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Tornado season is upon us and could bring more storms in the months ahead. In fact, the U.S. experiences the most tornadoes of anywhere in the world.1 Last year alone 1,197 tornadoes tore through the country, costing over $1 billion in property damage.2
While we can’t prevent tornadoes, we can help you craft a safety plan and prepare.
Before a Tornado
Designate a Shelter
The best shelters are sturdy, windowless spaces with room for you, your family, and pets.
A basement is ideal, though any low‑level, windowless room works, including closets, hallways, interior stairwells, or a bathtub if you have a heavy blanket or mattress as cover.
Food and Water for 72 hours, such as canned soup, granola bars, or shelf‑stable goods, plus a can opener
Whistle or horn to attract attention should you become trapped
Battery or generator‑powered lights to conserve mobile phone power
First aid kit that includes bandages, antiseptic, and essential medicines
Battery or crank radio because cell towers may be down
Important documents, including copies of your ID, insurance information, Social Security cards, a small amount of cash, and other legal documents, such as wills
Extra pet food if needed
During a Tornado
Know the signs of a tornado:
• Dark green or sickly‑looking sky
• Large hail
• Low clouds, especially if they’re rotating
• A roar often compared to a train whistle
If you hear or see these signs, or there’s a local tornado warning, shelter with family and pets.… Read More
Tornadoes can strike in seconds. Are you ready?
Tornado season is upon us and could bring more storms in the months ahead. In fact, the U.S. experiences the most tornadoes of anywhere in the world.1 Last year alone 1,197 tornadoes tore through the country, costing over $1 billion in property damage.2
While we can’t prevent tornadoes, we can help you craft a safety plan and prepare.
Before a Tornado
Designate a Shelter
The best shelters are sturdy, windowless spaces with room for you, your family, and pets.
A basement is ideal, though any low‑level, windowless room works, including closets, hallways, interior stairwells, or a bathtub if you have a heavy blanket or mattress as cover.
Food and Water for 72 hours, such as canned soup, granola bars, or shelf‑stable goods, plus a can opener
Whistle or horn to attract attention should you become trapped
Battery or generator‑powered lights to conserve mobile phone power
First aid kit that includes bandages, antiseptic, and essential medicines
Battery or crank radio because cell towers may be down
Important documents, including copies of your ID, insurance information, Social Security cards, a small amount of cash, and other legal documents, such as wills
Extra pet food if needed
During a Tornado
Know the signs of a tornado:
• Dark green or sickly‑looking sky
• Large hail
• Low clouds, especially if they’re rotating
• A roar often compared to a train whistle
If you hear or see these signs, or there’s a local tornado warning, shelter with family and pets.… Read More
If a tree falls after a storm and hits your office building, is the damage covered by your business insurance? The answer? Well, it depends (on your policy).
Here are three things to know about business insurance and toppled trees.
1. Coverage details
You’re covered for the removal of the fallen trees and related damages if your policy specifically covers and lists your building and other property, such as fences, freestanding signs and outbuildings. This includes trees felled by a windstorm, lightning, hail or from the weight of ice, snow or sleet; but it doesn’t cover diseased or dead trees.
What if the tree lands on your work vehicle? If comprehensive coverage is purchased for your business vehicles, damage from fallen trees would be covered.
2. Where the tree falls is key
Where a tree falls is generally more important to an insurance company than its owner. So if the neighbor’s tree lands on your business property, you would file a claim with your insurance company.… 
After a close call in my apartment–who knew 
Many trends in today’s business world are exciting and encouraging. Unfortunately, the number of lawsuits and high-dollar awards in liability cases are not one of those positive trends. Here are a few recent news headlines from around the country:
Pennsylvania hotel sued for concussion from shower slip.
Fatal two-truck accident case in New York results in $3.97 million settlement.
Virginia victims get settlement checks (about $9 million) over toxic drywall.
There’s no way to prevent lawsuits like these entirely, but you can manage the impact. A business catastrophe liability policy serves as financial protection, or a cushion, against a legal judgment for a covered loss, beyond the limits of your underlying insurance policies.
A business catastrophe liability policy functions in a similar fashion to a personal catastrophe liability policy. Personal catastrophe liability —commonly known as “umbrella” – coverage can provide an extra layer of liability protection over and above your auto and homeowners policies in the event that a covered claim is made against you (or a covered family member).… 
The Chicago Winter is here. And with it comes difficult driving conditions like whiteouts and black ice.
Road salt definitely helps makes the roads safer. A study conducted by Marquette University found that de-icing winter roads with salt reduces accidents by 88 percent and injuries by 85 percent. Each year, state and local agencies spend more than $2.3 billion on snow and ice control operations.
Yet there are some definite downsides to road salt when it comes to your car. Read on to learn exactly how road salt works—and what road salt does to your car.
How road salt works
Salt—a.k.a. sodium chloride in scientific terms—lowers the melting point of water. So while water normally freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water needs colder temperatures in order to freeze when it’s exposed to salt. The more salt you add, the lower the temperature needed to freeze water is.
The water that results after salt is applied to ice is known as “brine.”… 
Many Americans retreat to swimming pools throughout the summer to escape the blistering heat. For some, a pool party complete with drinks, grilled food, and music is an essential part of a perfect summer day. While swimming pools are great for bringing family and friends together, there are risks and pool safety concerns home owners should consider.
According to the 