From low tire pressure to frozen fuel lines to road salt damage, winter can take its toll on your vehicle. Here are five car care tips to prevent long-term damage:

1.Swap out regular tires for winter tires. Snow or not, if you live in an area where temperatures regularly fall below 45 degrees, winter tires are recommended. They’re made to give you better traction while turning or stopping on cold pavement.
2.Check tire pressure weekly. Driving on underinflated tires can cause them to wear down prematurely and lose traction on icy or slippery surfaces. Your tires lose a pound of pressure with every 10-degree drop in temperature.
3.Keep your fuel tank half full. During winter weather, it’s a good idea to keep at least half a tank of fuel in the vehicle in the event of an emergency or if you get stuck in the snow and need to wait for rescue. For longer road trips, plan stops for gas in advance.
4.Add a protective layer. A coat of polymer wax can create a barrier against road salt, grime, snow, sleet and more. Couple that with high-pressure car washes after winter storms to rinse away buildup in hard-to-reach areas such as wheels, wheel wells and underbody.
5.Protect your windshield wipers. If you park outdoors, leave the wipers in the raised position to prevent them from freezing to the windshield. Never use your wiper blades to remove ice, snow or frost from the windshield; use an ice scraper instead.

All of us at Florey Insurance Agency would like to thank all of our clients, who we consider part of the Florey team and family. Because of your trust and loyalty in us, we have grown through the past 48 years to over 10,000 people. We are a local agency with over 20 companies to share with you. We are the guy next door that gives you personal service not an “unknown” on the phone or internet.
Please consider sharing your Florey Insurance Agency experience with your family, friends and neighbors.
We appreciate the confidence you have in our agency. We promise to give you quick and accurate response to all your insurance needs.
Sincerely,
Tom Florey

It might seem like the peak of summer, but fall is right around the corner. That means flu season if right around the corner too!

Manufacturers have started shipping the flu vaccine, and that means its time to get yours before the rush in the later months. Here are a few pieces of Information about the Influenza vaccine.

Why should people get vaccinated against the flu?

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others.

How do flu vaccines work?

Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

Who should get vaccinated this season?

Here are a few steps that you should take to keep your home prepared in the event of a fire.

• Install the right number of smoke alarms. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year
• Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
• Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
• Establish a family emergency communications plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.
• Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year. Press the smoke alarm test button or yell “Fire“ to alert everyone that they must get out.
• Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
• Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.

Big storms bring heavy rains and wind.  On the insurance front, people who suffer property damage and losses from a large storm face possible complications collecting policy benefits to pay for repairs.

Home and renters policies exclude some but not all types of water damage.  “Flood” damage (your policy should define what the insurer considers a “flood”) and earth movement are excluded.  Water damage from sewers and drains that back up may or may not be covered, depending on the wording in the specific home/renters policy.  If wind or falling trees cause damage to pipes or contribute to water getting into a dwelling, there may be coverage under a home/renters policy.  If you have a separate flood policy,  flood insurance may cover damage from inundations and mudflow with a number of limitations and exclusions.

What to do before and during a severe storm:

• If you live on or at the foot of a hillside, place sandbags around the perimeter of your home.
• Place rolled up towels along the inside of exterior doors to prevent water from getting in.
• Do your best to keep your gutters clear but stay safe throughout the storm.
• Move valuables and items up from lower levels and away from doors and windows.
• Find a copy of your insurance policy.  Check the wording on water damage and the amount of your deductible
• Use the free UPHelp Home Inventory App to photo document key features of your home that could be damaged (windows, siding, roof and interior) and your possessions.

What to do after the storm:

• If your home was damaged, focus on creating a scope of everything that was damaged and what it will cost to repair or replace.
• To keep a clean record and avoid premium increases, don’t file a claim until you review your policy and you think your loss will exceed your deductible and be covered.  Read: To claim or not to claim…
• If the damage was sudden and accidental and triggered by the storm, don’t accept a claim denial argument from your insurer or agent that it was due to faulty construction or maintenance.  The insurer cashed your premium checks and insured your property “as is”.
• If you file a claim and your insurer rejects it, make sure you get a clear and detailed explanation of their position.
• The answer to whether your town or city will pay to repair flooding damage to your home is…”it depends.”