homeowner tips Archives - Recoop Insurance

Fortifying Your Home While Away on Travel

As the holiday season approaches, many homeowners are excited to escape for celebration and quality time with family and friends; however, leaving your home unattended with looming severe weather ready to strike this winter season can leave you worrying. Whether your area is expecting heavy rains, winter storms, or strong winds, taking the time to secure your property against the elements is the key to establishing peace of mind before you lock the door and head on your next getaway. Here are a few tips to ensure your home is protected against severe weather, even when you’re not there. Clear Your Gutters: Before you leave, take the time to inspect your roof and clear the gutters of debris to prevent water buildup that could lead to leaks or water damage. Secure Windows and Doors: Check that all windows and doors are closed and tightly sealed to ensure that your home’s [...]

Flynn Wright2024-11-01T15:11:25+00:00Tags: homeowner tips, severe weather|

Weathering the Storm: Tips for Creating a Severe Weather Emergency Kit

When disaster strikes, being sufficiently prepared for an emergency can minimize danger and put you on good footing towards the road to recovery. Having an emergency kit that is easily accessible can provide the gift of time and confidence to better ensure your family’s safety and fortify resilience against looming severe weather events. In this post, we’ll discuss what true preparedness looks like, the elements of a good emergency kit, and how you can achieve peace of mind for your household. Why You Need an Emergency Kit Whether you live in a disaster-prone area or reside in milder climates, emergency kits can be a lifesaving resource for everyone. Furthermore, in today’s evolving weather landscape, it is crucial to build a comprehensive emergency kit that can ensure you’re equipped for any type of severe weather. Recoop’s Damage Report series found that many states experience a diversity of perils throughout the seasons. [...]

Flynn Wright2024-10-01T16:41:18+00:00Tags: homeowner tips, natural disasters, severe weather|

Understanding Your Insurance Coverage: Homeowners vs. Renters

Natural disasters strike without warning and without discrimination, plaguing homeowners and renters alike. A recent report from Realtor.com found that nearly half of all homes in the U.S., 44.8%, are at risk of damage from environmental threats. When it comes to protecting your property from severe weather, having insurance coverage is crucial. However, the type and extent of coverage can vary depending on whether you rent or own your home. In this post, we’ll discuss the differences in insurance coverage for homeowners versus renters, and how supplemental disaster insurance can provide peace of mind for both. Homeowners Insurance Homeowners insurance is designed to protect the policyholder’s investment from a variety of risks, typically including coverage for: Dwelling Protection: This covers the physical structure of your home and means that if a disaster such as a fire or storm damages it, your insurance provider can help cover the repair and rebuilding [...]

Flynn Wright2024-09-18T16:20:33+00:00Tags: home insurance, homeowner tips, natural disasters|

Peril Know-How: Building Sturdy Foundations for Earthquake Preparedness

Earthquakes strike without warning, leaving wide-ranging destruction in their wake. Preparation is the key to minimizing risk and protecting your loved ones from this unseen and unpredictable threat. Here are some essential tips for ensuring your safety before, during, and after an earthquake. Understanding Earthquakes Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates shift along the earth’s surface, releasing energy in the form of seismic waves that can cause the ground to shake. As extreme as that sounds, earthquakes occur quite frequently and are often weak enough to go unnoticed. In 2023 alone, the U.S. recorded 89,707 earthquakes across the country (Volcano Discovery). Earthquakes are most prevalent in the West (specifically California, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Utah), as well as Alaska and Hawaii due to their prime location atop major fault lines. However, no region in the U.S. is entirely immune from quakes, as is evidenced by the recent earthquake that [...]

Flynn Wright2024-08-01T15:33:43+00:00Tags: homeowner tips, natural disasters, severe weather|

Navigating the World of Disaster Insurance: A Guide for First-Time Homeowners

Congratulations on becoming a homeowner! Owning a home is a significant achievement that comes with a sense of security and pride. However, homeownership also comes with its share of responsibilities and risks. One aspect of protecting your new investment is understanding and securing the right insurance coverage for you. In this blog, we’ll review tips for selecting your new policy and reasons to consider supplemental disaster insurance. Tips for First-Time Homeowners Assess Your Risk: Did you know that nearly one in four U.S. adults say they don’t have emergency savings and that there were a record 28 weather and climate disasters (costing $1B each) in 2023? Research the natural disaster risks most likely to affect your area and prioritize supplemental insurance accordingly to support your emergency savings. Compare Policies: More than 70% of disaster damage from the past 10 years has not been covered by insurance. Compare different insurance providers, [...]

Flynn Wright2024-07-02T19:21:49+00:00Tags: home insurance, homeowner tips, natural disasters|

Peril Know-How: The Growing Threat of Dust Storms

While dust storms aren’t often a prevalent topic in the severe weather space, they are certainly ready to enter the conversation as reports show that atmospheric dust levels across the Great Plains have nearly doubled between 2000 and 2018. Dust storms are characterized by strong winds carrying dust and debris. In this blog, we’ll explore some important safety tips for understanding as well as navigating dust storms to minimize their impact on your property and financial wellbeing. What is a dust storm? Dust storms occur when strong winds lift loose soil and dust particles, creating a dense cloud that can reduce visibility and cause significant damage. This phenomenon is more likely to occur after a period of drought, when the land is warmer and soil is more exposed to winds, which is why we typically see dust storms during the dry summer months between June and August. Arid or semi-arid [...]

Flynn Wright2024-05-23T13:46:26+00:00Tags: homeowner tips, severe weather|

How to Safeguard Your Pets During Extreme Weather

May is National Pet Month and to celebrate, we’re discussing a topic that’s not often prioritized in conversations about disaster preparedness: safeguarding your pets during extreme weather. Any pet owner knows that our pets are more than just animals, they’re beloved members of our families. Just like us, they’re vulnerable to the impacts of severe weather and natural disasters. Whether you’re facing a hurricane, wildfire, earthquake or blizzard, being prepared can make all the difference in keeping your furry companions safe. In this blog, we’ll explore essential preparation and precautions to ensure the well-being of pets during an emergency. Create an Emergency Kit: Alongside your family emergency kit, prepare a pet-specific kit that contains essential items: Sufficient pet food and water reserves for at least three days Medications Collapsible food and water bowls Copies of identification and vaccination records Leashes, blankets, towels, and a familiar toy or comfort item Develop [...]

Flynn Wright2024-05-01T18:44:37+00:00Tags: homeowner tips, severe weather|

Peril Know-How: Preventing Gas Explosions Starts at Home

A report from the Public Interest Research Group, found that every 40 hours, a gas pipeline incident occurs somewhere in the U.S. The frequency of these events may not come as a surprise when you factor that in 2020, 61% of American households relied on natural gas for at least one energy use (U.S. Energy Information Administration). Natural gas explosions often begin with gas leaks, as escaping gas mixes with outside gases (like hydrogen), resulting in explosions that devastate homes, destroy possessions and injure people. With so much at stake, it is imperative to learn more about practices to protect your home and loved ones from a potential gas explosion event: Install Natural Gas Detectors Natural gas is colorless, odorless and tasteless, so it is crucial to have detectors in your home to alert you of any leaks. Be sure to monitor your detection equipment regularly to ensure the units [...]

Flynn Wright2024-04-05T15:59:45+00:00Tags: homeowner tips, natural disasters|

What to Expect After Disaster Strikes

Those who have first-hand experience with natural disasters know how their impact can last well after immediate trouble has passed. Once you navigate the hurdles nature has thrown your way, attention promptly turns to getting everything back together so you can fully recover as quickly as possible. We often emphasize the preventative actions we can take in preparing for severe weather events, but what you do after disaster strikes is just as important. Let’s raise the curtain on the road to recovery after disaster strikes. Disaster Struck. Now What? Before all else, make sure that your loved ones are safe. This initial period will entail checking in on friends and family and seeking out temporary lodging if needed. Once you’ve secured your community and needs, you can begin the process of physical and financial recovery. Assess the Damages: If it is safe to do so, go around your house and [...]

Flynn Wright2023-11-30T15:59:55+00:00Tags: home insurance, homeowner tips, natural disasters|

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