Tornado Safety

Considered the most destructive force of nature, tornadoes can produce the most violent winds in the world. With wind speed whipping as high as 250 mph, a twister can carve a merciless path of destruction.
If you have property damage, contact your ERIE Agent or the closest field office as soon as possible. On nights and weekends, contact ERIE’s Extended Hours Claims Service at (800) 367-3743.

Although the peak tornado season runs from April to late July, tornados can strike during any season and at any time of the day or night. You can help ensure your and your family’s safety and disaster needs by preparing for the storm.

Before the Storm ...
Know the difference and help your children understand the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.
Tornado Watch: Current weather conditions could create a tornado, so be on the lookout.
Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted in the area. Seek shelter immediately and listen to the radio for further updates. A warning is much more serious than a tornado watch.
Prepare a tornado safety kit with your family that can be stored in the basement or designated safety shelter.

Some items to include:
battery-operated transistor radio
extra batteries
flashlight
candles
matches
blankets
cash/credit cards
spare house/car keys
canned goods
manual can opener
first aid kit
medicines
bottled water
sturdy shoes
work gloves
old textbooks to protect your head from debris

Complete an itemized inventory of your furnishings and personal belongings and store in a safe place such as fireproof box or in a safe deposit box at your bank. Update the list every two to three years. The Household Inventory Form can help you with this task.
Know how to turn off the utilities: water, gas and electricity at their sources. Mark these switches with identifying tape or color code with a marker.
Plan a safety route and establish a mutual shelter where your family can meet if a tornado hits.
During a Tornado Warning …If there's a tornado warning, seek shelter.
Go to a storm cellar, basement or lowest level of the building. If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller, inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet.
Go to the center of the room. Stay away from corners, because they tend to attract debris.
Get under a piece of sturdy furniture, such as a heavy table or desk, and hold on to it. Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
Stay tuned to a local radio station and do not head outdoors until authorities declare an "all clear."

After a Tornado ...
Help injured or trapped persons.
Give first aid where appropriate.
Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.
Avoid loose or dangling power lines, and report them immediately to the power company, police or fire department.
Enter your home with caution. Beware of snakes, insects and animals driven to higher ground by flood water.
Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.
Check refrigerated foods for spoilage.
Take pictures or video of the damage, both to the house and its contents, for insurance claims. Make a list of all damaged and destroyed items.
Assess the damage to your home and make temporary repairs to prevent further destruction.
Hold off on permanent repairs until your insurance adjuster approves your reimbursement.
Cover broken windows and damaged roof coverings immediately.
Remove standing water from your home.
Keep all receipts related to repairs and temporary housing.
Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.
Inspecting Utilities in a Damaged Home After the Storm:
Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home.
Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
Check for sewage and water line damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid the water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.

BCL: Business Catastrophe Liability

Make Sure You're Covered.

You have insurance to protect your business from the unexpected. But without an umbrella policy, you may not be fully covered.

A single claim could hit harder than you expect. Consider these real examples:

·  When a man driving his work vehicle ran a red light, hitting a 16-year-old girl on her way to school, the company was found responsible. The jury awarded $5.4 million to the girl’s family.

·  When a wedding reception guest fell down a staircase that was missing a handrail, suffering permanent disabling injuries, the facility was held responsible. The case settled for $2.8 million.

The financial impact of these losses could have been devastating for both companies if they hadn’t had umbrella coverage. Could something like this happen to your business? No one can predict that. But our agency and Erie Insurance can help you offset potential damage with ERIE’s Business Catastrophe Liability (BCL) coverage.

This umbrella policy, which offers at least $1 million in coverage beyond your existing package policy, helps protect your business from catastrophic claims (which can arise from auto accidents, slips and falls, etc.).

You’ve worked hard to build your business; don’t let a gap in coverage jeopardize it. Call us for an insurance review. Together, let ERIE and our agency make sure your company is properly protected. Read more about ERIE’s BCL coverage–and other insurance coverages–at www.erieinsurance.com/business.

Give us a call or e-mail us today to learn more about BCL coverage.

Last Minute Christmas Shopping, Again?

Insurance: Perfect Gift for Picky Givers

It’s that time of year. Every newspaper bulges with sales fliers, and every television commercial hawks the gotta-have gadget of the season. So who can you really turn to for last minute gift ideas that break the mold?

Let’s face it — many Americans have more than they can manage when it comes to creature comforts: iPhones and iPods and iPads, Vera Bradley bags and Sperry topsiders, Xbox and Wii and Rock Band and Glee (not to mention the perennial Christmas favorites, Snuggies and Slankets in every fashion color, football team logo and animal print known to humankind).

And yet, the non-mainstream gifts, like those in our family, aren’t always instant favorites. With so much clutter in Christmas giving, is there a way to give a gift that’s both memorable and meaningful?

Don’t laugh. You may want to consider insurance. Here’s why:

• A life insurance policy for your child, grandchild, godchild or childlike adult may become a gift that keeps on giving. A small policy on its own won’t provide a big return, but it will do something important – protect your child’s future insurability. This becomes important should a serious health issue develop or accident occur later in life.

• Identity Recovery Coverage – For less than the cost of Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits Vol. I and II, you can add this endorsement to a Homeowners policy as a gift for the whole family. It helps cut through the red tape involved in restoring a stolen identity. And it reminds those covered in your household, “I love you just the way you are.”

• A bike (and a helmet) – If your loved ones can two-wheel it to work or school the old-fashioned way, this gift scores triple points for reducing insurance premium costs due to less regular auto usage, curbing carbon emissions and burning those holiday calories.

• Renters insurance – If you’ve got an adult son or daughter on the move to independence, consider fronting them the premium for renters insurance. Their precious cargo will be protected and you’ll be gifting them with an important lesson — take care of your things.

• Umbrella – Not the one for a rainy day — although the foldable ones make nifty stocking stuffers. We’re talking about insurance coverage that extends your liability coverage beyond the limits of your homeowners or auto protection. For the person who has everything (or a lot of things, anyway), personal catastrophe and liability coverage is a worthy way to self-gift.

Talk to your Agent at Murray Insurance Management about which insurance products apply to your situation now — and later. Should you find some big ticket items under the trees, like jewelry, musical instruments, high-end tech gadgets, you might want or need additional coverage to protect them.

Happy Holidays!

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Murray Insurance Management December 2011

Winter Storm Disaster and Recover

Don’t Be Snowed Over. 

Adhere to Murray Insurance Winter Storm Advice:

Before and After a Winter Storm

Protect your home by:

• ·         clearing sidewalks and entranceways
• ·         keeping gutters free of leaves and debris, so ice dams do not occur and cause water leakage into your house.
• ·         letting facets drip slowly so water will move and prevent pipes from freezing.
• ·         winterizing your home by sealing windows and doors, and adding extra insulation.

Protect your car by:

• ·         checking hoses, battery and antifreeze levels.
• ·         keeping gas tank filled to prevent condensation from forming in the tank. Such condensation could cause the fuel line to freeze.

Protect your pets by:

• ·         cleaning any antifreeze spills and storing antifreeze where pets cannot be attracted to its sweet scent.
• ·         bringing pets indoors, into the house or garage, to provide warm shelter.
• ·         providing plenty of straw or other warm bedding.
• ·         remembering to provide fresh water and ensuring the water does not freeze. Use a plastic dish to prevent the pet's tongue from freezing to a metal bowl.
• ·         checking underneath your car's hood for small animals (like cats) that may have crawled inside seeking warmth.

After the storm

1.  Clear sidewalks and entranceways from snow and ice to prevent injury.
2. Call your insurance agent to report any damage to your home.
3.  Photograph any damaged areas before doing anything to them.
4. Make temporary repairs only to your home to prevent further damage.
5. Keep receipts of all materials bought or services rendered involving repairs.
6. Do not make major, permanent repairs until you reach an agreement with your insurance company.
7. Avoid downed power lines and contact your local power company to report them.

If you have any questions or problems concerning your insurance coverage, contact us at Murray Insurance Management
19700-A West Catawba Avenue
Cornelius, NC 28031



E-mail:     service@murray-insurance.com
Call us at:                               704.987.9577
Fax Inquiries/Requests to: 704.987.9588

Hammered by Hail

You may not immediately think of hail as a danger to your car or home, but larger hailstones can shred roof coverings, scar automotive finishes and lead to water damage.

Research from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) indicates that more than 75 percent of U.S.cities will experience at least one hailstorm each year.

Fortunately, impact-resistant roof covers can help reduce losses and associated property ownership costs.

Know your roof materials

When building or re-roofing, especially in hail-prone regions, IBHS recommends roofing products that have a Class 3 or 4 rating under the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2218 standard. The UL 2218 standard rates a roof covering’s resistance to impact.

The UL test involves dropping steel balls of varying sizes from heights designed to simulate the force of free-falling hailstones.

The four impact-level designations help you compare products: roof coverings that show themost resistance earn a Class 4 rating; and ones that have the least resistance earn a Class 1rating.

Keep in mind that while the UL 2218 standard is the best method to test impact resistance, it isn’t perfect and works better for some coverings than for others.

You can be proactive by consulting with your builder, roofing installer or insurance agent about which materials to use and what additional steps you can take to help your roof covering stand up better against hail and high wind. To cover all bases, you may also want to check your roofing materials for wind-resistant features and a fire-resistance rating.

When the storm hits

If a hailstorm is expected in your area, move inside immediately and stay there.

• Park vehicles in a garage or under a carport.
• Keep away from skylights, doors and windows in case hail shatters the glass.
• Close your drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent wind from blowing broken glass inside.

If you’re in a car, pull off the road preferably under a bridge or highway overpass and wait for the storm to pass.

Check your coverage

You should also review your homeowners insurance policy periodically with our agency to make sure you have sufficient coverage. If you do suffer property damage, report it immediately to our agency or Erie Insurance and make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Call 704-987-9577 [Murray Insurance Management].

Shop Local

Local food. Local theater. Local products. We’re paying more and more attention to things that come directly from our own communities. Why shouldn’t your business auto insurance agent be local, too?

Everyone hates feeling like a number, and we promise never to make you feel that way.

We’re local. We live here in the same community that you do. We understand the unique dangers that face our town: how Main Streetcurves sharply to the left, making it dangerous for high-profile vehicles, or how slippery that hill outside of town can be in the winter. Our understanding makes it easier for us to help you avoid the accident in the first place — or how to fix things afterwards. ERIE’s local claims employees will help you get you back on the road.

We also know how important your company’s vehicles are to your business’ success: without them you can’t visit clients, deliver goods and perform other critical functions.

Don’t chance your business’ success on an Agent who treats you like a number, or someone in a far-off city. Our agency has earned a place of honor in the communities we serve. Let us help you, here and now. When it comes to your insurance Agent, shop local.

Call 704.987.9577 [Murray Insurance Management]

Superior Claims Service

Superior Claims Service