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It’s Hurricane Season on Long Island and Now Is The Time To Start Preparing

It’s Hurricane Season on Long Island and Now Is The Time To Start Preparing

It’s Hurricane Season on Long Island and now is the time to start preparing for a possible storm. Natural Disasters can be a devastating time for families, but being prepared for these events can help the healing process, not only for your personal property, but healing as a family.

Follow these tips when preparing for a Hurricane:

Before a Hurricane

-Locate your residence’s emergency water shut-off valve and remove any shrubbery or obstructions.

-Turn off the emergency water shut-off valve if you are leaving your residence. This will help minimize damage to your homes interior should a pipe burst.

-If you turn off the water in your home, make sure to turn off the hot water heater. Some water heaters can be damaged if water supply is turned off for an extended period of time.

-Locate your sewer clean-out lid and remove any shrubbery or obstructions in case the clean-out needs to be utilized after the storm.
After a Hurricane

-Due to power outages, understand that you could be operating under limited conditions and pressures could be reduced.

-Limit the amount of toilet flushing.

-Avoid running a dishwasher and clothes washer.

-Limit the amount of water used when bathing

IT IS BEST TO CONSERVE ALL WATER THAT IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME!

Now is the time to call your local Insurance Agency and make sure that your home is covered properly and if a Flood Insurance Policy is necessary in your area.

Remember, Hurricane season is among us. Be prepared before a storm hits. If you have damage to your home or car during a Hurricane make sure to contact your Insurance Agent promptly to ensure a speedy recovery.

If you have any questions regarding Hurricane damage or you are interested in a quotation for a Flood policy, give C.H. Edwards, Inc. a call at 516-249-5200 and our Flood Insurance specialist can assist you in finding coverage that is best fit for your home.

*Please be advised, that any flood related damages to your home, are not covered in a typical homeowners policy. An additional flood policy is required, to be covered for hurricane damage.*

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Written by: Amanda Haase

Identity Theft: Should You Carry It On Your Homeowners Policy?

Identity Theft: Should You Carry It On Your Homeowners Policy?

credit-card-fraud (1)If you are a Homeowner, and carry a Homeowners policy, you might be wondering whether or not it is worth it to endorse identity theft coverage onto your policy.

“What is identity theft?” “What is the chance of it happening to me?”

Identity theft is fraudulent acquisition and the use of a person’s private identifying information. Identity theft happens to over 15 million people in the United States every year. There is no doubt that you could be at risk of identity theft.

Before you decide whether or not to add identity theft onto your homeowners insurance, it is important to understand what the endorsement covers and does not cover.

Identity theft coverage will cover:

The expenses involved in repairing your credit and restoring your identity. This could include things such as lost wages, legal fees, any fees associated with reapplying loans and the cost of phone calls, postage and notarization during the credit-reparation process.

Identity theft coverage will NOT cover:

Any assets that were taken due to the identity theft. Identity theft will only cover the expenses related to restoring your credit. Theft from your bank account would be covered by your bank’s zero-liability policies, not from your identity coverage policy on your homeowners policy.identity_theft

Some homeowner’s policies already include identity coverage. In any case, it is important to check with your insurance company or agent to see if your current policy includes these benefits.

Even if your policy doesn’t, identity theft coverage can often be added for only $15-$60 per year.
If you have any questions regarding your homeowners policy and if you have identity theft coverage, give C.H. Edwards, Inc. a call. Our Personal Lines Representative will be able to find coverage that best fits your individual needs.

Visit our website at www.chedwards.net or call 516-249-5200.

Written by: Amanda Haase

It’s the Season for Halloween Tricks and Pranks. Are you protected?

It’s the Season for Halloween Tricks and Pranks. Are you protected?

It’s the Halloween season.  Time for the young ones to choose costumes, go to parties and enjoy a day of trick or treating.  It is often considered the “right time” for older kids to get into mischief.  Does your insurance protect you from this mischief?Halloween
 
Vandalism to your Home: A standard homeowners or renters policy provides this coverage.  There will be a deductible before your policy starts to pay, but if you suffer expensive damage to your home or possessions you may be financially protected.
 
You wake up to toilet paper all over your property: Toilet-papering may not do any harm to your property, but if the pranksters damage your property in the process, you may be covered.
 
Your car is vandalized with eggs/shaving cream/pumpkins: The mess can be removed with a simple car wash so you won’t reach your deductible.  If your car receives more extensive damage which would require repair, you should be covered under your automobile insurance as long as you carry comprehensive coverage.
 
Your home is burglarized: If your home is burglarized on Halloween, your homeowner policy will cover theft of any belongings as well as any damage that occurs because of a break-in.  Your deductible must be met first.  Keep in mind that you will be required to provide proof of ownership of the stolen items.  This is a good time to think about a video inventory or establishing a system of saving receipts for all of your expensive belongings.
 
The above are the most common tricks of Halloween that might cause harm to you or your home.  There are some simple things you can do to protect your property.
-Keeps outside lights on.  This may deter someone from vandalizing your property
-Speak to your kids about the difference between having fun and causing damage to a person’s property
-Try and find organized Halloween events to keep kids safe while having fun
 
Are you interested in finding out what is covered and what is not on your auto, home owners or renter’s policy?  Are you looking to find out if your current policy is offering you the best coverage at the most competitive price?  Call C.H. Edwards, Inc. at 516-249-5200.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween.
Attention Business Owners! Does your Business Insurance have these 5 Important Coverage’s?

Attention Business Owners! Does your Business Insurance have these 5 Important Coverage’s?

business 1As a business owner, you probably already have a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) to provide protection for your property, Liability coverage for third parties, Workers Compensation for your employees, Auto coverage for business vehicles as well as health insurance.

There are some other coverage’s that you may be over looking to offer the optimum protection.

1. Business Interruption Coverage-What happens if your business experiences a catastrophe? In order to have the funds available to continue to run your business and to pay your employees during this time, you will want this coverage.

2. Employment Practices Liability Insurance-This coverage protects against employees making claims for discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or some other alleged wrong. Having the funds to pay for damages resulting from such claims would come from carrying this coverage.

3. Errors and Omissions Coverage-This coverage protects from claims by clients that your business performed negligently or failed to do something they should not have done. This coverage is not limited to Doctors and Lawyers, just about anyone in business can obtain errors and omissions (E &O) coverage.

4. Personal Umbrella Policy-If you are a sole business owner or a general partner, be aware that your assets can be attached to any debt the business acquires. You will want extra protection for this and that can be offered with a Personal Umbrella.

5. Workers Compensation and Disability for Yourself-Most states do not require this coverage for business owners and partners. New York State does not, but it does require a Corporation to cover employees Workers Compensation and Disability. This gives you an added measure of protection if you are injured on the job.

This is a brief overview of some additional business coverage’s that you should be carrying. If these coverage’s have not been discussed with you when setting up your current policy, this is probably a good time to review your coverage.

C.H. Edwards, Inc. has experienced and knowledgeable specialists in the area of Commercial Insurance that can assist you in creating a policy that best fits the needs of your business. Give us a call today at 516-249-5200, and put the future of your business in our hands!

Written by: Denise Visco