This is a video jockey to promote a brand of sneakers, but the idea of ​​providing some body parts are not completely farfetched ... celebrities have been known to make body parts ... Jimmy Durante had a policy of $ 50,000 on its distinctive nose and Betty Grable had a policy million over its famous legs. Larry Getlen has a fun article about it in Bankrate : Celebrity body parts: thighs million and smiles

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has issued new qualifications for car booster seats for children. They examined 60 models covering almost all models sold in the United States right now, and they issue 9 "best bet" recommendations and 4 recommendations "good bet". In addition, they indicated that 11 products are not recommended because of poor fit.
IIHS says that more than 1000 children 12 and under in passenger vehicles die in accidents each year, and over 100,000 are injured. Parents can reduce the risk to their children secure them in the back seat of their vehicle.

"Parents can not say a good reminder of a bad just by comparing design features and price," says Anne McCartt, Institute senior vice president of research. " what really matters is if the booster you are thinking correctly positions the safety belt on your 4-8 years in your vehicle. Our ratings make it easier to choose a booster safer for children over child restraint. "

• See the complete list of notes with the model numbers and photos of the seats
• child restraint Map and booster seat laws by State
• see also child safety in accidents. - a complete guide for parents, which includes videos and sample photos

There are a group of thieves plotting on how to get your financial data personal this tax season and do not be deceived - they are good at what they do. Consumer Report " s Money Blog offers this advice: When planning for tax season: Do not become a victim tax time phishing . No matter how authentic an e-mail from the Internal Revenue Service can look, the IRS does not initiate communication via email taxpayers
Know what you're up against -. Learn about phishing
According to Wikipedia, phishing is:

"... the criminal fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as user names, words password and credit card numbers by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be social Web popular sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public. Phishing is typically carried out by email or instant messaging, [1] and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. Even when using server authentication, it may require tremendous skill to detect that the website is fake. "

Some of the best tips and consumer resources can be found at (APWG) Group . anti-phishing Working Site the following tips are taken from their consumer guide on how to avoid phishing scams:

• Beware of email with urgent requests for financial information personal
• do not use the links in an email, instant message, or chat to get to a web page if you suspect the message might not be authentic - call the company on the telephone, or log onto the website directly by typing the web address into your browser
• Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal financial information - you must provide information such as credit card numbers or account information via a secure website or the telephone
• always make sure you use a secure site when the credit card statement or other sensitive information via your Web browser
• Consider installing a Web browser tool bar to help protect against fraudulent Web sites known
• newspaper regularly in your online accounts to ensure that all transactions are legitimate
• Make sure your browser is up to date and security patches applied
• always report "phishing" or "spoofed" e-mails to the following groups: forward the email to reportphishing @ antiphishing.org; forward the email to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov; when forwarding spoofed messages, always include the entire original email with its information header unopened

Additional resources
New FBI E-scams and warnings
How to spot a fake website and not be phished
Stop. Think. To log in.

Too often people think only about insurance when they lost or when time for an annual insurance policy, such as automobile or homeowners to renew. It's just human nature. However, insurance is an important part of financial planning and deserves more consideration than a quick search for the cheapest quote renewal come. As with any purchase, cheapest is not always the best buying criteria - you get what you pay for. Although there is certainly no reason to spend more than you need, you must be sure that the insurance package you buy will provide adequate coverage for your particular situation. The issue is what is sufficient coverage - and this may very well change during your life. Insurance is essentially a form of financial risk management that is designed to protect an individual or a business loss resulting from adverse life events. One person in their 20s will have very different coverage needs to that of a middle-aged parent who owns a home and has several dependents.

When some major life events occur, they should trigger a review of the insurance coverage. You may need to add a new type of coverage, you can raise or lower deductibles on an existing policy, or there may be potential savings or reductions. Your independent insurance agent will be able to inform you about the different coverage options - but can advise you based on what he or she knows. It is good to keep insurance coverage at the back of your mind, and make a habit of making a call or drop a note to your local agent when you experience a major life event, such as a following:

• Marriage
• divorce
• birth or adoption of a child
• Death of a member of the immediate family
• military deployment
• Buying a new home, condo or second home
• home renovation
• Adding buildings to your property
• renting your house
• switching to a new geographic area
• renting an apartment
• adolescent child get a car license
• Changing jobs and benefits of employment
• Starting a small business
• the acquisition electronics, antiques, jewelry, furs, or expensive special collections
• the acquisition of a recreational vehicle - boat, motorcycle, snowmobile
• Join an ad
• pension

If you had a loss of more than $ 500 outstanding by fire, theft, or natural disaster, you may be able to claim that on your taxes. According to the IRS:

"A casualty loss can result from damage, destruction or loss of your property from any sudden event, unusual or unexpected, such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, earthquake or even volcanic eruption.

a theft is the taking and withdrawal of money or property with intent to deprive the owner of celui- it. the plug must be illegal under state law where it occurred and it must have been done with criminal intent "

the losses that may be eligible include :.

• Un-reimbursed losses due to theft, fire, accidents, storm damage, or similar events if losses are greater than $ 500 and 10% of your adjusted gross income. (This includes the money you paid in a franchise)
• The losses that occurred in disaster areas declared by the federal government. See: 09 declared federal disasters
• The financial losses due to insolvency or bankruptcy of a bank or a financial institution

Types of losses would not be deductible:

• Home or household damage is gradual, progressive, or the result of normal wear
• items that you lose, break, or damage under normal use

If you have insurance, you must have filed a timely insurance claim. Any refund you receive from the insurance must be taken into account and deducted in determining your loss. This includes any expected reimbursement, even if you have not yet received.
To claim a deduction for loss or theft, you must use the Form 4684. Here are the instructions for Form 4684
For more information
the go-to source for all information on tax deductions the IRS. The book losses, disasters and theft - 09 tax returns explains the tax treatment of losses, thefts and losses on deposits. It includes the following information :.

• definitions of an accident, theft and the loss of deposits
• How to understand the amount of your gain or loss
• How to treat insurance and other reimbursements you receive
• deduction limits
• When and how to report a victim
• special rules for the losses in the region disaster

Other resources
If you do your own taxes? See how do you do on this quiz tax issue 25
If you file your own taxes or collect documentation for your accountant, tax use this checklist handy.

The Fire Administration US (USFA) announces that on May 2 to 8 is the Awareness Week arson. The theme this year is community arson prevention .
According to data from Notification System National Fire incidents of USFA and the National Association of protection against fire, an estimated average of 316.0 intentional fires are reported to fire departments in the United States each year causing injuries to 7,825 firefighters and civilians. In 06, ten firefighters died as a result of arson. In addition to needless injury and death, an estimated $ 1.1 billion in direct property loss occurs annually.
In the context of this event, FEMA has published a booklet of 22 pages, community prevention Arson (PDF), which includes tips and resources for the prevention of arson, including:

• 5 steps to start a community monitoring program - pages 2-3
• arson prevention tips for business - pages 3-4
• arson prevention advice for churches - pages 4-5
• arson prevention advice for schools - pages 6-9
• Wildfire prevention tips - page 13
• State and local initiatives - pages 10-17
• links and resources - page 20

Materials from previous years are also precious. Last year, the theme of Arson Awareness Week focuses on Arson for profit (PDF, 16 pages), covering topics such as the arson of the vehicle arson in abandoned buildings, owned by arson those who have fallen behind on mortgage payments or boat, house flipping arson, arson recover sums from a failing company, arson to eliminate competitors or to take revenge
in 08, emphasis was toylike Lighters: Playing with Fire (PDF - 8 pages) focusing on the dangers of lighters similar toys or novelty. . in the hands of children
in 07, the focus was Arson vehicle: Who pays for this crime? (PDF, 9 pages).

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has announced road tests of driving license which can now be scheduled online. This should be a welcome service to 2,500 hundred people taking road tests in an average week - no more waiting on hold on the phone. It's good timing because people RMV say that there is a higher demand for test drives during the summer.
If you have not visited the site MA RMV lately, you might be surprised at all the things you can now do it online. The site has seen a 39% growth in traffic over the last year, making it the office "busiest branch", which helps to relieve the enormous pressure of 30 branches. The MA RMV serves more 4.6 million drivers a year
Here are some of the services you can now do online :.

• Application for learner's license or permit for the first time
• Convert an out of state license
• Renew license, MA ID and registration
• Sign up for a reminder of license renewal
• Adhere as donor organs and tissues
• Order a driving record, police accident report
• Sign fast Lane transponders
• Payment Notes and quotes
• access forms and publications
• see the license, registration and title status

MA RMV adds several representatives services
the announcement of the new online service follows a recent announcement that it will expand the RMV customer service by adding 42 representatives of customer service in positions of frontline services and training 37 college interns to manage licensing and registration renewals in branches. As part of its ongoing partnership with AAA, it will also permanently open three new branches in the AAA Southern New England offices - Worcester, Framingham Plymouth. This will return on Saturday by July 1. Operating hours
Follow news and updates from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to Mass DOT on Twitter or Blog MA Transport DOT.

What is the most dangerous season for driving, winter or summer? If you said the winter, you can reach about 83% of Americans. But the reality is that the three summer months have the highest rates of automobile accidents, which represents about one in three deaths. And as we have already discussed Saturday in August are some of the most dangerous days of driving.
When it comes to the summer driving safety, there are certainly spots that are hotter than others. The Daily Beast crunched the numbers on the data 5 years of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to come up with a list of 100 US highways most likely to generate a fatal accident.
For another take on dangerous roads, you might turn to SafeRoadMaps, which offers a variety of interactive maps for data tracks fatalities. See their report on the states with the most rural summer hotspots (PDF)
Jon Burner Forbes recently wrote an interesting article on the fastest roads of America -. Highways where speeds often exceed 0 mph. While many of these roads tend to be long straight highway in desolate areas, but the article quotes some notorious urban areas too:

"The fastest road near the an urban area is the California Route 73, six -lane highway in orange County that connects Santa Ana and San Juan Capistrano through the San Joaquin Hills. While the speed limit on that stretch is 65 miles per hour, the fastest 5% of drivers average speeds around 82 miles per hour over 17 miles of the road.
statistics INRIX also show that New Yorkers really do go fast. the suburban Westchester County New York City is home to the fastest highway in the eastern United States - and one of two routes from the East coast who made the list Drivers on the winding, busy Saw Mill River Parkway. frequently reach speeds of 78-85 miles per hour between cities Elmsford and Hawthorne, in spite of the speed limit of 50 mph.
Connecticut has the fastest section of Interstate in the country, according to Inrix. A distance of a mile off Interstate 84 northeast of Hartford, the fastest 5 percent of drivers regularly display a limit of 65 mile per hour speed driving 85 miles per hour. "

For more on the deadly roads, see our previous post on the deadliest US roads. - Including an amazing bonus video on the Death Road in Bolivia, called the the most dangerous road on earth

Researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has evaluated 72 children from booster seats to check those that offer a good fit, one of the most important criteria for safety. They appointed 21 extra models as "best results" and seven as "good paris." This is a significant improvement from the list last year, while only 9 models earned the highest grades. They also noted as 8 models See All "not recommended".:. 2010 Guest assessment IIHS Booster
These notes are important because they offer advice on the fit. Although there are other tests and assessments for boosters - such as the accident performance testing and ease of use - there is not dealing in shape. IIHS says: "Belts do the main job of keeping children in safety boosters in crashes, but belts and vehicle seats are designed for adults, not children, so it is important for boosters to lift children in position for lap belts / harnesses to provide good retention. Children 4-8 who ride in boosters are 45 percent less likely to sustain injuries in crashes than children restrained by belts alone. "

Photos used with permission IIHS.

Tomorrow is the 35th Annual Great American Smokeout to the American Cancer Society, a good day to quit smoking if you have not already, or to support smokers who you know in kicking their habit. Quitting smoking is not only good decision about your physical health, it can also be quite a boon to your financial health. Even beyond the cost of cigarettes themselves, smoking carries other costs. Most life insurance, health insurance, home insurance and insurance policies, even automobiles are higher premiums for smokers. It stands to reason: the price of insurance is based on the likelihood of having to make payment on a claim. Smokers are a riskier bet overall than non-smokers. For life and health insurance, the risks are obvious and well documented: on average, smokers have more health problems and die younger
Property insurance is more expensive for smokers due a higher risk of accidents related to smoking .. households with smokers have an increased risk of fires. According to the US Fire Administration, "... about 9,000 smoking-related fires in residential buildings occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated average of 450 deaths, 1,025 injuries, and $ 303 million in loss the property ... they are the leading cause of fire deaths, accounting for 17 percent of fire deaths in residential buildings. "smoking is also considered one of the main" culprits of distracted driving " leading to an increase in automobile accidents. and with all property, damage to the residual smoke may decrease the value of the property and make the most difficult resale. There may be other costs too :. year last, it was revealed that Apple canceled iT security due to secondhand smoke hand
save your health and save money in the process - it's a win-win all around
[! stop Smoking resources
American Cancer Society: Great American Smokeout Guide to quit smoking
American Cancer Society: Large resources and tools American Smokeout
American Cancer Society: Helping a smoker all in fact: do and don 'ts
American Lung Association - help resources for quitting
Centers for Disease Control: tobacco tools and resources
Mayo Clinic 10 ways to help teens not smoking Health of
Teen: How I quit smoking?

The Insurance Information Institute reports that there is a strong potential for a bad flood season. While the highest risk areas in the Upper Midwest, The National Weather Service says some parts of southern New England, New York and Pennsylvania are also at risk. NWS and reminds us that if snow runoff may increase the risk in some areas in the spring, flooding is a coast to coast threat to the United States and its territories in all months of the year. At floodsmart.gov, you can check your geographical risk via Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
preparation of flooding for companies
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners issued a checklist for planning disaster for small businesses, which covers the steps key for the preparation and an overview of related insurance issues you need to consider.
NAIC also issues a reminder that floods are not a covered peril in an insurance policy for standard business property. They note that the coverage of flood can be purchased from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered by FEMA, but there is usually a 30-day waiting period for a policy to go into effect. They suggest to check with your insurance agent if the boundaries of the property insurance against the NFIP of flooding are insufficient to cover your business.
AgilityRecovery, recovery specialist disaster, says your business is more likely to flood burn, so they offer this helpful list Flood civil affairs.
preparing to flood the owners
The Insurance Information Institute provides useful information on preparing for a flood and the recovery of a flood. The site also offers a variety of other useful resources related to disaster preparedness.
Floodsmart.gov is the official website of the National Flood Insurance Program. You can learn about obtaining a residential coverage and what it covers. The site also offers tips on recovery and filing applications flood
additional flood resources
Security Flood - resources from NOAA
flood recovery resources insurance matters
consumer alert: Don '. t buy a flood damaged car
Does the insurance cover owners a flooded basement?

snowfall are not particularly unusual here in New England, we are proud of our ability to cope with white matter. But members of the hospital's emergency room staff would be the first to tell you: a seemingly simple task like shoveling snow can cause a lot of grief - each year, they see thousands of people with snow removal injuries linked from back pain and hypothermia in heart attacks and amputations.
shoveling snow can be a pretty intense activity and you must approach it in the same way as you would any vigorous activity. Take health factors into consideration and check with your doctor if you have a question about the relevance of this type of activity. If you have heart disease or have had a heart attack, or if you have high levels of blood pressure or cholesterol, you should find someone else to do your shoveling. Other populations who should exercise extreme caution before taking a shovel :. Smokers, the elderly, and out of shape, sedentary kinds
Here are some basic safety tips shoveling

• Dress for the job. Wear layers of waterproof light clothing. Cover your extremities. Wear a hat, warm socks and gloves.
• Choose the right tool. Make sure you do not use a shovel that is too big for you. In general, smaller, lighter excavators are better than larger ones. Many ergonomists recommend a curve rather than a straight handle. Space your hands apart while gripping the handle to maximize your leverage.
• Before shoveling, start warming up. Walk or perform stretching exercises for 10 or 15 minutes.
• Pace yourself. Start slowly, do not rush. Maintain regular moderate pace. Take occasional breaks.
• Making your legs do the work. Keep your feet apart for balance and keep your shovel close to your body. Bend your knees and lift with your legs, not with your back. Avoid lifting if push will.
• Avoid twisting your torso. It is best to take some steps to clear your snow load that twist and throw it. Keep your feet pointed in the direction you lift and throw.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, but avoid caffeine and other stimulants that can increase your heart rate.
• Stop immediately if you feel any signs of dizziness, shortness of breath, pain, sweating, or nausea. If you feel pain, especially in the chest or arm, do check as soon as possible - better to be safe than sorry.

snowblowers are also a source of many winter trips to the emergency room - usually for injuries to hands and fingers, including amputations. If you have a blower, take a minute to review these tips from Consumer Reports safety snow blower.

In this short video clip, Crash Dummies Test the Insurance Information Institute offer tips on how to choose a good company insurance.

See also Article III of Five insurance mistakes to avoid ... And save money. We have summarized the five mistakes below, but you can read the article for a more detailed explanation and ideas for better ways to save money while minimizing the risk of loss.

• Providing a home for its real estate value rather than the cost of the reconstruction
• Selecting an insurance company by price alone.
• Dropping insurance against flooding
• only purchase the amount required by law the responsibility for your car
• Neglecting to buy renters insurance

The following are resources to help you answer any damage you have suffered tornado connected. More and more resources are available, we will add them. Also, check our Twitter feed :. @RenInsureInfo
emergency advice

• Stay on buildings seriously damaged
• If your home or business is badly damaged, try to cut public services or utility companies to contact
• Beware of danger such as outdoor debris, fallen son, tree branches. Wear sturdy shoes or boots.
• Take pictures of any damage before cleaning
• Contact your insurance agent and / or insurance.
• Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage
• Discard any food that may have spoiled or contaminated
• Check with local authorities for local alerts

Complaints said: direct links to Renaissance Alliance insurance partner claims reports pages - list includes 40 of the largest state insurers. If your insurer is not listed here, contact your Mass Division of the main number of the insurance (617) 521-7794 or consumer information hotline (617) 521-7794 or independent agent
Tips to requests for reports :. What consumers need to know when confronted with a loss - important, but sometimes difficult, filing a claim can be one of the most frustrating process during a crisis or as a result of a major disaster. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners offers tips for your insurance company should help you avoid problems getting your claims paid.
Other Resources
MA governor declares state of emergency
Follow emergency and road traffic updates on MA Department of Transportation Twitter feed
Mass Emergency Management Agency
CDC: after a tornado
What to do before, during and after a tornado (PDF)
Protect yourself from mold
USA.gov: Locate person services near you
News reports and videos
ABC: Massachusetts Tornadoes: at least 4 dead Springfield, Westfield Hard Hit - includes video clips
III: Massachusetts and tornadoes

Reports An August 2011 article on Consumer nutrition labeling advises us how to avoid the temptation to fast food counter citing a study that shows that a group of people who have seen the number of calories consumed before ordering 14% fewer calories than a group that did not ... other studies provide different results, showing little or no effect on consumer behavior. ? Is fast food nutrition labeling to help us make healthier choices, yes or no
Well, yes and no, apparently ... But we stress a salient fact: fast food is fast. People may want to make healthy choices, but they are also in a race. They pick up and drop their children, thinking about this presentation they need to provide, or errands they need to function. If they had a few minutes to read nutrition labels, maybe they would have had opportunity to make their own healthy meals.
It makes sense to try to sort this information and adjust the selections during a free moment before ordering. The article offers four suggestions to avoid the temptation of fast food, the first being: Visit the websites: Many fast food chains show figures for fat, calories and sodium. But this is hard work!
There must surely be a magical Internet gizmo that would make it all much easier? And, yes, there is: Fast Food Explorer to the rescue! This smart fast food calculator makes it quick and easy to compare nutrition facts for fast food at 12 of the most popular channels in America. You can see for Fat Calories, Total calories, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates and more in various categories, where besides the sandwiches - and a convenient feature is that you can compare between restaurants. So let's say you have nearby Arby's, Burger King, and Wendy, and you have a penchant for chicken: The Fast Food Explorer compares the three and shows that 5 parts Nuggets Wendy's Crispy Chicken ( healthier menu instantly adult) choice.
Nice! And as fun rather addictively. Here is your easy way to make healthy decisions before you are flashing in the lunch menu and worrying about getting to your next meeting on time.

Here are some resources to help you track and prepare Irene - as well as insurance-related resources if you commit damage. More and more resources are available, we will add them. Also, check our Twitter feed consumption: @RenInsureInfo
Storm Tracking
MSNBC Hurricane Tracker
Follow Irene at the National Hurricane Center

Weather Underground -. including co-founder
Dr. Jeff Masters WunderBlog
New England Emergency Resources
MA: @MassEMA - MA Emergency Management Agency
ME: @MaineEMA - Emergency Maine Management Agency
NH: @NHgov - New Hampshire State government
NY: @NYSEMO - NY Division of Homeland Security and emergency services
RI: @RhodeIslandEMA - RI emergency Management Agency
VT: @vemvt - emergency management VT
Hurricane preparation
It is not too late to conduct an inventory in preparation for Hurricane Irene
Common Sense advice Before & After hurricane
Prepare an effective evacuation plan
Hurricane Irene: checklist for protecting your technology before and during a hurricane
planning disaster for small businesses - a list of control
national Association of insurance Commissioners, which covers the key steps for the preparation and an overview. issues related to the insurance you need to consider
Hurricane Preparation Tips and disaster preparedness - information from the Insurance Institute
Hurricane Checklist - of the Red Cross
issues insurance
Hurricane Irene could hit the east coast: Do you know what your deductible hurricane
hurricane and windstorm deductibles
alleged reports: direct links to Renaissance Alliance partners insurance claims declared pages - list includes 40 of the largest state insurers. If your insurer is not listed here, contact your Mass Division of the main number of the insurance (617) 521-7794 or consumer information hotline (617) 521-7794 or independent agent
Tips reporting applications :. What consumers should know when confronted with a loss - important, but sometimes difficult, filing a claim can be one of the most frustrating process during a crisis or following a disaster majeure. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners offers tips for your insurance company should help you avoid problems getting your claims paid.

The East Coast is still recovering from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, and other heavy rain events. The succession of storms and hurricanes this season resulted in vehicle fleets is inoperative in case of flooding. unscrupulous car dealers are known to turn around these vehicles damaged by floods and sell to unsuspecting buyers. Consequently, the National Insurance Crime Bureau released the list of vehicle fraud flood prevention tips
This is what they recommend: ..

• Select a reputable dealer
• inspect the vehicle water stains, mildew, sand or silt under carpets, floor mats, headliner cloth and behind the dashboard.
• Check for recently shampooed carpet.
  Inspect the upholstery and interior door panels for fading.
• Check for rust on screws in the console or areas where water normally doesn, AOT join.
• Check the mud or grit in the spare tire compartment, alternator crevices, behind wiring harnesses, around the small recesses of starter motors, power steering pumps and relays.
• Check inside the seatbelt retractors by pulling the seatbelt all the way and check for moisture, mold or dirt.
• Check speaker of the door because they are often damaged due to flooding.
• Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before you buy.
• Ask about the vehicle history, OSA. Ask either in accidents or floods.
• Inspect the title and ownership titles to any potential fraud or questionable recovery.
• Search of vehicle title.
• Look under the hood for signs of oxidation. Pull the rubber boots around electrical and mechanical connections for these indicators: Ferrous materials show signs of rust, copper displays a green patina
• Aluminium and aluminum alloys have a white powder and pitting
• trust your instincts: If you don, AOT as the answers or the deal seems too good to be true, walk

If you fear the vehicle you are looking for may have declared salvage the damage caused by floods, visit our previous post, consumer alert: don, AOT buy a car damaged by floods specific ways to confirm this, as the search for your vehicle identification number because, AOS for a history report. Also, if you find a car dealer who commits this type of fraud, be sure to inform the NICB at 800-TEL-NICB.

Even if you aren, AOT shopping for a vehicle, you should be concerned about the aggressive floods this year. According to the oceanographic and meteorological laboratory Atlantic season Atlantic hurricane lasts until November 30, which means that there is still a chance of even more flooding that could affect your car home .
Take steps to protect your property. Your car insurance may cover more than you think but beware owners: flood damage is not covered by most homeowners policies, you would need a special flood coverage. Contact your insurance agent to make sure your vehicle and your home are protected against any future flood damage before it, AOS too late.

Photo: AP Photo: Robert F. Bukaty
the east coast was a surprise snowstorm that derailed Maryland Halloween plans in Maine. Many cities need time to clean up fallen trees, limbs and power lines before it is safe for ghosts and goblins children go from house to house. Moreover, the power of recovery is still a work in progress for all communities.
This is just a teaser of upcoming events. The Insurance Information Institute has provided a breakdown of winter storm Facts. After adjusting for inflation, winter storms have caused about $ 26 billion in insured catastrophe losses since 1991, causing more than $ 1 billion per year on average damage. Last year, winter storm losses totaled $ 2.6 billion, the highest it has been since 03.
In this unprecedented storm in October of nearly a million homes have been deprived of electricity. The FDA website has tips to keep food safe during and after power outages. Refrigerated foods should be fine if the door remains closed and the power was out for no less than 4 hours, but for many households in the North this was not the case. Follow their safety tips to prevent disease after the storm.
If your home or car suffered damage from falling tree branches, call your insurance agent. Here is a short video on the subject:

By most accounts winter has not yet begun - the winter season not even officially not start until December 22 and already the North becomes a taste of it. If you have questions about your insurance coverage and if you are adequately protected against losses due to the storm, talk to your insurance agent.

are you one of those people who goes to extremes for your holiday decoration
You are certainly not alone ?. Below we have published some of our favorite video clips featuring light shows at the home of extreme holiday - but first, we would be remiss in our role as insurance advisors if we only offer a few words on the importance of security. In Deck the Halls But do it safely when working with electric lights, EHS Today notes that "during the two months surrounding the holiday season, more than 14,000 people are treated hospital emergencies due to injuries related to holiday decorating. in 2010, the National fire Protection Association said that the Christmas lights were involved in an average of 150 reported home structure fires per year during 04-08. These fires caused an average of eight civilians killed, 16 wounded civilians, and $ 8.9 million in direct property damage per year. "
If you are decorating the exterior of your home, their article offers the following tips on safety SafeElectricity.org:

• Never throw holiday lights or other decorations in the trees near power lines
• Be especially careful when working near power lines attached to your home. Keep ladders, equipment and yourself at least 10 feet from all power lines
• Use only lights, cords, displays and animated decorations rated for outdoor use. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use the
• Cords should be plugged into sockets equipped with fault circuit to earth (GFCI)
• Use a portable GFCI if your full output air are not equipped with them
• do not staple or nail through light strings or cords, and do not attach power poles cords
• outdoor Christmas lights are for seasonal use, up to 0 days. Bring them inside after the holidays
• Avoid decorating outdoors on windy or wet days. Choose to decorate in favorable weather conditions and during the hours of daylight.

Later this week, watch for interior decorating safety tips.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced Vehicle Safety Top Picks for 2012. There are 18 new choices for a total of 115 winners in the following categories: 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in crashes front and rear side bearing, and based on ratings in evaluations of the Institute. The notes, which cover all 4 of the most common types of accidents, help buyers choose vehicles that offer the highest levels of crash protection.
Here is a handy list of 2012 Top Safety Picks with links to notes.
If you are shopping for a new vehicle, you can also check out this list: insurance losses by make and model. And you will also want to talk to your insurance agent.

Your mom may think of you as a baby million and friends and family can find you invaluable ... but that price would be an insurer put on your body parts? Could you order $ 10 million for a smile? $ 1.6 million for a finger? $ 1 million for your hair flowing? Probably not, but some celebrities have insured body parts for millions.
We also remind you of a past post related to the topic amusing parody video featuring Kobe Bryant touting assurance ankle.
You can learn more about how insurance body. This article explains that, "You must not be a celebrity to make your body parts all can order up some specialty insurance, if he thinks he needs. As long as you are willing to pay premium, you can get insurance for the body part of your choice. in the UK, members of the Derbyshire whiskers club insured their beards against "fire and theft", and a football fan himself assured him against psychic trauma if England loses world Cup this year. "
Related
10 of the weirdest insurance policies
insurance issues for the rich and famous

The Insurance Information Institute (III) is to show the love Valentine, the insurance style. They created a board on Pinterest theme to celebrate the day. For those of you not on your social media trends, Pinterest is the "virtual pinboard" People who can cut and share things you find on the web.
III has collected some pictures and amusing reminders about showing your love insurance. style ... such as to ensure that all the expensive gifts are delivered and buying practice when shopping online for your love
They also posted a series of three original video clips - life insurance promoted by fruit flies. Yes, fruit flies - you'll have to watch to see for yourself. This is part of a campaign called Insure Your Love, which is sponsored by the Life Foundation, ostensibly to create a buzz (ahem) about the life insurance. If you're wondering what life insurance has to do with fruit flies, you can learn more about Fruit Fly Q & A, which has more clips with Frank and Fran, the stars of the campaign of the fly fruits.

Sometimes your storage needs may exceed the capacity of your home or business. It is when self storage units come in, holding any additional costumes for a theater company inherited property boats, trailers, additional vehicles and restaurant supplies. Even if you have never been inside one, you've certainly seen along the side of the road. From the 1960s, self storage facilities were a major growth sector in the United States. With sizes that range from just a couple of huge container compounds, by the end of 09, there were 58,000 facilities owned by 30.235 companies in existence.
With all the choices out there, it can be difficult to decide which hotel is right for you. This site has some good tips on what to look for when shopping for a self-storage, and useful information on how to pack your device. The following list can help you decide which one is right for you.

• Security is the first and most important question. The entire facility should be securely fenced. Walk around and ask how often the facility is open. Do not forget to consider the safety of the immediate area around the facility. You do not want to keep your property in a neighborhood where you feel uncomfortable. Learn about the security features on site such as video surveillance. Informed manager should have the answers you need.
• When will you be able to access your goods? Ideally you should be able to access your self-storage unit whenever you want. Also make sure that your device is easily accessible to your car, remembering that you'll probably come and go with heavy boxes.
• Look for a unit with climate control options. Very high or low temperatures and humidity can quickly damage the appliances and furniture. Think about where the unit is located and check that rising groundwater snow or rain can not penetrate your storage unit.
• Ensure that the storage facility is clean and well maintained. Be sure to check the installation has a reliable pest extermination permanent contract in place before you trust them with your things.
• Check the reputation of the storage company. Ask your neighbors and friends who they use and do not forget to ask the storage company for references. Storage Self Trade Association could also be a valuable resource.

Once you have decided on a self storage unit, the next step is to check with your independent insurance agent to ensure that everything in your device is just as well because it covered would be in your home or business. The Insurance Information Institute emphasizes that standard homeowners and renters insurance policies that include offsite protection provide coverage for goods in storage facilities against theft and damage caused by the fires, tornadoes and other disasters listed in the policy. You can also select a storage company that offers supplemental insurance and their space. Learn about the emergency procedures of the facility and make sure you understand how the insurance they offer cover any potential damage. The facility should also have their own insurance to cover any damage or injuries that occur on their premises.

In a new roof installation, some Florida roofers ran into a surprise when they tore the old. Make sure that checking your roof is part of the maintenance routine.

Bats have a bad reputation undeserved in the civil tradition (well, except for Batman), but they are important little critters that keep the insect population down, have a role in pollination and seed distribution, and play other important ecological functions. Because of this, they are a protected species under the Massachusetts law, and most other state laws also.
The Massachusetts Wildlife Service provides a useful guide for the owner of bats that provides information on what to do if a bat enters your home, signs that chauve- colony mice could be living your attic, tips on how to get rid of a bat colony that has adopted your home as their own, and other tips and tricks related to bat.
another note on the video on another subject bats: If you roofers working on your home, make sure they use safety harnesses or some type of protection against falls! Even if an industrial accident would typically fall under the sample of workers, as the owner, you do not want to take risks.

This is a client of Renaissance Alliance member agency Encharter Insurance
are you in the market for a home insurance policy? While speaking with agents you can hear the words that do not sound familiar to you and wonder why they are a part of your coverage plan. While the policy of each holder is designed for you better and unique needs of your family agree, a type of coverage that you may encounter is " other cover structures." People often ask what other roofing structures is and why it is automatically included in their policies. These "other structures" include items such as houses the pool, cabanas, and garages. Typically, this coverage will go further and even cover things like fences, sheds, barns and in-ground pools. Given all the other structures on your property, this aspect of your home insurance often can be too easily overlooked.
Other structures cover represents 10% coverage of your housing and you have the option to increase it. For more information on your other coverage structures or if you want to increase the coverage, talk to your independent insurance agent. Talk with an expert is a great way to ensure you know exactly what your insurance covers and it supports the needs of you and your family.

Back in the old days before the ubiquitous Internet, travelers had little choice in housing. There were hotels, motels, B & B, short term rental holiday cottages, and very popular time shares and that was about it. During the last decade, however, many more options have been added. To mention just two of the greatest contemporary choice, Couchsurfing offers you a chance to stay with like-minded people around the world while Airbnb gives everyone the opportunity to manage their own part-time bed and breakfast. And then there are a growing number of home exchange service where you literally exchange houses with another family for a week or more. These non-traditional holiday options are growing by leaps and bounds and you may even be planning to join one or the other.
Couchsurfing works more like a social network than a rental. Couchsurfers not pay money when on holiday, but they should receive in turn. Airbnb, on the other hand, is much more traditional: the host rents part or all of their home, from a guesthouse in a fully equipped apartment or house for a short period of time. Both services are based on detailed profiles filled by both hosts and guests, listing all musical preferences to pet issues to information about the host city. Both hosts and guests are free to accept or reject any offer as they wish and services recommend reading the profiles carefully and talking with potential customers in advance for all rentals. swap services are more like couchsurfing in that they usually do not have money but rather a simple craft :. you get them home and they get yours
Although there is no shortage of glowing recommendations for all these services are available online, accidents do happen and problems arise. Before you decide to put your home to strangers, you must be sure that you are covered in case of problems. The Insurance Information Institute strongly recommends that you talk with your insurance agent before you rent part of your home, noting that the traditional owners of policies might not cover any damage to paying guests. You may need either an endorsement to the policy of your own or a separate business policy. In either case, make sure that you are covered before you join the rental service so you can travel with a light heart.

This is a guest post from member Renaissance Alliance Insurance Agency Ross based on a position that has been presented on the Ross blog.
Car accidents are a dangerous and unpleasant reality of modern life. Even the best driver will likely be involved in an accident at least once during their years of driving; Statistically, one of six Americans will be in an accident each year, with the odds slightly higher for young drivers. Even in case of accidents do not include injuries, you do not want your insurance rates to go higher. The last thing anyone wants is to be involved in a car accident, or so one might think.
Unfortunately, this simply does not hold true for criminals. The Coalition against insurance fraud is wary of staged car accidents - a form of auto insurance fraud. These staged accidents were taken to a new level in Florida, where the staged accidents often come with false medical claims filed in clinical wrong. Florida, a no-fault state, seems particularly plagued by this kind of scam activity. . Accordingly Florida drivers are paying up to 65% more than drivers in other states for their car insurance
We are not immune from staged accidents taking place in New England, either - last spring, the Attorney General's Office dismantled a ring Massachusetts auto fraud. A lawyer, chiropractor and another person were convicted of working in cahoots to commit fraud and theft insurance after organizing several accidents. .
Avoiding Auto Accidents stepped

• Know what to look for. The link above Coalition has an article that describes the four most common types of scams - become familiar with them
• Keep alert. Most scams rely on you being distracted, just before the accident or at the time of the accident.
• Call the police if you are in an accident. It may be tempting to ignore minor skirmishes, but better safe than sorry.
• Do not rely on your memory. With mobile phones, it is easy to document the scene of an accident. In addition to the exchange of information, taking photos of the scene of the accident, damage the vehicle and the passengers in the other car.
• Report suspicious events. If you suspect fraud, call your state office of fraud insurance (here's a link to the Office of the Massachusetts insurance fraud) or report it to the National Insurance Crime Bureau if you suspect a scam. The toll is 1-800-835-6422 (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

It's Friday, it's summer, and we were falling down on the job of our secret mission to bring you some the most humorous ads insurance on the web. We take care of right away
The first is a humorous ad travelers, a spoof public service announcement makes the point that it is stupid - almost superstitious - rely on luck for protection. It was a short announcement because although most people found clever, cute or downright hilarious, some animal rights activists were concerned about the message. Note:. No pets whatsoever was injured in the advertisement

The following announcement is from a company called "1st for Women" which describes itself as the first insurance brokerage house to offer insurance products specifically designed to meet short-term insurance needs of Southern women -africaines. the announcement provides a language in explaining the plays of why the company decided to focus its services exclusively on women.

There are only a few weeks in the summer and August is an important month range. One of the most highly touted scary stories each season are the shark attack reports. Here in New England, people may be more nervous than usual in light of a recent attack pretty awful white shark off Cape Cod. Fortunately, this encounter between man and beast was not fatal - you can hear about his experience surviving
It is easy to understand why these events are riveting -. It is the stuff of nightmares. But should it be? It was the attack of white shark first confirmed in Massachusetts in 76 years. For the media attention they get, shark attacks are rare. Observers of the ocean tell us that you have more of a chance of dying from a collapse of the sand hole of a shark attack, but you are not likely to have nightmares about sandcastles. But maybe you should be.
Another danger very common in ocean currents are rip. spectators beach should be sensitive to these narrow channels of powerful water that pull swimmers directly beach. They can occur at any beach with breaking waves, sadly illustrated by the recent drowning in Lake Michigan and Toronto. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, more than 80 percent of water rescues on surf beaches are due to rip current and represent approximately 100 drownings per year.

You can learn about rip currents to the National Weather Service Site Rip Current Safety. There is a lot of information, current rip current weather alerts, as well as advice and security resources to educate yourself and your children
Addendum:
The great minds of the insurer think alike - after we posted, we. Chubb saw on Twitter that also featured a blog post about tides and rip currents today! View Catch A Wave, not current.

After a disaster, there is usually a second wave of problems that can occur in the form of what became known as the fraud case disaster. People who want to contribute to the recovery are scammed by fake organizations, fake emails and fraudulent websites. And to add insult to injury, people who have suffered home and property of devastating losses are often targeted by corrupt contractors, fly-by-night home repair scam artists and identity thieves. That's not all: in the months after a disaster, thousands of cars damaged by the floods make their way to the market dupe unwary consumers. (See our previous post: Consumer alert:. Do not buy a car damaged by floods)
Below, we've included an excerpt from the blog of our EAP that offers helpful links on the post-disaster charity common and home repair scams. (For more resources, see their Hurricane Sandy Recovery Toolkit.
Unfortunately there is no shortage of opportunists dishonest ready to enjoy the generous nature of people. Be especially careful of solicitations by telephone, e-mail or social networking sites the FTC warns consumers. charity and Home repair scams can occur after a disaster See FTC List charity for advice on how to avoid scams You can also see more of a body Charities in advance by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance ...
disaster recovery scams - the FTC talks about common scams disaster recovery
After a disaster :. repair your home - If your home was damaged by a natural disaster, you can find a reputable contractor to help with the repair and restoration. Inevitably, the demand for qualified contractors after a disaster usually exceeds supply. Enter the rip-off artist home repair, which can overload, perform shoddy work or leaving town without finishing your work. This guide to the Federal Trade Commission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency offers tips for consumers who may be faced with major repairs after a disaster
Fraud disaster -. The Coalition against Insurance Fraud discuss post-disaster fraud experts and entrepreneurs
Report. fraud: FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); ATS :. 1-866-653-4261

First, a message from our sponsors. These intelligent dogs offer some good seasonal tips:

Now some additional tips gathered by Renaissance Alliance of Insurance Agents to help you navigate the entire season security:
12 Holiday safety Tips Decorating
security Holiday Lighting
fire holiday facts
Trouble in Toyland: 2012 report dangerous toys
health Tips Holiday
Top 10 Tips Diet Holiday
Keep Littlest Cooks Holiday safe
of safe food? Nine questions that test your knowledge of food safety
Identity Fraud Prevention
Shopping Safely this Holiday Season
5 tips: Be a return of consumer friendly this holiday season

News reports of various states are warning car buying consumers to be alert for vehicles that have damaged by Superstorm Sandy. In states directly affected by the floods, authorities issue warnings and advice for consumers - Officials of the New Jersey state remind us that Sandy flooded cars can be sold, but they must be properly titrated as such
consumer car-buying in others. States should also be wary because the damaged cars are often professionally refurbished and shipped to other parts of the country to be sold, where consumers are unlikely to be on alert. We noted earlier that even when cars "clean well," they may well have electrical damage or engine that area later - this is especially true of saltwater damage
The Commission Motor Vehicle New Jersey offers the following. reasonable steps that used car buyers should take before making a purchase.

• See the history of the title of the vehicle and be wary if the vehicle has been titled several times over a short period of time
• get a history report vehicle to the dealer, or get one yourself from a trusted source; this will let you know if the car was damaged in the past.
• Look for the name of an insurance company on the history of the title, and contact the company to obtain vehicle information.

The MVC also offers NJ ways to spot a car from flood damage:

• a moldy or musty odor or strong odor of air freshener throughout the car
• Rust on metal parts where water would normally not reach
• water-colored upholstery or water damage to the door panels and seat belts
• mildew, silt or debris in the area around the engine compartment, under the carpet or in the trunk.

For tips to avoid cars damaged by flooding, see our consumer alert before :. do not buy a car damaged by floods that we issued after the floods in 2010 in Rhode Island

Consumer Reports publishes a guide to the 25 best deals on US cars made for the Presidents Day Weekend. In addition to using its usual rating criteria on reliability and security, safety tests, if evaluated, Consumer Reports adds another dimension to the notation:

But this car holiday -sale, we examined recent son guaranteed by our Constitution and purchase a service, which reflects not only potential discount, but the price of the real world. The retail price and the savings are based on the configured vehicle averaged consumerreports.org. In other words, these are the cars that popularly equipped with real price quotes from concessions linked to high customer service standards.

In addition, we point you to some great resources consumption for car purchases, we have covered before:
watching sales of cars Presidents Day? Do your research now - lots of links to assessments and security resources
New fuel labels on cars in 2013 will help consumers save - learn how to use this information in your favor when buying
car buyers : Beware of flood damaged cars - Buyer Beware

Even seemingly innocuous over the counter medication can be harmful to a child - test your own ability to spot the difference in this Pills or Candy interactive quiz - and if you pass the level 1 pass at levels 2 and 3.
the goal is to raise awarness about how drugs can seem attractive toddlers. March is Poison Prevention Month, which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of our homes. More than 60,000 young children end up in emergency departments each year because they entered into drugs or household products while parents or caregivers are not looking. 0% of poison incidents occur at home in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and laundry rooms; more than half of all incidents happening to children under 6 years
Here are some household items to watch:

• The drugs, including medications that seem harmless
• cleaning products
• sprays and bug pesticides
• Articles of painting and housekeeping
• antifreeze and automotive supplies
• Batteries - especially easy to -swallow tiny button batteries
• single laundry load packets - colorful, sweet, attractive
• Cosmetics and perfumes
• Arts, crafts and school supplies
• alcohol

the label Foundation reminds us that poisoning can happen to people of all ages -. they offer sheet that breaks the most common age groups and types of accidental poisons for this age group
Keep the poison control number handy emergency in your home and on your smartphone for a poison emergency in call US 1-800-222-1222
Here are some resources. If you have kids, they will help you keep a check of the home to ensure that your children are safe. Even if you do have children, why not help to raise awareness by publishing infographics, cards or games on your Facebook and Twitter pages?
Poison Prevention Sheet Sheets
American Association of Poison Control Centers
Up and Away campaign
Apps for Poison Control and Drug Reference
poisons in your home Infographic
So Children Act fast - so do poisons Infographic

The Insurance Information Institute issued a "Know Your coverage" iPhone App. Below, find a screenshot and description of the application from the download site.

"Do you have good insurance if your home and belongings are damaged or destroyed by fire, flood, earthquake or other ? disaster Get the peace of mind that comes with insurance is not rocket science; it is to know your stuff, knowing the risks involved and understanding your priorities the know your coverage application includes interactive games that guide you. through key issues to discuss with your insurance professional. Together, you can develop a coverage plan for your needs and your budget. But there is not that ... with the right amount and type insurance, you can focus on what matters-your really work, family, friends and the free entertainment have to worry about the "what-ifs" in life. "

this is part of a series of "Know Your X" apps ... find other applications from the Insurance information Institute - obtain an application inventory of the house called "Know Your Stuff" and application of disaster planning called "knowledge map".

This is a client by Penny Hanley & Howley Co., a member organization of the Renaissance Alliance. It is a position that has been presented on the website of the Agency.

Does your student graduates return to the nest, or are planning to rent their own place?
This is a wonderful moment in the life of your student. University Graduation brings on so many adventures waiting. One of them can understand if they will rent their apartment after graduation. With some many decisions to deal with after graduation, make the easier it is for your student will be moving to their first apartment-renters insurance.
The purchase renters insurance for your student is a safe gift for them and yourself. You will put your mind at ease knowing that your students first apartment is protected in case of fire or theft.
An average renters policy is around $ 0 per year for the base $ 20,000 in coverage, which is only $ 16 per month for your peace of mind and security of new apartment of your student.
Therefore, when considering what gift to give your student for graduation this year, give them a protection policy with renters insurance.

Andrea tropical storm would inundate the east coast this afternoon to Saturday - some areas should provide rain and flooding pockets torrential flash. Follow a map Hourly Forecast WCVB.

There are flood watches for this afternoon until tomorrow in all the states of New England, with the exception that Vermont moment. These can be found at the National Weather Service watches, warnings and warning pages
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Learn more about what you can do before, during and after flooding. With it may flash flooding, be especially careful about driving. Ready.gov offers these safety tips
Crue flash driving safety
The following are important points to remember when driving in flood conditions :.

• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and may stall.
• A foot of water float many vehicles
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick-ups.
• not to try to cross a flooded road. The depth of water is not always obvious. The roadbed may be washed under water, and you could be stuck or trapped.
• Do not drive around a barricade. Barricades are there for your protection. Turn around and go the other.
• Do not try to take shortcuts. They may be blocked. Stick to designated escape routes.
• Be especially careful driving at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.

OK, you've heard of distracted driving - but did you know that walking distracted could be a problem, too? Although it sounds funny, it is a real thing and not a joke. Just as it happens to drivers, pedestrians have less situational awareness, distracting and dangerous behavior when talking or texting on mobile phones.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission in the United States reported that 1,152 pedestrians were treated in emergency rooms after being injured while using a mobile phone or other electronic device in 2010 - and number had doubled from the previous year. The increase in pedestrian injury in parallel and exceeded distracted driving injuries.

Falling on a track

fall wharf

scary run-in with a bear

a little humor to make a serious point
walk distracted is a serious matter, but it prompted the fun-loving Improv Everywhere pranksters to launch an army of "see Eye people" to protect the many walkers distracted in New York - a strange way to make a serious point.

September is National Preparedness Month - last week we published on emergency applications you can download. This week it's all about emergency kits - do you have one? Do you have a good first aid kit?

In terms of preparedness for emergency disaster, the Red Cross is our "go to" expert. They offer great resources to help you prepare for emergencies, but here's the trick - you need to make it a priority to take action now. The time to act is during or after an emergency -. Which is too late

After a severe weather event, you can be on your own for a few days and need most to survive. Many experts suggest keeping a "grab and go" emergency bag in case you need to evacuate suddenly. Red Cross has a checklist that you must include in a survival kit

An important part of any survival kit -. And a household need daily - is a good first aid kit. When the last time you checked yours? Red Cross offers Anatomy of a first aid kit

Red Cross said :. Get Kit.Make a plan. To be informed. They offer an emergency preparedness checklist page summary of things you need to do and the steps you need to take to be ready.

We do not usually make recommendations to purchase, but if you are not assembling your own kits, they can be purchased at the Red Cross Store. Buy first aid kits Red Cross - there are a variety of options from $ 3 to $ 27. You can also get first aid kits Car

You can also buy products preparation for emergencies -. Including personal emergency bags ($ 20) to "grab and go" deluxe kits ($ 95). There are many other items, too, such as emergency radios - "the rechargeable battery FRX3 emergency radio automatically distributes emergency weather alerts for your area, including hurricanes, tornadoes and storms violent. Set the solar panel to the sun or to turn the turbine by hand for a minute to get 10-15 minutes of radio and using the torch. "

Whether you choose to buy or build, do not put it off. If you can not do it today, it would be a good draft weekend family!

The Foliage Network allows you to search for weekly reports the! northeast and other regions. They provide weekly charts like the one below that visually represent peak foliage by the state, as well as a card "falling leaves". As we head to Columbus Day weekend, their recent report looks promising: "Throughout the Northeast, falling moderate color ranges (31% - change of 60%) to peak, with some higher altitudes in parts of northern New York, New Hampshire and Maine now peak just after "

Yankee Magazine offers many resources to enjoy the season fall foliage in New England. - in fact, they have a dedicated website Yankee foliage, which offers live card foliage and a wide selection of foliage readers suggested

We also like some of their other "best of" suggestions for fall :.

• best apple orchards in New England
• best Scenic Hiking in the Mountains white
• Best Corn Mazes in New England
• Best Festivals food autumn

If you head for a drive this weekend, be aware that roads will be crowded and after the rains, they can be wet or slippery with fallen leaves. And the Insurance Information Institute reminds us that autumn is peak season for deer and car collisions . "The migration of deer and the mating season generally runs from October to December, and causes a dramatic increase in the movement of the deer population. As a result, more deer-vehicle collisions occur in this period than at any other time of year. "Further, in northern New England, you must be on the lookout for moose.

November is the month when the auto-deer collisions are most likely to occur in New England. The average claim for deer-vehicle collisions is about $ 3000 - much more if we take into account the cost of human injury. Here's a quiz: New England state that has the best chance to hit a moose and which has the lowest? The answers may be a little different thinking: See this table for risk of collision with a deer by the state (PDF) or see the end of this article to only New England ..

kite car collisions can also be fatal for the deer. According to the Massachusetts authorities, about 1-2500 deer collision results in human fatality

Moose are just a different football game: 1 to 75 collisions moose / vehicle lead to a fatality. And no wonder - Full moose holds 6 feet tall at the height expected, much greater when you factor in the head and wood. Antlers can be massive, with a range of 4 to 6 feet. At up to 1,400 pounds of weight, you just do not want to hit one.

Check out this 12 step illustrated guide wikiHow on how to avoid a deer collision moose. The New Hampshire Fish and Game people also offer some good advice :. Avoid Deer Collisions / vehicles and brake for moose, it could save your life

moose myth Dangerous

There is a persistent myth that dangerous surfaces often car moose collisions: some think that if a collision seems inevitable, so you must accelerate the impact will potentially hurtle the animal on the vehicle. Bad idea - MythBusters put it to the test on am episode of Alaska moose using a mannequin

"The MythBusters steering a car car to 45 miles per hour in three Lucy : once slow, once the acceleration and once while maintaining the same speed the wreckage revealed that the downturn is by far the safest option when running into a moose more speed... fast offer greater force of impact, which absorbs and delivers moose with a more powerful, smackdown damage on top of the car. "

the greatest thing about deer, moose and other wildlife is the surprising speed with which they can appear so moderate your speed is essential, especially in animal areas during daylight and dusk. And even when they appear stationary, moose have been known to charge cars - especially if they have children to protect, as in this clip of a protective Mama moose

New England States - odds deer collision

• Vermont 1180
• Maine 1 in 207
• New Hampshire 1279
• Connecticut 1299
• Rhode Island 1373
• Massachusetts 1524

12 million Americans were victims of identity theft last year - to keep your season joyous holiday, make sure you do not become one. statistics this year

The Insurance Information Institute offers some helpful tips to stay safe:

1.Proceed with caution when buying online. Make sure you buy products or services of a family business with a reputable secure network. And never buy anything online from a site that does not have SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption installed-at the very least. (You will know if the site has SSL because the site URL begins with https: // rather than just http: //).

2.Monitor your accounts. Do not rely on your credit card company or bank to alert you to suspicious activity. Monitor your bank statements and credit card to ensure that all transactions are accurate. If you suspect a problem, contact your credit card company or bank immediately.

3.Be careful with personal information. Whether by phone, mail or Internet, not to disclose sensitive information or your social security number unless you initiated the contact, are familiar with the person or company and are confident that they have a secure line.

Some additional safety tips online shopping

• Make sure your Web security programs, and anti virus software detection malware are updated and your firewall is on. Many experts suggest the approach "belt and suspenders" to have more than one program as a backup.
• Make sure your browser is up to date.
• Beware email phishing deals, they are quite good at creating authentic-looking emails parodies of shipments of large entities names. Do not click on the email link. If you get an offer from your bank or a big name store do not click on the link, go to the bank or type the site name in your browser.
• Public Wi-Fi is not secure to avoid making bank transactions and expose your cards . credit, passwords or personal information
• Before shopping, it is a good time to update your passwords Create unique passwords for each site -.. See resources below below
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of "free" offers gifts and contests unknown sites -. Do not provide personal information or credit card numbers to anyone you do not know
• Stick with reputable sites and brand names. Investigate unknown companies. See the opinions and perform a search for the company name with the word "complaints" or "scams".

Resources

Create passwords
Check the strength of your password
Phishing
OnGuard Online

How is the cold? Mashable says that "nature is always surpassing in ways we never imagined," and they prove it with a fascinating and strange events related to extreme cold gallery. It is therefore ordered Cold Outside It ...

Workers Comp Insider published some interesting tips for surviving the polar vortex and stay out of "stuff silly people "list. Learn from the mistakes of others - and to check their list of practical tools to stay safe in frigid weather. Extreme weather is nothing to fool around with - he can throw the unwary in situations of life-threatening within minutes "polar vortex" blamed for at least 21 deaths. In addition, when temperatures fall, there is always a wave of house fires related to the use of heating appliances - some with tragic results. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services has a great tip sheet on fire safety heating space.

Image Source

- Good sports news fans. Last year we brought you photos of Super Bowl replica meats and Twinkies, but this year we have a real treat: a detailed instruction on how to build your own snack Stadium Super Bowl. OK, it's a bit ambitious - but it's almost guaranteed to be a great success

While it is great to welcome a pleasure it is also smart to consider ways to ensure that your guests will be safe and you can avoid responsibility of the host. The Insurance Information Institute says:

social host liability, also known as the laws "Dram Shop Liability" vary widely from state to state, but 43 states have them on books. Most of these laws also offer an injured person, as the victim of a drunk driver, a method to sue the person who served the alcohol. There are circumstances under these laws where criminal charges may also apply.

In the link above, you can find some tips to promote safe alcohol consumption and reduce your liability exposure of the social host.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers these tips for partygoers and hosts:

that you attend the game, watching in a sports bar or a party, NHTSA recalls to all the fans do not let fans Drunk player. Before choosing to drink, choose the MVP on your team - a sober designated driver. NHTSA offers these additional safety tips:

• Designate your sober driver or have an alternative transportation plan before the start of the game
• If you do not have a designated driver, ask a sober. for a friend back home; call a cab, friend or family member to pick you up; or just stay where you are until you are sober.
• Use the sober driving program in your community.
• Never let your friends leave your sight if you think they are about to drive and have had too much to drink
• always wear - it's still your best defense against of other drunk drivers

If you are planning a party super Bowl: ..

Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an accident of impaired driving.

• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange other transportation.
• Serve lots of food and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.
• Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who has had too much to drink.

The Sochi Olympics took a bit of a rough start - and before the medals were assigned, reports noted that the insurance giants were ready to win big winter Games.This behind the scenes look at making the 2012 Olympic Games from insurance Journal is quite interesting .

But despite initial bumps, that do not like following the fabulous athletes? If you have the Olympic bug, here are some ways obvious and not so obvious to follow along your various media and tech favorite

Best ways to follow the Olympic Games -. Get behind-the scenes and perspectives within with ideas for Twitter feeds, Instagram, applications and streaming live stream

Handy has Olympic Medal Tracker and a very cool interactive map winter Olympic medals from 1924 to 2010

Calendar of Events and more - right from the source

Team USA

Follow the Olympics with these 5 applications

the best way to follow the Olympics on Facebook

Photos of the opening ceremony - the Big Picture from Boston.com

and here are some interesting features :

9 crazy Moments of winter Olympics History

2014 Olympic Uniforms worldwide

Sochi Olympics Trivia you can show

In response to a series of home invasions in Kansas City the last year Mitch Weber, journalist NBC-affiliated 41 Action News has spoken to police and sent questionnaires to prisoners who served time for burglary. Read his story, the thief of secrets: how homeowners can protect themselves from being robbed. You can also view the complete answers of prisoners - it's a 14 page PDF that is an interesting read

Here are some surprises .. Most burglars told the dogs in the house were rarely a deterrent. Some burglars simply fed or friends with dogs. If you have a dog, they are better in the yard and barking in the house, where many are friendly or shy. security systems and signs for burglars rarely arrested or security systems - the systems are often not enabled or disable easily. In addition, some burglars noted that the police response time is rarely less than 15 minutes, most burglars could be and in that time.

This has to stop burglars? Here are some surprisingly low-tech, cheap things they suggested:

• A human presence in or around the house
• A light on; a light input means; lights synchronized
• motion activated lights, high enough that they could not be turned off
• shows an area
• televisions or radios left on
• a car in the driveway
• windows covered
• Siren alarms that notify the district

the power of a human presence was cited by almost all respondents. Some cases of burglars a home waiting for the occupants to leave. A burglar suggested that when someone is about to lock up the house to go out to work, " turn around and act like they are talking to someone in the house before the lock-up . "

What mistakes did we do?

• bragging about valuables, new purchases
• Leaving doors and unlocked windows or doors open garage
• does not allow security systems
• Leaving visible valuables through windows
• Leaving the precious things as bicycles and laying lawn about the yard
[1945005windows] After discovering that allow view in the house

most burglars said they have started in the master bedroom and also cased living rooms and kitchen counters. See our previous post about the creative ways people try to hide valuables.

Some of these tips and low cost are. It is also important to have the assurance of the rights of owners to cover potential losses. if you have prized collections or value, be sure to tell your agent and talk about an endorsement to your homeowners policy to ensure they are covered should your security measures fails.

Monday, everyone will be a little Irish. Preparations for the feast of St. Patrick on the weekend and on Monday, we gathered some links on the activities of New England and ways to celebrate around the area - or even in your own home. Remember - even the Irish, there is a limit to chance, so do not take chances with your celebrations:

• Plan for a designated driver
• Do not let not your friends drive buzzed
• If you host a party at home, be aware of your hosting responsibility

Day parades and Celebrations Best St. Patrick in New England

St. Patrick's Day in New England

Take 10 - the best Irish pubs in New England - Just be sure to bring a designated driver

St. Day Parades by State

All proceeds from Patrick's Day recipes

food Network St. Patrick: St. Patrick Day of Favorite recipes

Epicurious: food and Party Day drinks St. Patrick