Update on Flood Insurance "hiatus"

As you probably know, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) expired on midnight May 31, 2010 and has not been reauthorized by Congress. Consequently, the Program is experiencing a hiatus – a period without authority to:

• Issue new policies for which application and premium payment dates are on or after June 1, 2010, or
• Issue increased coverage on existing policies for which endorsement and premium payment dates are on or after June 1, 2010, or
• Issue renewal policies for which the renewal premium is received by the company on or after June 1, 2010, and after the end of the 30-day renewal grace period,

until Congress reauthorizes the Program.

While awaiting Congressional reauthorization, FEMA is issuing the guidance below. For the most up-to-date information on the status of the NFIP please visit http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/nfip-reauth.shtm or call the FEMA News Desk at 202-646-3272.

Rental covered in Canada and/or Mexico?

If you have an active auto policy with Liability through Hood Agency (Alaska policy) your policy states the scope of its coverage as limited to "accidents and occurrences within the United States of America, its territories or possessions or Canada, or between their ports."

For travel into Mexico, you would need to add the Limited Mexico Endorsement, which states, "This coverage applies only while the insured auto is within 75 miles of the United States border and only for a period not to exceed ten days after each separate entry into the Republic of Mexico." (other policy terms and conditions apply)

The Motor home and Motorcycle policies have the Mexico coverage written into them and it states the same as the auto endorsement as far as distance and time frame.

Note: Motor vehicle accidents in Mexico are subject to the laws of Mexico, NOT the United States. In some cases, part or all of the policy may NOT be recognized by Mexican authorities. You should consider purchasing coverage from a licensed Mexican insurance company.

For more info call the office, we also have discounts on all major rental car companies.

Facts about Distracted Driving

• Distracted driving is the number one killer of American teens. Alcohol-related accidents among teens have dropped. But teenage traffic fatalities have remained unchanged, because distracted driving is on the rise. (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance Study and NHTSA Study)
• While over 90% of teen drivers say they don't drink and drive, nine out of 10 say they've seen passengers distracting the driver, or drivers using cell phones. (National Teen Driver Survey)

More about this issue click HERE

Working on ways to save more money

If you could save 12% on your auto insurance, simply by paying your six month premiums in full a day or more before your renewal, would you do it?

Do you buy Gap Insurance?

Just bought a new car? What if an accident occurred soon after taking your brand new ride off the lot? You have full coverage insurance, right? So, you're covered... or maybe not.

When you drive your new car off the lot the value of your vehicle plummets, sometimes as much as 20%-30%. Say for instance you pay $25,000 for your new vehicle and have an accident a month later. You probably have only made at the most one payment and if you did not put any money down your loan amount is still close to the $25,000 purchase price. Unfortunately, even with full coverage, which includes comprehensive and collision, you will only receive the market value of your vehicle which could be as much as 20%-30% lower than the purchase price. That means you may be stuck paying that 20%-30%. On a $25,000 car, just a 20% depreciation would be $5,000! That amount could be more if you financed your taxes and license into your loan.

GAP stands for Guaranteed Auto Protection. Most people just use the term GAP to represent the gap in coverage between how much one owes on a car and how much the car is worth. GAP insurance is necessary in almost all cases and is relatively low cost. GAP insurance is a must if you are buying or leasing a new vehicle and should not be something that you decided to skip to cut costs.

So if you are buying a vehicle, and do your research and negotiate a good deal, and put down 20% or greater on a car, GAP isn't something you'll need to add at the finance desk. If you're not sure ask us! We can help with this decision.

We have a coverage available (gold and platinum plans) for new cars (never been titled before) a coverage for a small fee, that will either pay off your loan or replace your car within the first three years. Call for more information.

Article source

Lightning

Yesterday in Fairbanks and North Pole we had a lot of thunder and lightning, thus far we had one customer's house get struck causing sizable damage mainly to electronics. Here are some tips and information for this time of year.

Over 1,000 people get struck by lightning every year in the United States, and over 100 of them die as a result of the strike. Lightning is a very d­angerous force that, yes, can even reach you indoors if you're in contact with the telephone or plumbing.

Pete Turner/Getty Images
Lightning has the ability to strike a house or near a house and impart an electrical charge to the metal pipes used for plumbing.­

­If lightning strikes the phone line outside your house, the strike will travel to every phone on the line -- and potentially to you if you are holding the phone. So, if you are indoors during a lightning storm, stay off the phone. If you must call someone, use a cordless or cell phone -- that way, you're not in contact with any wires that run outdoors.

Stay away from plumbing pipes like your bath tub or shower, as well. Lightning has the ability to strike a house or near a house and impart an electrical charge to the metal pipes used for plumbing. If you're touching those pipes or anything connected to those pipes, that electrical charge has a path to you. This threat is not as great as it used to be, because PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is often used for indoor plumbing these days. If you are not sure what your pipes are made of, wait it out.

And while you're at it, switch off your appliances and electronics before the storm hits. Such devices as your computer, television and air conditioner all provide potential pathways between the lightning and you.

Site information was obtained from click HERE

Commercial Insurance is now Available!

Based on popular requests we now have the ability to quote Commercial Insurance! If you are seeing your current policies prices going up and up, give us a call we can now offer a competitive edge! Or if you are newly in business, or about to take the plunge give us an opportunity to help you with your insurance needs.

Forest Fires in Alaska

Seems smoke in the summer has been the norm now for a few years. This is a reminder to all property owners to protect your homes from fire. Here are some Firewise hints:

Roof: Use Class A asphalt shingles, metal, cement and concrete products
Exterior Construction: Wall materials that resist heat and flames, brink cement, concrete..
Windows: Double pane, tempered glass
Landscaping: clear 100-200 feet around your home, removing, firewood, dead and dense vegetation from at leas 30 feet. Also picking up leaves, branches and needles regularly. When planting choose plants that have higher moisture content, they are more fire resistive.
Firewood: store away from your home so it can not act as a direct fuel source to your home.
For more tips and suggestions:FireWise website (click)
Today's article in Fairbanks Daily News Miner (click)