homeowner tips Archives - Page 2 of 3

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|

The Damage Report: Unveiling the Top 10 Disaster-Prone States

Being prepared is the first step to protecting your loved ones, your home and your financial stability when disaster strikes. Severe weather can touch down at anytime, anywhere as it has only amplified in intensity and frequency over the last few years – leaving destruction in its wake. And while many homeowners and renters assume their traditional insurance policy has them covered after Mother Nature hits; they’d be surprised to know that their policy likely has major gaps that leave them having to fill it with their hard-earned emergency savings. At Recoop, we understand that the uncertainty of severe weather can be daunting, and that’s why we’re here to help. Our new series The Damage Report is designed to provide you with actionable, insightful and data-driven analysis of the top 10 states that faced the most disasters since 2000 according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). You may be [...]

Flynn Wright2023-10-18T19:52:25+00:00Tags: home insurance, homeowner tips, natural disasters|

National Preparedness Month: It’s Time To Level Up Your Disaster Resiliency Plan

Every year, September marks National Preparedness Month, FEMA’s Ready Campaign and the Ad Council’s month-long movement to raise awareness about the importance of being ready for unexpected emergencies. While preparedness can encompass various aspects of life, at Recoop Disaster Insurance, we tend to look at it through the lens of home insurance and natural disasters. In this blog, we'll delve into why National Preparedness Month serves as a great reminder to have guardrails in place to build your home’s, your family’s and your bank account’s resiliency in the face of a disaster. Expect the Unexpected One thing you can count on is that Mother Nature can be unpredictable. We’ve seen rare west coast hurricanes, ice storms in the south and more, meaning no one is immune to severe weather. In fact, in the last 10 years, 88.5% of all U.S. counties declared a natural disaster – including 95% of the [...]

Flynn Wright2023-09-07T19:38:10+00:00Tags: financial well-being, homeowner tips, insurance claims|

Florida Has a New Resident. Recoop Is Coming to the Sunshine State!

Our team at Recoop is thrilled to announce that we’re expanding our services into Florida as of July 28. This means that now homeowners and renters in 42 states (including Washington D.C.) have access to Recoop’s first of its kind multi-peril disaster insurance that picks up where traditional policies stop. This strategic expansion is not only a pivotal move for us but also the residents of Florida, as the state led the U.S. in 2022 by racking up $116 billion in damage caused by severe weather. Our expansion also comes on the heels of other insurance providers recently announcing that they’re moving out of the state or scaling back the policies they offer significantly in an attempt to limit their risk exposure. They have pointed to climate change as the major factor increasing the strength, severity and frequency of disasters such as hurricanes, which are a known peril to hit [...]

Flynn Wright2023-08-09T21:36:12+00:00Tags: homeowner tips, hurricanes, natural disasters|

Peril Know-How: Stamping Out the Effects of Wildfires

In years past, wildfire season was largely thought of as a summer peril; however, the effects of climate change have many experts changing their tune by calling it a year-round concern. With that in mind, the threat of wildfires still looms over many homeowners’ heads during the hot, dry summer months. Wildfires are unpredictable and containing them can be extremely challenging once they start, burning through land and buildings quickly. This leaves not only destruction in their wake, but also hefty repair bills for homeowners. The U.S. experiences an average of almost 60,000 wildfires per year, which burned 7.6 million acres of land on average between 2018 and 2023 according to the National Interagency Fire Center. A recent State Farm report estimates that 4.5 million homes are located in areas at high risk for a wildfire. Since wildfires can impact almost anyone, it’s important to prepare for the physical, emotional [...]

Flynn Wright2023-07-10T16:17:27+00:00Tags: homeowner tips, natural disasters, wildfires|

Save the Date: Reminder To Reevaluate Your Coverage for National Insurance Awareness Day

A holiday for insurance? Yep, you read that right. While you don’t get the day off work, National Insurance Awareness Day (June 28) serves as an important annual reminder to review your current policies in place, identify any potential gaps in your plans and update your coverage. This can give folks the peace of mind knowing they’re financially prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws their way in the next year. It’s especially important since natural disasters in 2022 totaled $165.1 billion in damages in the U.S. With household budgets already tight due to inflation, insurance policy gaps can leave homeowners left covering the costs where insurance falls short. And that can lead to financial ruin for many people across the country. Let’s take a closer look at homeowners and renters insurance this National Insurance Awareness Day with some practical tips on how to ensure you have the best policy in [...]

Flynn Wright2023-06-09T18:19:13+00:00Tags: coverage gaps, homeowner tips, natural disasters|