IT’S STILL HURRICANE SEASON, ARE YOU PREPARED?

It’s more important than ever to prepare for any risks from hurricanes, floods and other disasters. Here are some ways to prepare in advance:

- Learn what types of disaster are most likely to affect your business. 
- Look over your insurance policies to see if there are any gaps in coverage. For example, some policies only provide coverage if a business is physically damaged.
- Plan ahead for what your business will do if a disaster forces it to close for an extended period.

Call us at (504) 416-0237 or visit www.apronagencies.com

Apron Agencies, "Like momma in the kitchen, we've got you covered."

IS YOUR BUSINESS PREPARED TO FACE A FIRE OR NATURAL DISASTER?

Many business owners fail to consider how they would manage if a fire or natural disaster rendered their business premises temporarily unusable. According to FEMA, almost 40 percent of all businesses that close down following a disaster never open again.


With advanced planning, there are measures you can take to protect your company’s bottom line. To safeguard your business, consider business continuity coverage, an insurance coverage added to your property package that funds the restoration of your business operations after a loss.

Call us at Apron Agencies today or visit www.apronagencies.com.

"Like momma in the kitchen, we got you covered”

FIRST, UNDERSTAND YOUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE POLICY - THEN SAVE!

Ever wonder how your homeowner's insurance policy is calculated?

While your home's value and household contents play a part in determining your rate, there are other factors that determine how your premium is calculated:

1. Location - Insurance companies will take into consideration the crime rate in your neighborhood, how near your house is to the fire station, and the chance for "act of God “claims.

2. Your Home - The age of your home, the type of construction (wood, stucco siding, brick, or stone) and whether your home has a security system all affect your premium.

3. Extra - Rates may increase if you have a pool, trampoline or own a dog.

4. Added Protection - If you have any optional riders on your policy for additional coverage for wine, art, jewelry, etc., you will pay a higher premium.

5. Amount of coverage - the amount of coverage you purchase on your home, the contents of the home, and the liability limit will be factors in the price of your policy.

The biggest determining factor when it comes to rates for all insurance companies is RISK. Insurance companies determine risk by looking at how often you have filed a claim and the severity of the claim.

At Apron Agencies, we want to help you save money on all your insurance policies. Take advantage of our free HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE CHECK UP at www.apronagencies.com

 and earn a $50 gift card, just by allowing us to quote you!

5 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHO CAN BUY FLOOD INSURANCE

According to FEMA, misinformation about flood risk and the NFIP falls into several categories. Here are 5 misconceptions followed by the facts:

#1 Misconception: You can only buy flood insurance if you are located in a high-risk flood area.

Fact: There are no restrictions on who can purchase a flood insurance policy, however, the majority of those who purchase flood insurance, live in areas affected by flooding. For property located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) -- an area with a 1 percent chance of flooding in any year -- lenders usually require borrowers to purchase flood insurance as a condition of receiving a federally-backed mortgage loan.

#2 Misconception: You can't buy flood insurance immediately before or during a flood.

Fact: You can purchase flood insurance at any time. There is usually a 30-day waiting period after you've applied and paid the premium before the policy is effective.

#3 Misconception: Flood insurance is only available for homeowners.

Fact: Flood insurance can provide up to $100,000 of coverage for the contents of any residential building, which includes the contents of a renter's residence.

#4 Misconception: Homeowners insurance will pay to repair and replace property that is damaged by flooding.

Fact: Unfortunately, many homeowners do not find out until it is too late that their standard homeowners policy excludes any coverage due to water damage from flooding.

#5 Misconception: Only residents of high-risk flood zones need to insure their property.

Fact: One-third of NFIP insurance claims involve property not located in an area identified as a high-risk zone. Even if you live in an area which is not flood-prone, it's advisable to have flood insurance. Flooding can be caused by extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall or hurricanes as well as new developments which decrease ground absorption of water.

At Apron Agencies, we are here to educate you and clear up any misconceptions about insurance coverage. We strive on making sure our clients have the right coverage at the right price! Call us today at 504-416-0237 or visit our website at www.apronagencies.com.

Apron Agencies, "Like momma in the kitchen, we got you covered".

HOW TO REDUCE FLOOD RISK IN YOUR NON-ELEVATED HOME

Here is a guide from FEMA, "Reducing Flood Risk to Residential Buildings That Cannot Be Elevated." FEMA'S publication presents a range of flood protection measures available as alternatives to traditional structural elevation for homeowners whose residences meet both of the following conditions:

1 - The residences are existing buildings. This publication does not address new construction in areas prone to flooding. These structures should be sufficiently elevated and built in conformance with NFIP and local floodplain management regulations.

2 - The residences must not be Substantially Damaged or Substantially Improved, meaning that the buildings have not sustained damage or undergone improvement (i.e., reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition) where the cost of the damage or improvement exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building before the damage occurred or improvement began. As with new construction, Substantially Damaged or Substantially Improved structures must be rebuilt in conformance with NFIP and local floodplain management regulations.

To read more from the guide from FEMA, click here.

If you have questions about flood insurance, don’t hesitate to call us at (504) 416-0237. Apron Agencies - Like momma in the kitchen, we’ve got you covered.