Earlier this summer, SSI staff collected enough goodies to mail 15 care packages to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Employees from our various offices chipped in to buy things like razors, toothbrushes, DVDs, Power Aid powder and Teddy Grahams. All of these items were then taken to our Douglasville service center where we held a “packing pizza party.” Douglasville staff packed 15 care packages and still had supplies left over!

Here are some photos from our packing party we posted on Facebook.

When we mailed the care packages out, we included a picture of our staff from the packing party, along with a letter thanking them for their service.  We also asked them to email or post on our Facebook page to let us know they got their care package.

Here’s some of the response we got:

As you can tell, they were thrilled to get some reminders of life back home.  These guys and gals are working tirelessly to defend our freedom, so it’s the least we can do to say thanks.

God bless our soldiers!

According to many experts, the best way to decide how much insurance you need is by performing a “needs analysis”. This isn’t as complicated as it sounds and while it will take you longer than multiplying your salary by seven, it’ll give you a much more accurate result.

Step One: Short-term Expenses

These fall into three categories—expenses that would need to be paid if you died (including medical, funeral, and legal expenses), your outstanding debts, and emergency expenses (such as for emergency medical treatment or unexpected car repairs).

Step Two: Long-term Expenses

Your long-term expenses include the balance on your mortgage and college tuition for your children. If your kids aren’t yet at college age, estimate their tuition costs by finding out current annual education costs. Then add five percent per year for each year until they attend college.

Step Three: Day-to-Day Expenses

These are the expenses involved in family upkeep, such as food, utilities, entertainment, travel, and clothing. Calculate one year’s worth of expenses, then multiply that figure by the number of years you want your insurance to provide this level of income.

Step Four: Financial Resources

Next, determine what resources you currently have to meet those expenses. This includes your current salary, savings, investments and any existing insurance you have, as well as Social Security. Do not include the sale of any assets that would change your family’s lifestyle if they were sold, such as your home.

Step Five: Add it Up

Add your totals from steps one to three. Then subtract your resources calculated in step four from your expenses total. The figure you end up with is a good estimate of the amount of life insurance you need.

Don’t be discouraged if you end up with a much higher figure than you were expecting, or can afford. If this happens, run through your calculations again and try to find ways to cut expenses. For example, by paying debts early you can reduce your short-term expenses.

Because your insurance needs will change over the course of your life, experts recommend that you review your insurance every three years to ensure that you’re adequately covered.

Whether you buy coverage from a rental  agency or use your own car insurance, it’s wise to make certain you have enough coverage to pay for costly repairs if you should happen to suffer an accident in a rental car.

Before renting, familiarize yourself with your insurance options. If you already have car insurance, call your insurance agent and find out if you will have enough coverage under your existing policy. You can also call your credit card company: Many offer coverage when you charge the rental. Either way, these two options may be cheaper than purchasing insurance at the rental counter.

To buy or not to buy

Making sense (and cents) out of all the coverages you already have on your car insurance and the ones that are offered by the rental companies is not easy. Buying all of the insurance offered from a rental car company can double your rental costs. Buying none of it might put you in a bad financial spot if you have an accident. Here are some factors to keep in mind.

If you don’t have collision and comprehensive insurance and you’re renting a car, it’s a good idea to purchase the Loss Damage Waivers (LDW) or Collision Damage Waivers (CDW), whichever your rental company offers. You might want to buy the waiver that offers you the broadest protection in this situation. Rental companies have several levels of damage waivers.

You might decline the LDW altogether if you have collision and comprehensive coverage because you’d be paying for “double coverage.” But remember that you still have to pay your deductible if the car is stolen or vandalized, or if you crash it.

If you don’t have personal auto insurance, you should compare products offered by your credit card company, rental car company and a nonowners auto insurance offered by regular auto insurers. Also, remember that most states require the rental companies to automatically provide at least the minimum required liability coverage at no charge to you. If you feel that you can get by with just the bare-bones policy, you won’t spend a dime on liability insurance.

If you have your own liability insurance, it will generally kick in first in the event of an accident. There’s no deductible for liability insurance.

When purchasing coverage at the rental counter, keep in mind that their offerings of accidental death and personal property insurance give you needless “double coverage” — if you already have health, homeowners or renters and life insurance. Typically, your health insurance (or auto insurance if you have MedPay) will kick in for your medical costs, regardless of what car you’re driving. Your homeowners or renters policy normally covers personal property if it’s stolen or damaged while in your car. And your life insurance will pay out, regardless of how you meet your end.

To sum up

Before you rent a vehicle, check your auto and homeowners or renters policy to get an idea of what coverage you have while in the rented vehicle. And while at the rental car company, take some time to find out exactly what they offer. Compare those coverages to the ones you already have. That way, you can avoid buying coverage you don’t need.

Source:  Insure.com – http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/rental-car-basics.html

Hurricanes and tornadoes are powerful and frightening, but you don’t have to be completely at their mercy. There are ways for you to lessen the potential devastation they can cause to you and your family.

1.  Before

For all the destruction hurricanes and tornadoes can cause, a significant amount of damage would be reduced if people took some necessary safety precautions. The following suggestions can help you prepare your home and family.

• Have a plan of action
  For a hurricane — know evacuation routes, know the safest and strongest areas of your house, and have a plan for contacting family members.
  
  For a tornado — know the safest areas of your house and how to contact family members.
• Leave early
• Keep emergency supplies on hand
  Keep extra medical supplies, non-perishable food and bottled water. A powerful storm could interrupt your utilities services for hours or even days.
  
  Be sure to keep a portable radio, flashlights and fresh batteries on hand. If you lose electricity, your only contact with the outside world will be your radio.
  
  Keep repair supplies on hand. You’ll need some plywood to protect windows, or at least some tape. Taping windows diagonally helps keep them from shattering, but it’s not as effective as plywood. By having tools, nails, tape, etc., you’ll be prepared to repair any storm damage immediately.
• Take an inventory of your property
  Take pictures and make detailed descriptions. Keep it up-to-date. By making a detailed, accurate inventory of your property, your insurance company will be able to help you recover your losses faster and more completely. And make sure you understand your insurance policy completely. Your insurance agent is there to help you.
• Keep copies of important documents
  Papers like deeds, birth certificates, insurance policies, etc., should be copied, with the originals stored in a safe place such as a waterproof container or a bank safe deposit box.
• Some hurricane precautions
  Because of flooding risks from the prolonged, torrential rains associated with hurricanes, be aware of the elevation of your home as well as safety routes out of town, and the locations of the nearest shelters.

An important reminder
Don’t put off any of the above precautions. You won’t have time to do them once a Watch or Warning has been issued. Even though a Hurricane Watch or Warning gives you many hours’ or even days’ notice, roads and stores will be packed with people trying to leave the area, or trying to stock up on supplies. Either way, it makes for potentially dangerous traffic jams, and a lot of empty store shelves. Your best bet is to have supplies ready before the trouble arises.

2.  A Watch

Once a Watch is issued, you know to be on your guard. There is a chance that a hurricane or a tornado may be coming to your area. Calmly prepare a course of action. Use extra care in the case of a Tornado Watch. If it gets upgraded to a Tornado Warning, you may have only a few minutes before it hits. Here are some suggestions in the event of a Watch:

• Keep informed by official sources
  Use the radio and television for reports from authorized sources. Don’t rely on hearsay. Official reports will give you current status of the storm, as well as any other important emergency information.
• Secure any loose outdoor objects
  Items such as garbage cans, lawn chairs, etc., can be extremely dangerous, if left outside.
• For a Tornado Watch, avoid cars
  Tornadoes are very unpredictable, and powerful enough to lift a car. Tornadoes, as opposed to hurricanes, may rapidly be upgraded from Watch status to Warning status.
• For a Tornado Watch, avoid mobile homes
  Because tornadoes can quickly be upgraded from Watches to Warnings, and because tornado winds are powerful enough to carry a mobile home, you should avoid mobile homes if a Watch is issued. If you live in one, check your tie-downs, and head for an approved shelter.

3.  A Warning

Once a Warning is issued, you must take action. You know that a hurricane will be upon you within 24 hours, or that a tornado or a well-formed funnel cloud has been sighted in your area. Remember, as you read the hints that follow, you will have several hours to take your hurricane precautions; but you will have only a few minutes to take your tornado precautions. Plan accordingly. You may now have time to take some of the precautions listed. Every situation is different, so use your best judgment and work fast.

• Avoid mobile homes
• Avoid cars
  Use extreme caution. And stay away from cars when the storm hits. Cars are no match for these powerful winds.
  
  For tornadoes: get out of your car immediately and seek shelter. Don’t try to race it. Tornadoes are fast and very erratic. If you can’t find a place to go, find a low lying area, lie flat, and cover your head. You’re safer out of your car than in it.
• Secure home windows with plywood, storm shutters, or tape, placed diagonally.
• Move or moor your boat. You won’t have time in the case of a tornado, but with a hurricane you will have notice.
• Bring emergency supplies to the safest area of your house. Have flashlights, medications, radios, food, drink, etc., in your secure areas. The safest parts of the house will be interior hallways, central bathrooms or closets, and basements of reinforced concrete. Basements are especially ideal for tornadoes, but if you have a flooding problem, you may not want to go to the basement for a hurricane — which delivers hours of torrential rains.
• Keep the television or radio on.

4.  During the Storm

A major windstorm can be very frightening. It can sound like anything from a violent downpour to a runaway freight train. But as scary as it may seem, the key is to remain calm.

• Continue to listen to the radio.
• Stay inside
  In the case of a hurricane, don’t be fooled by momentary calm winds. In the eye (center) of the storm, it’s peaceful. But as the hurricane passes by, you’ll suddenly be bombarded by high-speed winds coming from the opposite direction. The eye can last anywhere from a few seconds to a half hour.
• Stay in your safe area
  Remain in the basement, interior hallway, interior closet, etc., until you’re sure, by listening to your radio, that the storm is over.
• Try to keep facing toward the wind.
  If you know exactly where the windstorm is, and what direction it’s heading, keep yourself as far away from the storm as as you can. Very simply, keep as many walls as possible between you and the storm.
• Stay away from windows and glass doors.
• Once again, remain calm
  Your best protection in any emergency is keeping a cool, clear head.

5.  The Aftermath

By listening to your portable radio you’ll know when the windstorm is over. If you don’t have a radio, wait at least one half hour to make sure that the storm is over. There is much to do in the aftermath of a tornado or hurricane. Knowing what to do, and when, will save you time, money and help ensure your family’s safety.

• Watch for potential hazards:
  Weakened roads or bridges
  Broken or damaged power lines (electric, gas, etc.)
  Broken glass, splintered wood and other sharp, dangerous objects
• Be smart and safe with food.
• Be safe about water.
  Your best bet is to have several gallons of bottled water on hand. On average, keep three gallons of water per family member. This will hold you for at least three days.

What to do if there is damage to your home or business

Make a detailed list of the damages and contact your insurance agent promptly. The sooner you call, the faster you can be served (usually within a few hours). If you aren’t able to call from home, don’t forget to tell your agent where you can be reached.

• Do temporary repairs to prevent further damage from weather or looting.
• If there is extensive damage, hire a reliable contractor. Beware of fraudulent contractors who prey on disaster victims.
• Keep all repair receipts for your insurance agent.
• Most of all, especially for a hurricane (where there is extensive and widespread damage), please be patient. Your insurance agent must handle claims based on need, taking care of the most serious situations first. If that situation is yours, be secure in the knowledge that you will be taken care of, and taken care of soon.
• Finally, in the wake of a major disaster, cooperate with the authorities. Whether you’re asked to relinquish phone lines, keep off emergency roads or anything else, you must comply. In the aftermath of a major disaster, everyone must pitch in and do their part.

Source:  Farmers Insurance Group – http://www.farmers.com/storm_strike.html

A Commercial Property policy will pay to repair or rebuild your building after a covered loss occurs, but how will you keep your business afloat while repairs are being made?  Rebuilding after a complete loss can take months.  That’s where Business Interruption coverage comes in.

A Business Interruption policy is like short-term disability coverage for your business property.  It reimburses you for lost revenues and profits while repairs are being made to your building.  And, just because your building is damaged, doesn’t mean you’re allowed to stop paying your bills.  That’s why Business Interruption also pays for your continuing expenses.

Here’s a great example of Business Interruption coverage in action for a coffee shop in New York.

You can also purchase Extra Expense coverage that will pay for things like a temporary location for your business operations and advertising costs to get the word out that your business has a new home for the time being.  This is especially important for businesses that are heavily dependent on their location like grocery stores, restaurants or warehouse operations.

Have you noticed that the cost of your homeowner’s insurance coverage has increased significantly over the last several years? Policies that cost $325 just a couple of years ago are often two to three times that amount now, putting the squeeze on many homeowners’ budgets. Here are ten ways to minimize the cost of your homeowner’s insurance.

1. Raise Your Homeowner’s Insurance Deductible Your deductible is the amount of risk you agree to accept before the insurance company starts paying on a claim. With the cost of homeowner’s insurance escalating, it no longer makes sense to let the insurance company assume all the risk. If you have a low deductible of $50 to $100, consider raising it to at least $500 to $1,000. You could save up to 25% on your premiums. Some companies are offering deductibles equal to 1% of the insured value of your home ($1,000 deductible on a $100,000 home). It that seems like a lot of money to pay in the event of a claim, consider this: the trends in homeowner’s insurance are for insurance companies to severely penalize customers who file one or more small claims. Often the premiums are jacked way up or the policy is cancelled, and when the customer looks elsewhere for coverage, they may find it costs them three times what they were paying. We should change our perception that insurance of any type is intended to cover all of our expenses when we incur a claim. Those days are over. Think of insurance as risk sharing. How much risk are you willing to assume?
2. Combine Your Homeowner’s Insurance and Auto Insurance Policies Consider buying your homeowner’s and auto insurance policies from a company that offers both. Some companies offer discounts of 5 to 15% if you buy both types of coverage from them. Check around and make sure the price is lower than buying the two policies from two different companies before making this move.
3. Ask About Other Homeowner’s Insurance Discounts Make sure you’re receiving all the discounts for which you’re eligible. For example, discounts exist for smoke detectors, deadbolt locks, security or fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers in the home, etc. If you’re over 55 and retired, you may qualify for an additional 10% discount.
4. Don’t Buy Homeowners’s Insurance Coverage You Don’t Need It makes no sense to buy insurance to protect yourself against risks you are unlikely to encounter; for example, earthquake coverage in a non-earthquake zone, or a jewelry floater to your policy if you don’t own expensive jewelry.
5. Make Your Home a Better Insurance Risk Ask your insurance agent what you can do to make your home less expensive to insure. Making changes that reduce the risk of damage in windstorms and other natural disasters is one example. Another is updating old wiring or heating systems, which may reduce your risk of fires and therefore reduce your premiums.
6. Know What Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Covers Your home is your biggest investment. Make sure it’s adequately protected from risks you cannot afford to cover yourself and that it covers any home improvements you’ve made, major purchases, and increased costs of rebuilding.
7. Keep Your Insurance Coverages Up To Date Once a year, before your homeowner’s insurance policy is due to renew, dig out the current policy, read through all the details, and call your insurance agent to discuss any changes in your situation that occurred during the year.
8. Avoid Risks That Insurers Shun Insurers are shying away from some risks. For instance, owning certain types of dogs (Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls), can limit or void your policy. Owning a swimming pool or a trampoline can increase your cost of coverage. Read all the fine print in your policy under the “Conditions and Coverages” sections so you know all the things that are excluded from coverage. You may opt to buy additional coverage to protect yourself from certain exposures.
9. Improve Your Credit Score Insurance companies are increasingly using credit information to price insurance policies. Don’t have too many open credit accounts, don’t charge close to the limits on your credit cards, and pay all your bills on time to keep your credit score healthy.
10. Shop Around for Homeowner’s Insurance Shop around for homeowner’s insurance rates but keep in mind that you may be receiving a longevity discount if you’ve been with your current insurer for several years. Typical discounts are 5% if you’ve been with the company for three to five years, and 10% for six years or more. Get quotes from an agent who represents a broad range of top rated carriers, and take any longevity discounts with your current insurer into consideration when you compare prices.

Did you know?

• Drowning is one of the largest causes of accidental death for U.S. children under the age of five.
• Drowning is usually silent, with very little splashing to alert anyone that the child is in danger.
• Accidents happen very quickly, usually in less than a minute.

Pool injuries and drowning can be prevented by:

• Having children younger than age 5 always within an arm’s length of an adult while in or around the pool
• Never using pool floatation devices as a substitute for supervision
• Equipping the pool with multiple layers of protection: fencing, alarms, rope and float lines, rescue equipment, emergency information and a phone
• Ensuring that someone supervising the group knows CPR
• Not permitting infants and toddlers in a hot tub due to the likelihood of overheating

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act of 2007

Entrapment is another pool and hot tub injury that is preventable. Entrapment in pool drains occurs when swimmers’ hair, jewelry or other body parts are sucked into swimming pool drains.  Often, the swimmer drowns or is disemboweled.  Since 1999, there have been more than 80 incidents where people became entrapped in pool and spa drains; 11 of these were fatal.

The risk of entrapment in swimming pool drains and spas risk was brought to the nation’s attention following the entrapment death of 7 year old Virginia Graeme Baker.   The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act of 2007 was effective December 19, 2008.  This act requires all public pools and spas to have drain covers that meet ANSI/ASME A112.19.8-2007 standards.  Also, public pools and spas with a single, blockable main drain or pool with drains less than 3 feet apart must also have an additional safety device which will either shut down the pump system or release the suction if a blockage is detected.

Tips to prevent entrapment:

• Ask – does the pool you are using meet the new standards?
• Never allow swimmers to enter a pool or spa that has a loose, broken or missing drain cover
• Do not allow swimmers to play or swim near drains or suction outlets, especially in spas and shallow pools

Remember – just because a person can swim does not mean they are safe in the water!

Sources: US Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.poolsafety.gov/ The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals http://www.apsp.org/Public/Home/index.cfm American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

Posted July 26, 2010

Americans enjoy more than three billion barbecues each year. But barbecuing can be dangerous, even deadly, if you are not careful. The following tips can make your grilling experience safer:

1. When ready to barbecue, protect yourself by wearing a heavy apron and an oven mitt that fits high up over your forearm.
2. With gas grills, make sure the gas cylinder is always stored outside and away from your house. Make sure the valves are turned off when you are not using them. Check regularly for leaks in the connections using a soap and water mix that will show bubbles where gas escapes.
3. Barbecue grills should be kept on a level surface away from the house, garage, landscaping, and most of all, children.
4. For charcoal grills, only use starter fluids designed for those grills. Never use gasoline and use a limited amount of starter fluid. If the fire is too slow, rekindle with dry kindling and add more charcoal if necessary. Never add more liquid fuel or you could end up with a flash fire.
5. Be sure to soak the coals with water before you put them in the trash.
6. Always remember that grills remain hot long after you are through barbecuing.

In Case Of An Emergency

If you get burned, run cool water over the injury for 10–15 minutes. Never put butter or salve on burns because they will seal in the heat and cause further blistering. If you receive a serious burn the sooner you get medical attention the better.