Tropical Depression HARVEY Headed for Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana

TD HARVEY

Aiming for the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast

Forecast to bring up to 15 inches of Rain

Provencher & Company

Staff in Place. Ready to Serve.

Winning Your Business One Claim at a Time!

Submit claims easily:

Claims@Provencherclaims.com

 

Western US Hail Severe Property Damage

Western US Hail storms are causing severe Commercial and Residential Property Damage. Provencher & Company has experienced staff in place. Call 866-722-5246.

Submitting a claim is simple: Claims@Provencherclaims.com

Winning Your Business One Claim At a Time!

SEVERE FLOODING IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA FOLLOWING EXCESSIVE RAINFALL

More than 4,000 homes have been damaged during this week’s historic flooding across areas of Louisiana. State officials said Sunday in an update that number is expected to grow.

As the Tangipahoa River overflowed its banks in many communities in south Louisiana, the Provencher & Company’s National Claim Center (Hammond, LA) faced concerns of being flooded by the rising water. While our building did not flood and was spared any damage, many areas in the parish are severely affected. Numerous roads and major highways are impassable with water still crossing over them, bridges have washed out, hundreds of families are displaced, homes and businesses destroyed with water reaching the roof levels in some spots, and all parish schools remained closed as of today. A section of I-12 westbound near Robert, LA took on water from the Tangipahoa River and had to be shut down for nearly 24-hours on Saturday due to water topping the roadway.

Flooded Homes Along The Tangipahoa River, Ponchatoula, LA

The Most Dangerous Time Of The Year

Keep fire safety in mind when heating your home in the winter months ahead. December, January and February are the leading months for home heating fires making it the most dangerous time of the year. Overall, heating equipment is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire deaths.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) In 2011, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 53,600 reported U.S. home structure fires, with associated losses of 400 civilian deaths, 1,520 civilian injuries, and $893 million in direct property damage. These fires accounted for 14% of all reported home fires.

Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February. Some simple steps can prevent most heating-related fires from happening. The winter season is one of the most dangerous times of the year for household fires, so take note of these tips to reduce your risk.

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.
• Have working fire extinguishers.

Based on 2007-2011 annual averages:

• Space heaters, whether portable or stationary, accounted for one-third (33%) of home heating fires and four out of five (81%) of home heating fire deaths.
• The leading factor contributing to home heating fires (28%) was failure to clean, principally creosote from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
• Placing things that can burn too close to heating equipment or placing heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding, was the leading factor contributing to ignition in fatal home heating fires and accounted for more than half (53%) of home heating fire deaths.
• Half (50%) of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February.

For more information on Fire Safety, view our post on  Home Fire Safety

From all of us here at Provencher & Company, please have a warm & SAFE winter season!

Simple Way To Find A Roof Leak & Prevent A ‘Catastrophe’

If you have recently discovered water stains that extend across ceilings or run down walls, the culprit is probably a roof leak. While tracking down the leak can sometimes be the hard part; the fixes are generally pretty easy though not always cheap. Below is a relatively simple way to locate the cause of a roof leak that most any person can do with minimal roofing or construction knowledge. 

Home Fire Safety

October: National Fire Prevention Month

Would you know what to do if a fire started in your home? Would your children? Last week schools across the country participated in activities related to National Fire Prevention Week. If your kids are anything like mine, they came home with a wealth of knowledge and even some funny stories.  

Risk of Damage from Natural Hazards By State

Are you safe where you live? Find out in the article below whether you live in an area at risk for Natural Hazards.

Risk of Damage from Natural Hazards By State

 

Florida, Rhode Island, Louisiana, California and Massachusetts are the top 5 states for exposure to multiple natural hazards, according to an analysis by CoreLogic, a property data and analytics firm.

Michigan, West Virginia, New York, North Dakota and Vermont have the lowest score for exposure to multiple hazards, the report said.

 

 

The analysis was derived from the CoreLogic Hazard Risk Score (HRS), a new tool that gathers data on multiple natural hazard risks and combines them into a single score ranging from 0 to 100. The overall score indicates risk exposure at the individual property and location level.

 

For every geo-coded location across the U.S, the proprietary CoreLogic HRS is compiled using data representing nine natural hazards: flood, wildfire, tornado, storm surge, earthquake, straight-line wind, hurricane wind, hail and sinkhole.

 

Alaska and Hawaii were not included due to limited natural hazard risk data, CoreLogic said.

 

Locations with higher risk levels are exposed to multiple hazard risks and will, therefore, receive higher scores when the risk analysis is aggregated. Subsequently, locations with minimal risk levels have lower exposure and receive lower scores. Geo-coded locations are generated at the property-address level using latitude and longitude coordinates and include both residential and commercial properties.

 

 

“Florida’s high level of risk is driven by the potential for hurricane winds and storm surge damage along its extensive Atlantic and Gulf coastline, as well as the added potential for sinkholes, flooding and wildfires. Michigan alternatively ranks low for most natural hazard risks, other than flooding,” said Dr. Howard Botts, vice president and chief scientist for CoreLogic Spatial Solutions.

 

In calculating the overall score, both the probability of an event and the frequency of past events are significant contributing factors used to determine risk levels associated with individual hazards, as well as each distinct hazard’s risk contribution to total loss. The data is combined into an aggregated, consistent and normalized value that allows statistically valid combinations to be derived.

 

“In the past, natural hazards have been difficult to compare and combine in a meaningful way,” said Dr. Botts. He said the new Hazard Risk Score is a “single solution” that measures risk concentration consistently and pinpoints the riskiest places in the U.S. with accuracy.

 

“This insight is critical in conducting comparative risk management nationwide and fully understanding exposure to potential natural hazard damage,” he said.

 

CoreLogic says the score can be used to improve decision-making in a variety of business operations, including:

 

• Business continuity and disaster recovery planning
• Analyzing risk associated with a residential property or portfolios of properties
• Measuring mitigation savings vs. total hazard potential damage
• Evaluating and determining natural hazard risk levels of distribution and supplier networks
• Recognizing which underinsured or uninsured properties may become at risk of default
• Adverse selection avoidance and identification of “good risk” properties

 

 

U.S. Natural Hazard Risk by State*  (Ranked by CoreLogic Hazard Risk Score)

 

Rank  State   HRS

1           FL         94.51

2           RI         79.67

3           LA        79.23

4           CA        75.56

5           MA       72.12

6           KS        69.51

7           CT        69.04

8           OK       66.82

9           SC        66.38

10         DE       65.38

11         OR       64.89

12         NJ        61.54

13         IA        61.02

14         TX       60.89

15         NC       59.72

16         MO      57.81

17         DC       57.33

18         MS       57.05

19         AR       56.7

20         NH       55.3

21         ID        52.75

22         MD      52.28

23         CO       51.88

24         NE       51.86

25         IL         51.8

26         IN        50.74

27         GA       50.58

28         NV       50.12

29         AL       49.42

30         KY       47.34

31         TN       46.48

32         UT       45.22

33         NM      43.76

34         AZ       42.81

35         VA       42.35

36         WA      42.3

37         WI        38.52

38         SD        38.24

39         MT       37.91

40         MN      36.42

41         OH       34.61

42         ME       31.64

43         WY      30.24

44         PA        28.79

45         VT       28.31

46         ND       27.5

47         NY       24.97

48         WV      20.67

49         MI        20.22

Source: CoreLogic 2014

* AK and HI were excluded in the ranking due to limited natural hazard risk data

 

Article Originally Published By: Insurance Journal

 

*The posting of this article is for informational purposes only, as a courtesy to our reading audience. Provencher & Company does not own, has in no way been compensated for the sharing of this information, and content of said article belongs to that of the originating author. The use of or enrollment in any classes, seminars, training, etc. in no way constitutes or implies any endorsement of the provider of said programs. Provencher & Company shares no financial obligation to attendee or organizer.

8 Ways to Prepare Your Property for Winter

By: Julie Rock-Chatellier

 

As property owners we’re often faced with the tougher realities of the changing seasons. A heavy snowfall doesn’t just mean a day off of school or work; it can also mean an overworked furnace, a power outage, damage to a roof, and even burst pipes. All of these situations cause damage to our homes or business, then in-turn create a call to an insurance agent or company to file a claim.  

Let’s also not forget about rising energy costs: According to the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, Americans spend almost twice as much of their income on energy as they did a decade ago. From the Northern Pacific, down to the Gulf Coast, and back north to the New England state – our wallets are all taking a hard hit to stay warm and to protect our property from damages. It’s a necessary evil we all face!

While we can’t always predict what Old Man Winter will send our way, we can take a few precautions to ensure we spend less time cleaning up weather-induced messes, filing insurance claims, and fretting over utility bills and more time building sledding ramps & snowmen in the back yard.

Below are 8 of the top things you can do to protect your property investment from damage during the winter months. A little time and/or money spent up front can eliminate your need to call upon your insurance provider as a result of damage. Remember, wear and tear is NOT a covered cause of loss! 

 

Tune Up Your Heating System

Before winter arrives, the most important thing you need to do for yourself, your family and your employees is to ensure that your furnace is operational, safe, and as energy-efficient as you can make it. For about $100, a technician can inspect your boiler, furnace or heat pump ensuring the system is clean, working properly, and that it can achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection will also measure carbon-monoxide leakage. Side note: Do you have carbon-monoxide detectors in addition to your smoke detectors installed?

 

By scheduling that inspection now, you’ll minimize the chance of being 100th caller in line for repairs on the coldest day of the year. Look for a heating and air-conditioning contractor that belongs to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and technicians certified by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) program. 

Hit the Roof

Grab a ladder and take to the roof – or, if you are terrified of heights like I am, break out the binoculars and give it a good look. Look for damaged, loose or missing shingles that may leak during winter’s storms or from melting snow.

“Roof deficiencies are the most common problem reported by home inspection associations,” says the National Roof Certification and Inspection Association. “Thirty percent of real estate inspection claims are due to roof leaks and water penetration,” the group says. “Thirty nine percent of homeowner’s insurance claims are because of roof problems.”

 

A simple cleaning with a broom or blower is all that is generally necessary. If your roof is flat and surfaced with asphalt and pebbles, rake or blow off fall leaves and pine needles, which hold moisture. If need be, hire a handyman to repair a few shingles or a roofer for a larger section. Be sure to check and repair breaks in the flashing seals around vent stacks and chimneys.

Clean the Gutters

Every winter there are billions of dollars in insured losses due to burst pipes, frozen gutters and other weather-related disasters. If your gutters are full of debris, water can back up against the house and damage roofing, siding and wood trim – plus cause leaks and ice dams.

If you have a low-sloped roof, even a leaf protection system cannot prevent debris from accumulating on your roof, so with or without a leaf protection system, roof maintenance is required. Remove leaves, acorns, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. Also look for missing or damaged gutters and fascia boards and repair them.

If you choose to call in a professional maintenance service, you’ll typically pay $70 to $225 to clean gutters on a single-story house, depending on its size and your geographical location. 

 

Call a Chimney Sweep

Proper chimney preparations will not only help to cut your energy costs but will also help to keep you and your family safer. Besides – who likes to see a dirty looking chimney? 

Before you put the first log in for the winter, make sure your fireplace, chimney and vents are clean and are in no need of repair. This will prevent chimney fires and prevent carbon monoxide from creeping into your home. 

 

Just like with any other “seasonal” type service provider, as the weather turns cooler chimney sweeps start booking up. Search for a sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America to ensure your service provider is the best available. CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps are regularly tested on their understanding of the complexities of chimney and venting system. You can expect to pay $50 to $90 for an inspection to see if you need a cleaning, and $100 to $300 for the cleaning. Source: Costowl.com

Clean chimneys don’t catch fire. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage structures, destroy homes and injure or kill people. If you’re wondering how often you should have your chimney cleaned, a good rule of thumb is every three to five cords of wood that you burn. It depends on the size of your fireplace or wood stove though.

Prevent Ice Dams

An ice dam can damage both your roof and the inside of your home and will also put gutters and downspouts at risk of collapsing under the weight. Insurance claim waiting to happen, right?

My grandmother always said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, and if you have ever experienced an ice dam on your roof you are likely shaking your head in agreement on that statement. What do you do to prevent an ice dam? Well — Be sure to have a professional inspect and seal all areas where warm air may leak from inside your home/busines going into the spaces immediately below the roof sheathing. Insulating the living or work area and venting the space between the insulation and the roof sheathing (so any heat that does leak through is carried away) are also essential elements to preventing ice dams from forming.

A weatherization contractor can identify and fix air leaks and inadequate insulation in your home’s attic that can lead to ice dams. If you have the work done before December 31, you can claim the federal energy-efficiency tax credit for 10% of the cost (excluding installation), up to $500. Your state or utility may offer a rebate, too.

If your home had lots of icicles last winter – or worse, ice dams, which can cause meltwater to back up and flow into your house – take steps now to prevent potential damage this year.

 

 

Caulk Around Windows and Doors

With the rising cost of heating, who wants to let their money float out through the cracks? If the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to reapply exterior caulk. 

Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements. Try using a “rain ready” silicone caulk for best results. Check window-glazing putty, too (which seals glass into the window frame). Add weatherstripping as needed around doors, making sure you cannot see any daylight from inside your home.

Of course, if your windows are older than 10 years or are single-paned glass, you probably should think about replacing them for the energy-efficient ones currently on the market. Windows are not cheap, though, so you might have to replace them over a period of time – unless your last name is Rockefeller or Gates.

 

 

Exposed Exterior Water Sources

Property owners are encouraged to take precautions to winterize their outdoor pipes to save time, money, and water. According to sources at the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, most in-ground pipes will be OK during the winter, since typically only the top two inches of ground will freeze in Georgia. Source: http://www.hcwsa.com

Undrained water in pipes can freeze, which will cause pipes to burst as the ice expands. Start by disconnecting all garden hoses and draining the water that remains in faucets. If you leave your garden hose attached to the faucet, you’re asking for trouble.

 

Determine if your faucet is frost-free or not. To know for sure whether a faucet is frost-free or not, look up inside the spout. On a frost-free faucet, all you’ll be able to see is a metal stem.  On a faucet that isn’t frost free, you’ll be able to see the valve components open and close when the handle is turned.  If you don’t have frost-proof faucets (homes more than ten to 15 years old typically do not), turn off the shut-off valve inside your home. 

Drain Your Lawn-Irrigation System

Every year, before the first freeze, the ritual of irrigation “blow out” becomes the priority for all irrigation systems in regions located where the frost level extends below the depth of installed piping.

Even if you have drained the water out of your irrigation system, some water remains and can freeze, expand, and crack PVC piping. To minimize the risk of freeze damage, you’ll need to winterize your irrigation system. In areas where winterization is mandatory, irrigation systems are installed using one of three types of water removal: manual drain, auto drain, or blowout. If you don’t know your system type, it is best to use the blowout method.

But, to be on the safe side, this is one area of winterization that it is always best to call in a professionals to do the job. Your sprinkler service will charge $50 to $150, depending on the size of the system.

 

Insurance shouldn’t be looked at as a maintenance policy and property owners should do all they can do to avoid damage. Likewise, once damage does occur, it is the property owners’ responsibility to prevent any further damage to the best of their ability. 

Depending on which insurance you have, you could be financially responsible for the roof destruction caused by winter storms. Every insurance company is different and property owners’ need to know completely what their policy states.


*****

About Julie Rock-Chatellier
As Claim Manager and adjuster for Provencher & Company, Julie assures the claims process transpires smoothly and timely with both our adjusters and clients throughout the course of managing our claim assignments; overseeing the claims support staff, examiners and trainers in our National Claim Center.

Julie also serves as the claim system administrator and website & social media coordinator for Provencher & Company. Having over 18 years experience in office management, bookkeeping and customer account management, she has served in staff and management assignments in various industries, gaining a working, practical knowledge of marketing & account administration.