America First Insurance Urges Hurricane Preparation

With a potential above-normal hurricane season predicted and a record number of tornadoes across the country through May, America First Insurance is urging policyholders in its six-state south-central region to take important precautions to prepare for, and recover from, severe weather.

America First Insurance offers a free Disaster Planning Guide available to consumers at www.americafirst-ins.com, under the Insurance Resources tab. The guide helps homeowners develop an action plan for evacuation, details what necessities should go into an emergency kit, and explains the importance of undertaking a household inventory, among other important safety tips.

Being prepared for severe weather also means policyholders’ understanding whether or not they have adequate or enough insurance coverage. A recent survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found that 28 percent of those questioned were not sure whether they purchased replacement cost or actual cash value coverage. Further, a majority responded that they do not have coverage to protect them from losses that aren’t reimbursable under standard homeowner policies, such as earthquakes, floods, or water and sewer line breaks.

“We encourage our customers to review their policies and coverages with their agents every year, just like changing batteries in a smoke detector,” said J.B. Fox, vice president, Personal Lines. “It is particularly important for policyholders in disaster-prone areas to understand the extent of their coverage and their options to protect themselves financially from certain hazards.”

Commercial customers and America First Insurance appointed agencies also have free access to Open for Business, an online tool developed by the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) that allows businesses to plan for, and recover from natural disasters. According to IBHS, at least one-fourth of all businesses never reopen following a disaster.

“We want our customers and agents to be prepared to the greatest extent they can be,” said Dave Andrezejewski, vice president, Field Claims Operations. “These resources provide guidance on what they should do before, during, and after a disaster to help protect themselves, their assets, and be in a position to recover quickly.”

Commercial Lines policyholders can contact their America First appointed agent for an access code and then log into the Open for Business program at www.ibhs.org/policyholder/register.asp. Once there, business owners answer questions about human resources, physical resources, and business operations, in order to build individualized property protection and recovery plans.

Property protection plans are matched to the potential catastrophic risks that exist for a particular zip code, including hurricanes, high winds, floods, earthquakes, tornados, and wildfires. Recovery plans are based on each company’s critical business functions and the role that employees, suppliers, and vendors play in daily operations. The plans also outline how vital records, equipment, vehicles, computers, and voice/data communications can be integrated from a chosen recovery location to help a business stay open following a natural disaster.