As hunting season comes to a head, many professionals are gearing up to find game for the holidays. Whether a professional or amateur hunter, you can never be too safe. Here are a few tips on doing that!

PREPARATION FOR YOUR HUNTING TRIP

According to the United States Forest Service, here are things you should do to prepare the day of your hunting excursion:

• Check weather reports before visiting the forest.
• Tell someone where you will be hunting and when you will return.
• Be familiar with the area you want to hunt.
• Dress properly and be prepared for the worst possible conditions.
• During certain seasons, wear hunter orange viewable from all directions.
• If accompanied by a dog, the dog should also wear hunter orange or a very visible color on a vest, leash, coat, or bandana.
• Check hunting equipment before and after each outing, and maintain it properly. Familiarize yourself with its operation before using it in the field.
• Carry a spare set of dry clothing. Use layering techniques to prevent moisture while retaining body warmth. Always bring rain gear.
• Carry a first aid kit.
• Clearly identify your target before shooting. Prevent unfortunate accidents or fatalities.
• Put hunting plans in writing (dates, times, location and expected time of return). The Coast Guard recommends putting boating plans in writing; leaving one at home and one on your vehicle.
• Be alert when hunting near developed areas and trails. Other recreationists are in the forest as well.
• Avoid wearing white or tan during deer season. Wear hunter orange or another highly visible color. Read Full Article

The possibility of a fire starting in an unusual way is a lot more common than one might think. Having an understanding of these rare risks can help individuals avoid similar fates. In honor of National Fire Prevention Week, we put together this list of odd, atypical fires that have occurred in the past:

Animals gone awry
The Mirror Daily, a major news publication, reports two particularly strange house fire causes – both of which involved animals.

In one incident, a pigeon picked up a lit cigarette and dropped it down a chimney setting the house ablaze. This may be a one-in-a-million calamity, but shows how important it is to close the flue when it is not in use.

​Sometimes leaving your pet home alone can also be dangerous. The Mirror Daily reported two separate instances where dogs were the cause of house fires in the U.K, by accidently turning on a toaster and a stove, respectively, while nobody was home. Although these are also rare instances, many experts suggest unplugging the toaster and taking the dials off of the stove whenever dogs are left at home alone.

Improperly disposed fireplace ash
NBC Washington reports one fire this past March was set by fireplace ash that had not been properly disposed of. The homeowners placed the ash in an unsealed area of the garage, where it was exposed to other flammable materials and caused an explosion. Despite the fact that this tinder tends to rarely be a cause of major fires, it certainly can be when homeowners do not manage it properly. Homeowners need to place used ash in fire-proof canisters, or outside in a dirt patch, to avoid this fate.

Glass conductor
RestorationMaster, a website that educates consumers on home-related matters, explains that there have been instances of sunlight shining through windows which acts as a conductor to start a fire on hardwood floors. While this may be rare, it is important to realize that glass and light can cause certain types of materials to burst into flames.

Homeowners can install thicker, non-flammable drapes and keep them closed during the day, especially when no one is home.

​Popular smartphones
This might be the scariest cause of fires – a new, popular smartphone. The New York Times reports that one passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight had his Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone smoke and catch ablaze while the plane taxied down the runway.  Read Full Article

Risk comes with the territory when you run a small business. Negative cash flow, personnel issues, accidents on your premises, fire or flood — these are just a few of the risks that can disrupt the stability of your business. One lawsuit or catastrophic event can be enough to set your business back and may even force you to close your doors.

You may not be able to protect against all the risks your business faces, but you can manage some of them with business insurance. This is what a business owner’s policy, or BOP, is designed to help you do.

Business Owner’s Policy: Designed for Small Business Owners

A BOP is a policy designed specifically for the needs and budget of small business owners, and the risks they commonly face. BOPs bundle two types of protection in a single policy — commercial property and general liability insurance — which allows providers to sell them for less than two policies sold separately.

BOPs are also customizable. You can add on coverages to tailor a policy to the specialized needs of your business or industry.

A BOP may be right for you if your business has fewer than 100 employees, meets certain maximum income requirements and is a low-risk operation. Businesses that are larger, highly specialized or have high-risk operations may need more coverage than a BOP can provide.

Here’s a closer look at the coverages that are included with a BOP.

Property Insurance

The property portion of a BOP covers damage to your business caused by fire, explosion, windstorms, theft, vandalism and any other perils specifically listed in the policy. The types of property that are covered by a BOP include: Read Full Articlehttps://sba.thehartford.com/managing-risk/the-basics-of-business-insurance-for-small-business-owners/

Have you ever wondered how deductibles work when it comes to homeowners and auto insurance? Many people do – this is why we’ve put together this guide to help you understand the basics of deductibles and how to choose the best one for you and your situation.

1. What exactly is an insurance deductible?

A deductible is the portion of the costs that you pay in a claim when you need to get your car repaired after an accident or your home repaired after a loss. The deductible amount will be paid by you specific to your property that’s damaged, whether it’s your car or your home, so you should always choose a deductible that you’ll be comfortable paying.

2. How does my deductible work?

The way deductibles work varies, based on whether you’re talking about auto policies or home policies.

Auto Insurance 

If you’re involved in a car accident and your vehicle can be repaired, your insurance company will pay the auto body shop for the damages, minus your deductible. You’ll then pay the auto body shop your deductible amount, when your vehicle is completely repaired.

If you’re involved in an accident where your vehicle is totaled — that is, your insurer believes that the cost to repair your vehicle would be more than the value of the vehicle itself — your insurance provider will pay you the current value of your vehicle, minus your deductible.

For example, say you’re involved in a car accident and the damages are estimated to be $2,000 and you carry a $500 deductible. Your insurance company will pay the body shop $1,500, that it, the total damages minus your deductible, to repair your car. Once it’s fully repaired, you’ll then pay the body shop the $500 deductible to pick up your car.

Homeowner’s Insurance

Your insurance company will pay you directly for the damages of your loss, minus your deductible, which you will then use to pay a contractor to repair your home. For example, say that you have experienced a kitchen fire, resulting in a $50,000 loss and you carry a $1,000 deductible. Your insurance company will pay you $49,000, the total damages minus your deductible. When the $50,000 in damages are repaired, you’ll pay for them using the $49,000 from the insurance company plus $1,000 of your own funds, which represents the deductible amount. Read Full Article

You live in a multi-story home. Some or all of the bedrooms are located on the upper floor. If a fire erupts, your homeowner’s insurance will certainly prove valuable. But let’s consider a more important question — your family’s safety. Specifically, if the fire blocks the normal exits such as stairways, how will those on the upper floors — especially small children — escape the flames?

Unless your home’s structure includes built-in fire escape systems, one item on your personal home escape plan — every homeowner’s key to home fire safety — needs to be the procurement of home escape ladders. Whether you decide to purchase yours from a safety supply store, hardware store, home improvement warehouse or the Internet, there are a couple of key considerations to keep in mind:

• There are two standard lengths: 15 and 25 feet. Be certain the length is adequate to reach the ground from the window.
• Generally, construction is aluminum or heavy plastic, with rigid bars as the ladder rungs. The more standoffs a ladder has, the better. Standoffs are protruding bars that prevent the ladder from hanging flat against the house. They not only steady the ladder, but also increase the available space for gaining footholds.
• Be sure the ladder fits your specific windows. The hooks or other attachments intended to hold the ladder must work with the intended window location.
• Don’t overlook the weight and complexity of the operation, specifically considering the age and abilities of the likely users (such as younger children).
• Have the intended user practice deploying and descending the ladder. If it is clearly a problem now, consider how much more difficult it may prove to be under the duress and panic of an actual fire. If necessary, return the ladder for a more suitable model. READ FULL ARTICLE

There’s a truth behind the phrase, “sleep on it.” As a small business owner, every decision you make impacts your business, and it can mean the difference between positive profits or a torpedo headed for your bottom line. New studies over the past few years have narrowed the timing around decision-making to an exact science, so now you can arm yourself with the tools you need to make smart decisions for your business.

Knowing Your Peak Time of Day

Do you want to make critical money moves when you’re in constant overdrive and headed toward the midday slump, or when your mind is clear and focused? Whether you’re an early riser or you get in your groove after everyone else is fast asleep, the data doesn’t lie — the best time to make a decision is in the morning, according to Daniel Pink’s 2018 book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. Most people are the most productive within the first two hours of waking up because our brains are wired to make optimal analytical and reason-based decisions at this point in the day.

However, exceptions exist based on your biological clock or “circadian rhythm.” Think of your circadian rhythm as being a 24-hour internal clock in your brain that cycles between when you’re drowsy and alert. It’s the reason you fall asleep around the same time every night and it can account for that feeling of being run over by a truck when you fly across time zones.

To figure out your optimal flow, imagine a day when you have nothing to do. This could be a weekend or your day off. When do you fall asleep? When do you wake up? More importantly, what’s the midpoint between those two times? For example, if you fall asleep at 10 p.m. and wake at 6 a.m. your midpoint is 2 a.m. — which makes you an early bird.

According to chronobiology (translation: internal clock) professor Till Roenneberg’s research, if your midpoint lies between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m., you’re an early bird, or lark; if your midpoint occurs between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m., you’re a night owl. If your midpoint lies between 3:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. — where most people reside — you’re in between. Larks and the middle group that Pink calls “third birds” make their best decisions in the morning. Night owls (averaging 5% to 20% of the U.S. population, depending on the studies consulted) find their stride in the late afternoon and early evening.

Making the Best Use of the Day

Timing isn’t everything, but everything comes down to timing. For most of us, we start the day strong — we’re ethical, focused, and energized. Between 2 and 4 p.m., we slide into the midday productivity slump, and then we get a second wind come dinnertime. READ FULL ARTICLE

Hurricanes can leave you vulnerable to major losses, as most home and business insurance policies will not cover flooding from certain storm circumstances. Hurricanes typically stretch 300 miles, so the spread of damage can be drastic. Storm preparation starts with making sure you have a flood insurance policy to ensure your home or business is protected properly. In addition, there are other steps you can take to increase your safety and decrease your losses.
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Here are some  key tips to keep in mind before, during, and after a storm.

Before a Hurricane:

• Build or restock an emergency preparedness kit. Be sure to include key items like a flashlight, batteries, cash and first aid supplies.
• Bring in items, such as outdoor furniture, that the wind can blow away.
• Have drinking water ready for use.
• Be sure to keep your primary vehicle in good working condition and keep the gas tank full. Stock it with emergency supplies and a fresh change of clothes.
• Plan how to communicate with family members if you lose power – even consider building an emergency communication plan.
• Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances. Click here for more information on how to practice electrical safety during flooding.

During a Hurricane:

• Close storm shutters and stay away from windows, as flying glass from broken windows could be dangerous.
• If you are outside, move to higher ground and do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater.
• If power is lost, be sure to use a flashlight. Using candles can pose an unnecessary fire risk.
• Turn your refrigerator or freezer to its coldest setting and open it only when necessary. If you lose power, this could help preserve your food supplies.
• Watch or listen to a TV or radio for the latest weather updates or emergency instructions. Many city or county websites also often supply updates every 30 minutes or so.  READ MORE

Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.