Theodore & Associates - A Relation Company
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Team
    • History
    • Summerville office
    • Why an Independent Agent?
    • Featured Carriers
    • Trusted Choice® Pledge of Performance
    • Introducing Health, Life & Employee Benefits
    • Our Columbia Office Has Moved!
    • Midlands Green Business
  • REQUEST A QUOTE
  • INSURANCE
    • Vehicle Insurance >
      • Auto Insurance
      • Motorcycle Insurance
      • Classic Car Insurance
      • Boat & Watercraft Insurance
      • Motorsport & ATV Insurance
      • RV and Mobile Home Insurance
    • Property Insurance >
      • Homeowners Insurance >
        • How Much Home Insurance is Enough?
      • Renters Insurance
      • Condo Insurance
      • Landlord Protection
      • Flood Insurance
      • Earthquake Insurance
      • Personal Umbrella Insurance
      • Pet Insurance
      • Home Warranty
    • Business Insurance >
      • Condominium Homeowners Association Insurance
      • Cyber Liability Insurance
      • Business Owners Insurance
      • Commercial Property Insurance
      • Commercial Umbrella Insurance
      • General Liability Insurance
      • Commercial Auto Insurance
      • Workers' Compensation Insurance
      • Surety Bonds
      • Specialty Insurance
    • Health, Life & Employee Benefits Insurance >
      • Individuals >
        • Health Insurance
        • Short Term Health Insurance
        • Dental Insurance
        • Vision Insurance
        • Life Insurance >
          • How Much Life Insurance is Enough?
        • Disability
      • Employers >
        • Group Health Insurance
        • Group Dental Insurance
        • Group Vision Insurance
        • Group Life Insurance
        • Group Disability Insurance
        • 401(k)
        • Worksite Marketing Plans
      • Seniors
    • Insurance FAQs
  • ONLINE SERVICES
    • Pay My Bill
    • Report a Claim
    • Applications
    • Customer Reviews
    • Social Media
    • Blog
    • Flood Claim Information
    • Helpful Links
  • CONTACT
COLUMBIA:803.799.9979 SUMMERVILLE:843.871.3950
Visit RelationInsurance.com
THEODORE THURSDAYS
blog

Flood prevention and Safety

9/5/2019

2 Comments

 
In light of Hurricane Dorian battering our coast right now, flood prevention & safety seemed like a fitting topic for this week.

Almost anywhere it rains, it can flood. Even if you live in an area of that you think isn’t at risk, preparation is just as critical as with other types of emergencies.


Before we get into how you can prevent, limit or react to flooding, it’s important to note that flood damage is typically not covered by your homeowners or renters insurance. There are specialized flood insurance programs that we can discuss with you. Contact us for more information.

Preparing for a flood
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends a number of steps to stay safe during emergencies and limit damage from flooding. You should:
  • Build an emergency kit for your family containing such items as drinking water and nonperishable food for each member of your family (two-week supply), flashlights, a radio, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, necessary medications, personal hygiene items and copies of important documents.
  • Create a communication plan so family members can reach one another.
  • Elevate your furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if live in an area with a high flood risk.
  • Consider installing “check valves” to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.
  • If possible, construct barriers to stop floodwater from entering your home and seal basement walls with waterproofing compounds.

​Acting during a flood
 If a flood is likely in your area, quick action may be necessary to protect your family and property. You should:
  • Get information from the radio or television.
  • Move immediately to higher ground if there is any possibility of a flash flood. Do not wait for instructions to move.
  • If you need to evacuate, secure your home and move essential items to an upper floor. Turn off utilities if instructed to do so, and disconnect electrical appliances. However, do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
  • Do not walk through moving water — it can make you fall. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
  • Do not drive into flooded areas. If you are caught in your vehicle in floodwater, abandon your car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely.
If you have evacuated your home, do not return until authorities tell you it is safe.

Coping after a flood
Flooding can cause emotional stress along with physical hazards, so be mindful of the well-being of yourself and your family during the aftermath.
  • Floodwater can be contaminated by oil, gasoline or sewage, so avoid contact as much as possible.
  • Make sure the water supply is safe to drink.
  • Clean and disinfect everything that was in contact with floodwater.

The Red Cross has a free book available called “Repairing Your Flooded Home,” which contains useful information as you clean up. It’s available at www.redcross.org. Of course, don’t hesitate to contact us as well — we’re ready to help!

Flooding is one of the most common hazards in the U.S. Being prepared for any emergency is crucial for the safety of you and your family. Don’t be caught off guard!
2 Comments

How to create an emergency survival kit

8/29/2019

2 Comments

 
If a massive disaster wiped out power to your region right now, with no hope of recovery for at least several days, would you be ready? Would you have a way to connect with your family? Would you have enough nonperishable food for everyone? In short, do you have the right plan and supplies to get through an emergency?

In the insurance business, we know a little something about helping people recover from disasters. We know that a little preparation goes a long way. So here are some tips from the Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control and others on what you should put in an emergency preparedness kit for you and your family:

The big stuff: food and water
At home, consider keeping a two-week supply of nonperishable food on hand in a safe, dry place. You might already have a good head start on this, depending on what’s in your pantry. You also need a two-week supply of water, according to the Red Cross. That’s one gallon per person, per day. Don’t forget your pets. They’ll need their food and water as well. For evacuation situations, take a three-day supply of the above.

Safety items
If the power is out for an extended period, you’ll need flashlights or battery-powered lanterns (with extra batteries). A portable, hand-crank radio will ensure you stay informed on the situation. A first-aid kit is a must, along with at least a week’s worth of any medications that family members need. Emergency blankets and warm clothes are crucial if the weather is cold. Don’t forget personal hygiene items.

Paperwork
You could be forced to evacuate, so it’s important to have certain things down on paper — for example, family and emergency contact information. You’ll also want to keep copies of personal documents, such as proof of address, passports, birth certificates, and insurance policies.

Other items
There are a multitude of other things you can include in your kit, of course. A multipurpose tool, extra cash, and maps of the area are a few recommendations, along with games and activities to keep the kids occupied, if needed.

Above all, consider the unique needs of you and your family when putting together your kit. Put everything in labeled containers that can be accessed quickly and carried if necessary. Once you’ve created your kit, check it each September during National Preparedness Month for expired items, including medications, and missing supplies.

Of course, we hope you never have to use your kit. But it’s far better to have one you don’t need instead of needing one you don’t have.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.
2 Comments

Hurricane Season is here: Are you prepared?

6/6/2019

0 Comments

 
Hurricanes are strong storms that cause life and property threatening hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes. Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane. As forecasters track a hurricane the terms “hurricane watch” and “hurricane warning” will be used often. It is important to know the difference:
  • Hurricane Watch – Hurricane conditions are a threat within 48 hours. Review your hurricane plans, keep informed and be ready to act if a warning is issued.
  • Hurricane Warning – Hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. Complete your preparations and leave the area if directed to do so by authorities.

​What Should I Do?
  • Listen to local forecasts on television and radio as well as National Weather Service (NWS) announcements.
  • Check your disaster supplies and replace or restock as needed.
  • Bring in anything that can be picked up by wind (furniture, toys, etc.)
  • Close windows, doors and shutters.
  • Turn refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if power goes out.
  • Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.
  • Fill your car’s gas tank.
  • Create an evacuation plan with your family. Plan routes to local shelters and make plans for pet care.
  • Evacuate if advised by authorities. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and bridges.
  • Because standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding, it is important to have protection from floods associated with heavy rains, tropical storms and hurricanes. For more information visit the National Flood Insurance Program website here.

What Supplies Do I Need?
  • Water – at least a three-day supply, one gallon per person, per day.
  • Food – at least a three-day supply of non-perishable, easy to prepare food.
  • Flashlight
  • Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
  • Extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Medications seven-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids, glasses, syringes, etc.)
  • Multi-purpose tool
  • Sanitation & personal hygiene items
  • Copies of personal documents (medications, proof of address, deed/lease, passports, insurance policies, etc.)
  • Cell phones with chargers
  • Family & emergency contact information
  • Extra cash (ATMs may be down if power is lost)
  • Emergency blankets
  • Maps of the area
  • Baby & pet supplies if needed
  • Tools/supplies to secure your home
  • Extra clothing (hats and shoes as well)
  • Extra set of car & house keys
  • Rain gear
  • Insect repellent and sunscreen
  • Camera for photos of damage for insurance claims

What Do I Do After A Hurricane?
  • Continue to listen to weather forecasts and local news for updates.
  • Stay alert for extended rainfall and flooding even after the storm has ended.
  • If you evacuated only return home when officials say it is safe.
  • Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and bridges.
  • Keep away from loose or downed wires and report them immediately.
  • Stay out of any building surrounded by water.
  • Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures for insurance claims.
  • Use flashlights in the dark, NOT candles which can cause fires.
  • Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it is not contaminated.
  • Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.
  • Wear protective clothing and use caution when cleaning up to avoid injury.
  • Watch pets closely and keep them under your direct control.
  • Use telephones only for emergency calls

Let Your Family Know You Are Safe!
​If your community experiences a hurricane or any disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well website available through RedCross.org/SafeandWell to let your family and friends know about your welfare. If you do not have Internet access, call 1-866-GET-INFO to register yourself and your family.
​​
Click here to download a Hurricane Safety Checklist provided by the Red Cross.

Click Here for How To Prepare for Hurricane Safety!
0 Comments

    Archives

    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018

    Categories

    All
    Absense
    Act
    Adult
    Advantages
    Agency
    Agent
    Aggresive
    Air
    Airline
    Alarms
    Alcohol
    Alert
    Amount
    Appearance
    Appliances
    Appraisal
    Assistance
    Auto
    Automatic
    Automobile
    Autumn
    Awareness
    Bad
    Barn
    Batteries
    Beach
    Belongings
    Beneficiary
    Benefits
    Bicycle
    Bike
    Biking
    Bill
    Bite
    Boat
    Boating
    Bracelet
    Budget
    Building
    Burn
    Business
    Business Income
    Buy
    Buying
    Cancel
    Cancellation
    Car
    Carbon Monoxide
    Carrier
    Cars
    Carshare
    Case
    Cash
    Caught
    CDC
    Celebrate
    Check
    Checkup
    Child
    China
    Christmas
    Claim
    Claims
    Clean
    Cleaning
    Cloud
    CO
    Cold
    Commercial
    Common
    Communication
    Commute
    Company
    Comprehensive
    Computer
    Concerns
    Contagious
    Coping
    Corona
    Coronavirus
    Cost
    Coverage
    Covered
    COVID
    COVID19
    Create
    Creek
    Cyber
    Cyber Liability
    Cybersecurity
    Dad
    Damage
    Dams
    Dark
    Deadline
    Death
    Decay
    Decorations
    Deducation
    Deductible
    Definitions
    Destruction
    Diamond
    Disability
    Disability Insurance
    Disadvantages
    Discounts
    Disease
    Distance
    Dog
    Drive
    Driver
    Driverless
    Driving
    Earthquake
    Easy
    Emergency
    Emotional
    Employee
    Employees
    Employer
    Employers
    Enrollment
    Equity
    Event
    Exterior
    Facemask
    Facemasks
    Facts
    Fall
    Falling
    Family
    Father
    Father's Day
    Faucet
    Financial
    Find
    Fire
    Fire Department
    Fixes
    Flame
    Flameable
    Flames
    Flashlight
    Flood
    Flooding
    Food
    Football
    Freeze
    Freezing
    Fryer
    Furnishings
    Future
    Gap
    Garage
    Gas
    Gear
    Gift
    Give
    Glossery
    Group
    Gutters
    Health
    Healthy
    Heat
    Heavy
    History
    Holiday
    Holidays
    Home
    Homemade
    Homeowner
    Homeowners
    Homeownership
    Homeowners Insurance
    Hot
    House
    Hurricane
    Hygiene
    Ice
    Ideas
    Illness
    Improvement
    Income
    Increase
    Indemnity
    Independent
    Individual
    Inexpensive
    Infection
    Innovation
    Inspect
    Inspection
    Insurance
    Interior
    Internet
    Inventory
    Jewelry
    Job
    Kid
    Kit
    Kitchen
    Laid-off
    Lake
    Liability
    Life
    Life Insurance
    Life Jacket
    Lightning
    Lights
    List
    Local
    Long Term
    Long-term
    Loss
    Lower
    Maintenance
    Map
    Materials
    Medical
    Mental
    Misconceptions
    Misunderstanding
    Money
    Motorcycle
    Natural Disaster
    Necklace
    Night
    Nighttime
    Ocean
    Online
    Open
    Organization
    Outside
    Oven
    Owner
    Package
    Pandemic
    Party
    Pay
    Pedestrian
    Peril
    Period
    Perishable
    Personal
    Pet
    Plan
    Plans
    Poison
    Policy
    Pool
    Porch
    Possessions
    Power
    Premium
    Preparation
    Prepare
    Prepared
    Presents
    Prevent
    Prevention
    Property
    Protect
    Protected
    Protection
    Purchase
    Rain
    Rate
    Rental
    Rental Car
    Resistant
    Resources
    Respond
    Ride
    Rideshare
    Ring
    Risk
    Risks
    River
    Roadtrip
    Safe
    Safety
    Sanitary
    Sanitize
    Santa
    Satisfaction
    Save
    Security
    Service
    Share
    Sharing
    Shed
    Shelter
    Shelter In Place
    Shop
    Short Term
    Short-term
    Shut Down
    Sick
    Sleet
    Slow
    Small
    Snow
    Social
    Solutions
    Special
    Special Event
    Species
    Spread
    Spring
    Storm
    Summer
    Sun
    Supplies
    Support
    Surfaces
    Survival
    Swim
    Switch
    Tailgating
    Tax
    Technology
    Temperature
    Temperatures
    Term
    Terms
    Thankful
    Thanksgiving
    Thaw
    Thunder
    Tips
    Tornado
    Toxic Free
    Tradition
    Travel
    Tree
    Trees
    Trip
    Turkey
    Twister
    Umbrella
    Underinsured
    Underwriter
    Uninsured
    Unsafe
    Upright
    Utilities
    Vacant
    Violent
    Virus
    Visible
    Warm
    Warmer
    Warning
    Watch
    Water
    Watercraft
    Weather
    Website
    Wedding
    Wheels
    WiFi
    Wind
    Winter
    Work
    Workplace
    Yearly

Columbia
3020 Devine Street
Columbia, SC
​29205
803.799.9979
Summerville
204 N. Gum Street
Summerville, SC 29483
843.871.3950
Home
About
​
​Contact
Request a Quote
​Insurance
Online Services
Picture
© 2020. RELATION INSURANCE, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Team
    • History
    • Summerville office
    • Why an Independent Agent?
    • Featured Carriers
    • Trusted Choice® Pledge of Performance
    • Introducing Health, Life & Employee Benefits
    • Our Columbia Office Has Moved!
    • Midlands Green Business
  • REQUEST A QUOTE
  • INSURANCE
    • Vehicle Insurance >
      • Auto Insurance
      • Motorcycle Insurance
      • Classic Car Insurance
      • Boat & Watercraft Insurance
      • Motorsport & ATV Insurance
      • RV and Mobile Home Insurance
    • Property Insurance >
      • Homeowners Insurance >
        • How Much Home Insurance is Enough?
      • Renters Insurance
      • Condo Insurance
      • Landlord Protection
      • Flood Insurance
      • Earthquake Insurance
      • Personal Umbrella Insurance
      • Pet Insurance
      • Home Warranty
    • Business Insurance >
      • Condominium Homeowners Association Insurance
      • Cyber Liability Insurance
      • Business Owners Insurance
      • Commercial Property Insurance
      • Commercial Umbrella Insurance
      • General Liability Insurance
      • Commercial Auto Insurance
      • Workers' Compensation Insurance
      • Surety Bonds
      • Specialty Insurance
    • Health, Life & Employee Benefits Insurance >
      • Individuals >
        • Health Insurance
        • Short Term Health Insurance
        • Dental Insurance
        • Vision Insurance
        • Life Insurance >
          • How Much Life Insurance is Enough?
        • Disability
      • Employers >
        • Group Health Insurance
        • Group Dental Insurance
        • Group Vision Insurance
        • Group Life Insurance
        • Group Disability Insurance
        • 401(k)
        • Worksite Marketing Plans
      • Seniors
    • Insurance FAQs
  • ONLINE SERVICES
    • Pay My Bill
    • Report a Claim
    • Applications
    • Customer Reviews
    • Social Media
    • Blog
    • Flood Claim Information
    • Helpful Links
  • CONTACT