Childproofing Your Home

April 24, 2018 | Tower Hill Insurance

  Learning Center  Childproofing Your Home

 

Whether children live at your home or you have grandchildren who visit several times a year, it’s always a good idea to childproof the areas of your home that pose the most safety risk.

Having a safe home for toddlers involves more than just moving breakables or expensive items out of reach. Common items that we use every day in our tech-filled lives, such as button batteries, can cause serious injury or even death when swallowed.

Over-the-counter and prescription medications, which we often leave in purses or on the kitchen counter, can resemble candy and may be tempting for little ones exploring. This scenario,  along with colorful detergents or cleaning supplies within reach, can quickly lead to poisoning. Television and furniture tip-overs are a frequent cause of accidental injury for kids, although these can be easily prevented by properly securing items with brackets and anchor devices.

According to SafeKids.org, “Each year in the United States, more than 2,200 children – or six kids a day – die from an injury in the home.”  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, millions more suffer from nonfatal home-related injuries treated by first responders and emergency rooms. Many of these household accidents are completely preventable by taking a few extra safety precautions ahead of time.

How safe is your home? Even if you have baby-proofed and toddler-proofed your home, check out this SafeKids.org video to spot the risks you may have missed. We’ve created several infographics to help you identify and correct some of the most serious safety risks for kids in your home.

• Home Hazards — choking; shocks and burns; drowning; fire and carbon monoxide; and gun safety.
• Poison Prevention — cleaning products; medicines; and garage/lawn care products.
• Furniture Smarts — furniture tip-overs; falls; and sleep safety.

SafeKids.org provides several home safety checklists that you can use as a guide. And don’t forget to provide an “In Case of Emergency” contact sheetfor baby sitters and childcare personnel.

Should I file a claim if the damages don’t exceed my hurricane deductible?

September 16, 2017 | Tower Hill Insurance

   Should I file a claim if the damages don't exceed my hurricane deductible?

 

The short answer is YES. Here’s why….

Because the hurricane deductible is only applied once during the calendar year, it is recommended that customers report hurricane damage to their insurer as it occurs. No matter how many storms hit Florida, and no matter how many times the home is damaged, the Insured is responsible for this deductible only once during the calendar year from January 1st to December 31st.

After you have met the deductible, it no longer applies to any subsequent covered windstorm losses after a hurricane watch or warning has been issued. Just a reminder, reporting windstorm claims does not reflect negatively on your policy loss history. This type of loss differs from damage caused by All Other Perils, such as theft or fire.

Re posted from www.thig.com

Tower Hill 2018 Hurricane Season

Tower Hill President Don Matz fills us in on what’s in store for the 2018 Hurricane Season.

TOWER HILL PRESIDENT DON MATZ

As you may have read elsewhere, the first forecast for the 2018 Hurricane Season predicts an above average season. Coming on the heels of 2017, which was the second costliest hurricane season on record with over $215 billion in damages, this is not good news for Florida residents and property insurers.

While early forecasts are suspect as to their overall accuracy, subsequent updates and competing forecasts will refine this prediction over the next 6-8 weeks. Nevertheless, now is the time all of us should be making preparations so that we are prepared for the worst, but can hope for the best.

Here at Tower Hill, we are actively placing our annual reinsurance program that provides our policyholders with the utmost assurance that Tower Hill has the financial wherewithal to survive a hurricane season with a large, devastating storm and/or a hurricane season that has multiple damaging storms over the course of the six-month season. The good news to report is that there is plenty of capacity in the reinsurance market to support Tower Hill’s $2.4 billion reinsurance program, and we will be finishing up the placement of the program over the next several weeks. Additionally, we are installing a number of system enhancements that will make it easier and more efficient for our policyholders and agents to submit a claim and follow its status online or via mobile device throughout the lifecycle of the claim. Details of these enhancements will be announced as soon as they are available.

As a homeowner, your first priority should be to have any and all damage from Hurricane Irma repaired prior to June 1st or as soon as possible thereafter.  I realize this is stating the obvious and may be easier said than done due to the shortage of qualified contractors and the extent of the repairs necessary.  At a minimum, make sure your primary living area is safe and secure – cosmetic additions such as screen enclosures, garages, and carports can always be repaired or replaced later. In addition, now is the time to re-stock your hurricane supplies kit and update your emergency plan if you have not already done so.  For tips on building a hurricane survival kit, check out our Hurricane Prep Checklist.

Finally, on a more upbeat note, Tower Hill is proud to sponsor Gators United, the AAFFL flag football team captained by Tower Hill spokesman and Heisman Trophy winner, Danny Wuerffel. The team is competing in the 2018 U.S. Open of Football against 131 teams from across the country for the championship prize of $1 million. The championship game will be televised on the NFL Network on July 19, 2018.