Emergency 101

Nothing makes life feel quite so fragile as a crisis hitting home.From an injury on your property to a devastating weather event, how to respond to an emergency can often shape its ultimate impact. To that end, professionals at Texas Farm Bureau Insurance suggest a few strategies for how to best deal with certain calamities.Life SaversAs the father of two young children, Brantley Burns, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent in Hunt County, was persuaded by a client to get certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. “I struck up a conversation with a client who teaches CPR and decided that the 6-hour certification class was well worth my effort,” he explains. Visit the American Heart Association website to find local classes on CPR, how to use a defibrillator, and how to identify the signs of a heart attack.To safeguard his family even further, Burns keeps a first aid kit in his home.Car TroublesThe Lone Star State has seen a fatal wreck every single day since Nov. 7, 2000. Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Transportation reports that more than 45,000 men, women, and children have lost their lives on our highways and roads since then — a staggering total.“Any kind of accident, no matter how severe or traumatic, creates a stressful situation for everyone concerned,” says Jared Carter, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance field adjuster based in Jefferson County. “The first thing you need to do right after it happens is to make sure everyone is safe, yourself included.”Don’t attempt to move anyone with serious injuries; call 911 instead. Carter also encourages anyone involved in a mishap to call the police — even for just a fender bender, the most common type of collision he encounters on the job.“If you don’t have a police report or any witnesses to back up your story, it can be hard to prove later if the other driver decides to contradict what you are saying,” he says.While waiting for the authorities to arrive on the scene, try to gather contact information from the other driver as well as any witnesses.45,000 Men, women, and children have lost their lives on our highways and roads since Nov. 7, 2000. = 1,000Heaven and EarthA natural catastrophe can devastate your property in a matter of seconds —whether it’s hail, lightning, straight-line winds, a deluge from the skies, or wildfires.“Having a plan outlining what household members will do in an emergency is the best thing they can do to be prepared for an emergency or large-scale disaster,” says Richard Reed, senior vice president of disaster cycle services for the American Red Cross. “Things can happen very quickly, giving people only minutes to react. Planning ahead can help keep everyone safe.”The single most critical component of a family’s escape plan centers on where you will meet up once you evacuate. As you leave, grab your “to-go” bag —preferably one kept packed in the event of an emergency — with three days’ worth of prescription medications and nonperishable food, along with a change of clothes, extra cash, and photocopies of key documents, such as driver licenses, insurance policies, and essential medical records. Once safely settled, reach out to your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent.“You need to file a claim as soon as possible at the time of the loss,” says Albert Beltran, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance agency manager in El Paso County. “Your agent will remind you what is covered.”If, say, you lose your home in a tornado, your adjuster can often write you a check as a stopgap to pay for additional living expenses such as a hotel room or food.Harmed At HomeA housepainter tumbles from a ladder while finishing your exterior trim. Your daughter’s best friend startles your new puppy — and then it bites her leg. At a neighborhood get-together, a guest slips on the wet coping around your swimming pool and fractures his wrist.These scenarios may seem a little less daunting knowing that Texas Farm Bureau Insurance looks out for your interests 24/7.“The first thing I tell everyone is to offer to take the injured party to the emergency room,” says Brian Frizzell, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance agency manager in Tom Green County. “Most homeowners policies provide the injured party coverage up to $5,000 for an emergency room visit.”While those you hire to work on your property should carry their own liability insurance, the situation becomes less cut-and-dried when involving a friend or family member.“Whoever it is, and no matter their relationship to you, treat them like family,” counsels Frizzell, who notes that he raised his liability insurance to the $1 million mark when he and his wife installed aswimming pool. Anytime you do a significant change to your property, he recommends sitting down with your agent for a 360 Review¬Æ of your policy. “If you’ve had a child, bought a car, a new boat, a house, added a pool, or had any other significant purchase or change in your circumstance, always let us know,” Frizzell says. “Even if nothing has changed, you should still review your policy with your agent every year to 18 months. It’s well worth an hour or two of your time to make sure you have the right insurance coverage in place.”Family LegaciesWhile grieving the loss of a loved one, many also find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of paperwork associated with settling an estate. Closing credit card accounts, assessing federal tax liability, even simply notifying Social Security can seem like Herculean tasks even on relatively straightforward estates. When an individual dies without a will, the whole process typically becomes more complicated.“One of the most difficult aspects of discussing life insurance with someone is when the head of the household hasn’t provided enough for his family after he’s gone,” says Aubrey Feril, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance agency manager in DeWitt County. “The survivors are not only grieving his death, but they’re also fearful about how they are going to maintain their lifestyle in the face of it.”Work with your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent to provide for your heirs and dependents. Also, consider insuring the lives of children — even if only to offset funeral expenses.Crime WatchYou arrive home from that family reunion or Florida vacation — only to discover that someone has burglarized your home.“Once in your home, a burglar can easily steal computer equipment, televisions, CD and DVD players, as well as jewelry and other valuable items,” says Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and chief communication officer for the nonprofit Insurance Information Institute. “The average dollar loss per burglary is over $1,700.”Report the break-in as soon as possible to your agent.“I tell my customers it’s a huge advantage to have inventories of their possessions along with photos,” says Lisa Evans, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent in Rockwall County. “Especially when they’re upset, it can really help jog their memory of what’s missing.” Even going room to room shooting video of your home and belongings with your smartphone can go a long way in helping you reconstruct your losses in the aftermath of a theft.The average dollar loss per burglary is over $1,700*Coverage and discounts are subject to qualifications and policy terms, and may vary by situation. ¬©2014 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance