicly call-out red-light runners, tail-gaters, close-parkers, cutter-offers, errant-honkers, median-swervers, hit-and-runners, cell-phone chatterers, and all other manner of annoying and dangerous drivers.
All online.
Bad drivers, beware, these Twitter peeps post license plates.

An Estimated 5% Alaskan's have Earthquake coverage


(Earthquake insurance coverage is optional)
An earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale shook Southcentral Alaska at 5:51 a.m. Sunday, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Alaska Earthquake Information Center. The earthquake's epicenter was 16 miles southeast of Eagle River and 24 miles east of Anchorage.

Keep everything clear from heating devices


Wood stove sparks blaze in Hillside home
NO ONE INJURED: Flammable materials in garage caught fire.
By ELIZABETH BLUEMINKebluemink@adn.com
Published: April 25th, 2009 09:45 PMLast Modified: April 25th, 2009 09:46 PM
A Lower Hillside home was partially destroyed by a fire Saturday morning that started in the garage and ended up destroying half the roof.

The blaze sent gray and black smoke billowing into the sky over the residential neighborhood.
The cause of the fire was flammable materials stored too close to a wood stove located in the garage, firefighters said.

A resident had just fired up the wood stove a short time before the fire erupted, said Bridget Bushue, an Anchorage Fire Department division chief.

Sparks or fire apparently leaped from the stove to paper, wood and other highly flammable material piled near the stove, she said.

The fire spread from the garage to the house's eaves and quickly engulfed the roof, she said.

The home, on the 8000 block of Sandy Circle, a few blocks east of Lake Otis Parkway, suffered an estimated $250,000 in damage.

Its three residents were uninjured, according to the Anchorage Fire Department.
Eleven fire trucks and other vehicles responded to the fire, first reported at 9:41 a.m. The fire was under control about an hour later, firefighters said.

Really?

Fire Prevention


10 Tips for Fire Safety from North Star Volunteer Fire Depatment.

Change is good or is it?

Insurance companies like loyalty and there is a huge value in being with one company for many years. We do a lot behind the scenes everyday to save customers from rate hikes and from being dropped. Staying with a company and having more than one line with a company is very valuable!

Flooding issues have begun

Be prepared. Flooding is here as the temperature rises and breakup begins. Flood insurance is a separate policy and requires approval from the Federal Government. A 30 day waiting period is mandatory, unless the home is a new purchase. Please call the office for more detail http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=3818594

Do you have a meeting place in case of an emergency? http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.shtm

Current Road conditions

This is a great site to check out before traveling. http://511.alaska.gov/

What our customers are saying..

To Whom it may concern;
I was used to sitting in insurance offices waiting my turn to see one "counter person" who took care of anyone waiting for service and others sat at their desks doing who knows what. Sometimes it was a considerable wait. I came to the Hood Agency because State Farm could not insure my newly acquired property. I stay with the Hood Agency because they provide exceptional personalized service by anyone in the office who is available. They provide not only this great service but at more reasonable rates than I was used to paying. Its not even a thought I have to go anywhere else for insurance and in fact I enjoy a certain peace of mind from dealing with Allstate in general and the Hood Agency in particular.
Glenn S.

New DUI Consequences


Did you know that you can ride 11,370 miles in a taxicab for the cost of one DUI? Ignition Interlock, three days in jail, loss of your car, and it stays on your record forever are just a few of the new regulations. http://www.state.ak.us/dmv/faq/dui.htm

What our customers are saying..

Hi, Katherine,

Anyway, I called your office and talked to your staff Connie. She helped me with auto insurance quote, Ms. she also gave me extra service by checking my current houses insurance with Allstate and found out I can get discount from my current house insurance policy. I am very pleased her service not only get extra discount but her professionally service with positive attitude, I would like to let you know you have such a good staff. Allstate should be pleased to have Ms. Connie works for her.

Thank you for the help.

Regards
Helen S.

Drunk goggles prove a point


Isaac Bailey, left, looks to see how far off he veered while attempting to walk a straight line while wearing drunk goggles at the Volunteers In Policing booth at the Fairbanks Job Fair Tuesday afternoon, April 21, 2009 at the Carlson Center. The goggles, which simulate having a blood-alcohol level of .17-.20, were being worn by willing participants as V.I.P. coordinator July Bond, right, gave field sobriety tests. http://www.newsminer.com/photos/2009/apr/22/8560/

Several Feet Deep Pothole!?



Drivers have reported encountering a several-foot deep pothole on Bentley Access Road behind Sam’s Club in Fairbanks. The pothole is concealed by snowmelt and may not be visible to drivers. Anyone using the road, which connects College Road to the Old Steese Highway, is advised to exercise caution, as the hole is large enough to cause car damage.

Do you have Proof of Insurance?

Be sure you have proof of insurance in your car at all times! The fine was increased to $510.00! This is a fix it ticket and can be resolved, but not with a bit of leg work. Please email sak42312@allstate.com for a current ID card we will email a current one right away.

Actual Law:
AS 29.25.070. Penalties.(a) For the violation of an ordinance, a municipality may by ordinance prescribe a penalty not to exceed a fine of $1,000 and imprisonment for 90 days. For a violation that cannot result in incarceration or the loss of a valuable license, a municipality may allow disposition of the violation without court appearance and establish a schedule of fine amounts for each offense.(b) The municipality or an aggrieved person may institute a civil action against a person, including a minor as provided in AS 29.25.072 , who violates an ordinance. In addition to injunctive and compensatory relief, a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 may be imposed for each violation. An action to enjoin a violation may be brought notwithstanding the availability of any other remedy. On application for injunctive relief and a finding of a violation or a threatened violation, the superior court shall grant the injunction. Each day that a violation of an ordinance continues constitutes a separate violation.(c) The penalties authorized under this section may be imposed only if copies of the ordinance are made available for distribution to the public at no more than cost.(d) This section does not apply to an ordinance adopted under AS 04.11.501(c).(e) The municipality shall provide written notice to the commissioner of health and social services or to the commissioner's designee of the commencement of a civil enforcement action for the violation of an ordinance under (b) of this section against a minor. Unless the commissioner and the municipality have negotiated an agreement making other arrangements for the municipality to provide the notice required by this subsection, the municipality shall provide the notice by mailing a copy of the citation or other document setting out the notice of the commencement of the civil enforcement action. This subsection applies to home rule and general law municipalities.(f) In this section, "minor" means a person under 18 years of age.

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Look in your rearview mirrors!


It is that time of year that motorcycles are starting to come out. Please be aware of your surroundings Remember Check twice and save lives!

Add My Email to your computer and portable

Be certain to have all contact numbers listed in your cell phones, and email as well.
Office 907-488-7033
Office 907-451-7733
Toll Free 866-488-7033
Fax 907-488-5237
Tex 907-378-2880
Email: katherinehood@allstate.com

Also be sure to add your ICE to your contact list (In Case of Emergency contact number) See previous blog post...

Rocks on the road


Well it is that time of year... rocks everywere, rock chips and windshield cracks Arrrrr. To file a claim on your glass damage, call 1800 626 4527 (on the right side of the blog too) have your policy number ready before calling. Be sure to wait till the rocks are cleared from the roadways before scheduling your replacement.

p.s. comp claims don't hurt your insurance rates.

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