Category: Home Insurance

Tornadoes are a way of life for families living in tornado alley, but here in Michigan, it’s easy to feel unprepared for these natural disasters since we only experience a few tornadoes per year. But remember, although they are more common in the Great Plains, a tornado can occur almost anywhere. To protect your home and family from tornadoes, educate yourself on the warning signs and when to take cover.

Learn the Warning Signs
Tornadoes strike with very little warning. Over the years, with more advanced science and technology, meteorologists are better able to predict signs that a twister is on its way. Even having just a few minutes warning can provide an opportunity to seek shelter if you’re in harm’s way. If you live in an area with a history of tornadic activity, there may be warning sirens or a digital messaging system in your community to alert residents to find proper shelter immediately.

 Other signs of tornadoes are:

• Dark greenish skies
• Dark, rotating, low-altitude cloud
• Loud roar, like a train 
• Large hail or heavy rain followed by dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift.
• Large clouds rushing by quickly overhead or rushing together to form a funnel

Tornado Watch vs. Tornado Warning
When the National Weather Service issues a tornado watch it means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. When under a watch, be alert to changes in the weather, check to be sure all family nearby is safe, and keep the TV and Radio on so you’re able to listen to reports and stay on top of changing storm information.

A tornado watch can give you valuable time to prep your home and surrounding property for a disaster. Take this time to move cars into the garage if possible; you’ll also need to keep car and house keys with you at all times. You could also move lawn furniture and equipment into a garage or shed to minimize flying debris. If you’re not able to utilize a shed or garage you could temporarily move items into the larger rooms of your home. If a tornado siren sounds, stay inside your home and take cover in an interior room away from windows. If you have a storm shelter, move your family into the storm shelter when sirens sound.

A tornado warning means a tornado has already been spotted in your area. This means danger could be imminent and you may only have seconds to take cover. Immediately move to an interior room or storm shelter with your radio. Do not leave the space you’ve taken cover in until an all clear has been issued

Although tornadoes may be less common in Michigan, stay alert during these stormy summer months and make sure you’re prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at you!

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Summer has barely begun, and we’re already experiencing the hot, humid days that go along Michigan summers. These days often bring intense rain and thunderstorms with them. And even if they don’t happen often in your area, it only takes one big one to sweep through do some damage to your home and property. Before storm season gets into full swing, take some steps to get your home ready.

1. Check out the health of your trees. One of the biggest causes of storm damage is falling limbs. Take a look at the tops of your trees. Are they well-covered in leaves, or do some branches look bare? Then look at the roots. Is the land uneven, causing some roots to come out of the ground? These could be signs of unhealthy trees that may be more likely to fall in a storm. If you’re unsure, it may be worth calling an arborist to evaluate the health of your trees.

2. Clean the gutters. Gutters filled up with leaves, twigs and pine cones will not drain well, causing water to end up where you don’t want it, along your foundation and in your basement. Water can also back up onto your roof causing damage to sub-roofing material.

3. Check your sump pump. If your house tends to get water in the basement, make sure your sump pump is working well, and that you have some sort of back-up power source in case of an outage.

4. Have an emergency storm kit prepared. Flashlights, batteries, water, food, first aid supplies and extra medicine are essentials to have on hand.

Storms are unpredictable, and while you can do your best to be prepared, there may be times when your home sustains damage from lightning, rain, or high winds. If you ever experience a claim or have questions about your policy, call one of our licensed agents at 616-897-1515 to make sure you’re protected!

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For people living in a mild climate, their, springtime lawn care may only mean a few simple touch ups when spring arrives. But here in Michigan, our colder climate can make the job a bit more daunting. After spending months covered by blankets of snow, your yard may need some extra help coming back to life. Here are some tips to get back your healthy, hearty springtime lawn.

Create a Clean Slate
As the snow melts and spring starts blooming, it’s time to revive your yard from its slumber. Start by raking away debris, such as leaves, sticks and other dead vegetation, to give you a fresh palette for a new greenery creation. As a bonus, raking also loosens the soil surface, which encourages airflow and allows nutrients and new seeds to penetrate the soil.

Next, mow your lawn short so you can spot problem areas that need a bit of tender care. If you find bare spots, rake or till them to break up the soil. You can also add peat moss to enrich the soil and promote fresh growth. If you find any areas heavy with weeds, spray them with a nonselective herbicide designed to kill all plants, using caution to spray the problem areas only. When using lawn chemicals, wear appropriate safety gear—gloves, boots, long pants and long sleeves—and wash after use. After the weeds have died (this will usually take several days), rake the soil and remove the debris as you did before.

Start fresh! 
Now you’re ready to reseed. Focus on bare spots and areas with weak grass growth, mixing the seed with fresh soil before spreading. When it comes to watering, it’s better to saturate your lawn fewer times per week than it is to use a small amount of water every day. This technique helps train the grass roots to grow deeper into the soil for more lush growth.

Once the growth picks up, you’ll have to regularly mow the lawn. Its’ recommended to keep grass between two and four inches, but remember that longer grass often grows thicker and healthier.

Apart from your lawn, you may consider mulching your flowerbeds. A good layer of mulch around shrubbery helps lock in moisture and protect roots from the elements. Your flowering shrubs will heal faster if you prune them in early spring, allowing their energy to be focused on fresh, new growth.

And what’s a yard without personal touches? Fill up those bird feeders, scrub out the bird baths, plant new seasonal flowers and stake in your favorite yard decorations. Spring is a time to celebrate rebirth and there’s no better way to celebrate than by bringing your yard back to vibrant life!

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This time of year, our homes are our havens from the cold world outside; but sometimes, if we aren’t properly prepared, the chill of winter can intrude. Following these 5 simple tips can help protect your home during the cold months, give you peace of mind when wintry weather strikes, and even save you money and reduce potential home insurance claims.

1. Inspect your furnace
Do you know that musty smell that emanates from your furnace the first time you turn it on each winter? That might not be from dust that’s settled in the vents but could instead indicate a filtration problem. Change your furnace’s filter before turning it on for the first time, and continue to change it monthly throughout the winter.

2. Invest in a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat gives you better control over your heat while you are at home and away from home. The control offered by this inexpensive device can save you money while preventing the fire hazard sometimes presented by area heaters. Set your thermostat to lower temperatures at night when everyone is sleeping or during the day when the family is at work and school.

3. Keep your house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees
You might be tempted to forego a programmable thermostat and save on the heating bill by turning your heat all the way off when you leave the home, but resist that urge! A too-cold home could result in frozen, burst pipes and plenty of water damage. Also be sure you know where your water main is in case you have to turn off the water in an emergency. And speaking of water, if you’re planning a winter getaway, be sure to leave faucets on a very low drip when you’re away from home to keep the water flowing and the pipes unfrozen.

4. Remove snow quickly
If you live in a snowy area, be sure to shovel the snow away from your entryways. Not doing so could cause a tripping hazard and even expose you to a lawsuit if a neighbor falls when dropping by. Accumulated snow on the roof can cause a collapse while snow on your car can eventually ruin the paint or cause a malfunction.

5. Seal cracks and crevices
Caulk windows and install weather stripping in doorways, around pipe entryways, and anywhere else that opens your home up to the elements outside. Investigate the source of any cold air drafts you feel during the winter months. Attics and basements are likely culprits. These measures will also keep you safe from bug and rodent infestations during warmer months.

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