#Water Damage Insurance Policy

[waterdamagerepairpros]

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[lucyoccupy]

The State Farm Files - Part 1

The State Farm Files – Part 1

#StateFarmFiles – Part 1 Some of the lawyers accuse that I have not produced documents in the proper format, and that for some discovery questions I exceeded the expectations of what to produce, as I believe they are all relevant. They all know I have a brain injury from a workplace injury in 2012, and a subsequent head injury in March 2019, after a volatile discussion with State Farm Adjuster…

[lazyscience]

So for my followers who come with a factory-installed uterus I know you're concerned about your health and autonomy. And you well should be

But here's something all of you should be thinking about and planning for no matter what your plumbing - if Trump goes through with putting RFK Jr. in a position of power as far as the Department of Health and Human Services, he could do a LOT of damage as far as vaccines. Vaccines are not super profitable for pharma companies, despite what cranks think; they take a LOT of development for only a few uses. Vaccines are driven by public health requirements and a lot of places would shrug and say "ok, bet" if there isn't a guaranteed market for them.

The professional medical community will still have recommendations about when and how to vaccinate, but they won't have the force of law, and insurance will probably smell blood in the water and start kicking up a fuss about covering vaccines when they're not required. So then when doctors recommend them there'll be suspicion and pushback that they're just doing it for "kickbacks" even though the only doctor who would have gotten paid for vaccine is ironically Andrew Wakefield, the lying fuckshit, because his whole "vaccines cause autism" lie was to push his OWN, SPECIAL proprietary vaccines that wouldn't cause his made-up syndrome, because NO vaccines were causing it. May he roast somewhere warm when the devil comes for him.

This will not happen immediately, but. Because there will no doubt be anticipatory compliance on the part of drug companies and healthcare systems. I HIGHLY advise you get the fuck out there and get your Tdap updated (tetanus, diptheria and pertussis). Whooping cough is out there, and it is horrible for babies. If you are eligible for shingles vaccine and haven't done it, get that. Get your COVID vax if you haven't, there might not BE another one, at least not that's available in the US.

If you have kids, especially make sure THEY'RE up to date because their classmates might very well not be mandated to get them any more - state regulations will undoubtedly vary, but with the current composition of the Court, it will rule in favor of every possible exemption for antivaxxers as possible because the conservatives are all "fuck the weakest of us, I got mine fuck you." And expect idiocy like "pox parties" to spread (not like the average suburban parent can tell measles from rubella from chicken pox from hand foot and mouth by fuckin' looking at it, who knows what the christ they're going to be passing around). Measles is NOT just a "bit of a rash." Rubella is the world's leading preventable cause of birth defects. Chickenpox can result in scarring, encephalitis causing blindness or even death, and the risk of shingles later in life. I have a cousin who would be 57 this year who died as a toddler from hemophilus influenzae strain B meningitis, one of those "too many" childhood vaccines that were invented in the 1990s. Tell my aunt that's too many vaccines -oh, wait, you can't, she fucking killed herself out of grief her baby died.

tweens? get them the HPV vaccine if they haven't gotten it (given its associations with sex it'll probably be one of the first to go, but it prevents CANCER. who wants their child to get cervical cancer, or penile cancer, or throat cancer, or rectal cancer? IT PREVENTS CANCER. JUST DO IT.)

Similarly, if you have a child with any kind of immune issue that precludes vaccination, I would very much look into homeschooling, because bye-bye herd immunity.

If you have teenage kids, encourage them to update their Tdap and get the meningiococcal meningitis vaccine if they haven't been mandated to already by campus policy. Tetanus and meningitis aren't common, but they are frequently permanently life-altering when they're not fatal. We're talking months in the hospital. I'm old enough that I remember people fucking dying in college, and the panic that went around campus every time one of those breakouts happened in the state wondering if it would make its way to our campus.

Stay safe out there. I have no idea what this will do to our already teetering healthcare system but I don't think it'll be pretty. Everybody pray Trump pulls his usual scam and hangs RFK Jr. out to dry, because while the plutocrats consider regulations an unnecessary burden, they don't have a stake in creating a public health state of emergency when we already have a workforce not keeping up with demand, unlike Captain Convenient Brain Worm.

[sotc]

Yesterday my car got towed after we filed for total loss with our insurance from the hurricane. We were emptying out our vehicle of stuff and realized the car was totally fucking dead, all the electronics did fry from water damage. Just like the claims guy said it would (he warned us to just call it a total loss bc at some point it would die on us). So wild that literally a few days prior it was working, we were driving in it and had no idea how dangerous it was nor the extent of the hidden damages. We had mold already underneath the car seats we didn't see! 😩

Honestly really sad to just see it go. It was a milestone car! First one we bought together, soo many roadtrips, our lil tie to when we had our first adventure living in Colorado since we bought it there, and the first car we paid off. Weh.

Sentimental silliness but it is what it is. Now I'm licherally TRAPPED in my house without any vehicle transportation lmao (I should've had renting a vehicle on my damn insurance policy ugh lol) until insurance shit settles and we can go out and get a new car.

[mariacallous]

On Tuesday morning, five days after Hurricane Helene ripped through Boone, North Carolina, David Marlett was on his way to the campus of Appalachian State University. The managing director of the university’s Brantley Risk & Insurance Center, Marlett was planning to spend the day working with his colleagues to help students and community members understand their insurance policies and file claims in the wake of the storm. He didn’t sound hopeful. “I’m dreading it,” he said. “So many people are just not going to have coverage.”

Helene made landfall southeast of Tallahassee, Florida, last week with winds up to 140 miles per hour, downing trees and bringing record-breaking storm surges to areas along the Gulf Coast before charging up through Georgia. But perhaps its most shocking impacts have been on inland North Carolina, where it first started raining while the storm was still over Mexico. At least 57 people are dead in Buncombe County in the west of the state alone. Communities like Boone received dozens of inches of rainfall despite being hundreds of miles from the coast. Waters rose in main streets, sinkholes and mudslides wreaked havoc, and major roads were blocked, flooded, or degraded by the storm.

Now, there’s a good chance that many homeowners in North Carolina won’t see any payouts from their insurance companies��even if they have policies they thought were comprehensive.

“The property insurance market for homes was already a patchwork system that really doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Marlett says. “Now you’re adding in the last couple of years of economic uncertainty, inflation, climate change, population migration—it’s just an unbelievably bad combination happening all at once.”

For North Carolinians, the issue right now has to do with what, exactly, private insurance is on the hook for when it comes to a storm. An average homeowner policy covers damage from wind, but private homeowners’ insurance plans in the US do not cover flooding. Instead, homeowners in areas at risk of flooding usually purchase plans from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The way a hurricane wreaks havoc on a state is a crucial deciding factor for insurers’ wallets. Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida as a category 4 storm with some of the highest wind speeds on record, caused $63 billion in private insurance claims. In contrast, the bulk of the $17 billion in damage caused by 2018’s Hurricane Florence, which tore up the North Carolina coast, was water damage, not wind; as a result, private insurers largely avoided picking up the check for that disaster.

This breakout of flood insurance from home policies dates back to the 1940s, says Donald Hornstein, a law professor at the University of North Carolina and a member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association. Private insurance companies decided that they did not have enough data to be able to accurately predict flooding and therefore could not insure it. “In some ways, that calculation of 50 years ago is still the calculation insurers make today,” he says.

While the NFIP, which was created in the late 1960s, provides virtually the only backup against flood damage, the program is saddled with debt and has become a political hot potato. (Project 2025, for instance, recommends phasing out the program entirely and replacing it with private options.) Part of the problem with the NFIP is low uptake. Across the country, FEMA statistics show that just 4 percent of homeowners have flood insurance. Some areas hit by Helene in Appalachia, initial statistics show, have less than 2.5 percent of homeowners signed up for the federal program.

“Even in coastal areas, not many people buy that, much less here in the mountains,” Marlett says. “People have never seemed to fully understand that flood is a separate policy.”

Flooding is not unprecedented in the mountains of North Carolina: Hurricane Ivan swept through Appalachia in 2004, and flash floods from rivers are not unheard of. Purchasing flood insurance is mandatory with a government-backed mortgage in some areas of the country, based on flood zones set by FEMA. But the data is based on extremely outdated floodplain maps that have not taken the most recent climate science on record rainfall into account.

“The biggest non-secret in Washington for decades is how hopelessly out of date these flood maps are,” Hornstein says.

Even if water wasn’t the cause of destruction for some homeowners in North Carolina, the storm’s disastrous mudslides—another risk supercharged by climate change—may not be covered either. Many home insurance policies have carve-outs for what are known as “earth movements,” which includes landslides, sinkholes, and earthquakes. In some states, like California, insurers are mandated to offer additional earthquake insurance, and homeowners can purchase private additional policies that cover earth movements. But in a state like North Carolina, where earthquake risk is extremely low, homeowners may not even know that such policies exist.

It’s also been a tough few years for the insurance industry across the country. A New York Times analysis from May showed that homeowners’ insurers lost money in 18 states in 2023—up from eight states in 2013—largely thanks to expensive disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. Payouts are increasingly costing insurers more than they are getting in premiums. Homeowners are seeing their policies jump as a result: According to statistics compiled by insurance comparison shopping site Insurify, the average annual cost of home insurance climbed nearly 20 percent between 2021 and 2023. In Florida, which has the highest insurance costs in the country, the average homeowner paid over $10,000 a year in 2023—more than $8,600 above the national rate.

Florida has made headlines in recent months as ground zero for the climate-change insurance crisis. More than 30 insurance companies have either fully or partially pulled out of Florida over the past few years, including big names like Farmers’ and AAA, after mounting losses from repeated major hurricanes like 2022’s Ian, the most expensive natural disaster in the state’s history. Florida’s insurer of last resort, now saddled with risk from multiple homeowners, has proposed a rate increase of 14 percent, set to go into effect next year.

In comparison, North Carolina’s insurance market looks pretty good. No insurers have exited the state since 2008, while homeowners pay an average of $2,100 per year—high, but avoiding the sky-high rates of states like Florida, California, and Texas.

“What traditionally has happened is that there’s a rate increase every few years of 8 to 9 percent for homeowner’s insurance,” says Hornstein. “That has kept the market stable, especially when it comes to the coast.”

But as natural disasters of all kinds mount, it’s tough to see a way forward for insurance business as usual. The NFIP is undergoing a series of changes to update the way it calculates rates for flood insurance—but it faces political minefields in potentially expanding the number of homeowners mandated to buy policies. What’s more, many homeowners are seeing the prices for their flood insurance rise as the NFIP adjusts its rates for existing floodplains using new climate models.

Many experts agree that the private market needs to reflect in some way the true cost of living in a disaster-prone area: in other words, it should be more expensive for people to move to a city where it’s more likely your house will be wiped off the map by a storm. The cost of climate change does not seem to be a deterrent in Florida, one of the fastest-growing states in the country, where coastal regions like Panama City, Jacksonville, and Port St. Lucie are booming. (Some research suggests that the mere existence of the NFIP shielded policyholders from the true costs of living in flood-prone areas.)

Asheville, at the heart of Buncombe County, was once hailed as a climate haven safe from disasters; the city is now reeling in the wake of Helene. For many homeowners, small business owners, and renters in western North Carolina, the damage from Helene will be life-changing. FEMA payouts may bring, at best, only a fraction of what a home would be worth. Auto insurance generally covers all types of damage, including flooding—a small bright spot of relief, but not enough to offset the loss of a family’s main asset.

“People at the coast, at some point after the nth storm, they start to get the message,” Hornstein says. “But for people in the western part of the state, this is just Armageddon. And you can certainly forgive them for not having before appreciated the fine points of these impenetrable contracts.”

Marlett says that there are models for insurance that are designed to better withstand the challenges of climate change. New Zealand, for instance, offers policies that cover all types of damage that could happen to your house; while these policies are increasingly tailored price-wise to different types of risk, there’s no chance a homeowner would experience a climate disaster not covered by their existing policies. But it’s hard, he says, to see the US system getting the wholesale overhaul it needs, given how long the piecemeal system has been in place.

“I sound so pessimistic,” he said. “I’m normally an optimistic person.”

[elsewhereuniversity]

I don't know where I picked this planner up, but it's scheduled my next fenderbender for Thursday after next and my roommate's got a sword fight six months from now. It has cat(? probably those are cats) stickers on the front. The name inside is water-damaged and unreadable. You wouldn't happen to know who it belongs to?

I do not, but I'm sure with some time I can find out. In the meantime, let me send you away with something for accidents and duels both: a tube of lipstick in an elegant shade of plum, which smells like honey and grants an air of unshakeable confidence and eloquence. Useful for both arguing over car insurance policies and heckling your roommate's opponent as they square up for the fight.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alicia Sadowski and Isabella Corrao at MMFA:

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, right-wing media falsely claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris and the Biden administration are ignoring millions of Americans impacted by intense flooding. Media personalities and MAGA influencers have falsely and dishonestly claimed that victims are only entitled to $750 in aid, when in reality that is just the start of federal benefits.

FEMA can provide assistance for victims of Hurricane Helene, but chronic underfunding and climate change, not undocumented migrants, threaten future aid availability

In addition to FEMA providing residents of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia with “a one-time $750 payment to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies,” victims can also qualify for “disaster-related financial assistance to repair storm-related damage to homes and replace personal property.” After visiting the wreckage in Georgia, Harris reiterated that “FEMA is also providing tens of thousands more dollars for folks to help them be able to deal with home repair, to be able to cover a deductible when and if they have insurance, and also hotel costs.” [The White House, 10/2/24, 10/2/24]

After President Joe Biden signed a stopgap spending bill in September, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said FEMA can properly respond to Helene recovery efforts. FEMA spokesperson Daniel Llargués said that FEMA is in a “good position” to respond to Hurricane Helene relief efforts after the agency received $20.3 billion under the spending bill. Biden has suggested bringing lawmakers back to Washington to provide additional funding for disaster relief, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has claimed “there’s no necessity for Congress to come back”. [The New York Times, 9/26/24, 10/2/24; Roll Call, 10/3/24; FEMA, 10/3/24]

Future concerns for FEMA’s funding are attributable to chronic underfunding by Congress and increased costs associated with extreme weather disturbance as a result of climate change, not aid given to undocumented immigrants. Mayorkas warned that FEMA “does not have the funds to make it through the [hurricane] season.” A DHS spokesperson clarified, however, that aid provided to undocumented immigrants through the Shelter and Services Program is “a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA's disaster-related authorities or funding streams." [The Associated Press, 10/3/24; Axios, 7/14/23; Bipartisan Policy Center, 7/23/24; Newsweek, 10/3/24]

Right-wing media have pushed the cartoonishly false claim that Hurricane Helene survivors are only entitled to $750 in aid, when in fact that the $750 is the beginning.

The right-wing noise machine also dishonestly blamed undocumented immigrants by baselessly accusing them of plundering FEMA funding.

[soon-palestine]

The Ecologists, La France Insoumise, the French Communist Party, and the Socialist Party unveiled, at a joint press conference, the programme of the left-wing alliance to the legislative elections. He condemned the "terrorist massacre of Hamas".

A programme in "20 measures of rupture", during the "first 15 days", to "reply to the emergency that damage the life and confidence of the French people". Wage indexation on inflation, rise of Smic, repeal of unemployment and pension insurance reforms… At a press conference held on Friday 14 June, the leaders of the left-wing parties behind the "New Popular Front" unveiled their legislature contract.

Decreeing the social emergency

-Block the prices of basic necessities (food, energy, fuels)

-Repealing pension and unemployment insurance reform

-Inflation of wages

-Fixing the SMIC and the minimum pension at EUR 1600 net

-Remove the minimum old-age age at the poverty line (60% of the SMIC)

-Restoring the wealth tax, "reinforced with a climate component"

Declaring an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

-Breaks with the support of the French government to Benjamin Netanyahu, and enforce the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which evokes a risk of genocide

-Action for the release of hostages detained since the Hamas terrorist massacres and for the release of Palestinian political prisoners

-Subsistent International Criminal Court (ICC) in its prosecution of Hamas leaders and the Israeli government

-Immediate recognition of the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel on the basis of UN resolutions

-Alspering the organisation of free elections in Palestine under international control

Defending Ukraine

Defending the sovereignty of the Ukrainian people and their territory through the delivery of the necessary weapons

Seity of oligarch assets in banks

-Sending of blue helmets, in particular to secure nuclear power plants Addressing the climate challenge

-Adoption of a climate plan for carbon neutrality in 2050, and the principle of the green rule

-Adopting an "energy-climate" law, the beginnings of ecological planning

-Decree a moratorium on motorway infrastructure projects (A69…), and mega-bassines

-Adopting a water-sharing plan at the national level Is it a 6th Republic

-Rebrogate article 49, paragraph 3

-Election of the National Assembly and the Senate by proportional representation

-Introduce the Citizens' Initiative Referendum (RIC)

To convene a constituent assembly to draft a new Constitution Guaranteeing the right to housing

Build 1 million "green" housing units over 5 years

Repeal the Kasbarian Act, and abolish evictions

-Ammguring rent in tense areas

-Maintenate the SRU Act (20 or 25 per minimum of social housing per commune) Reshaping Europe

-Generating super-profit taxation at European level

-Finance of free trade agreements (CETA, Mercosur, etc.)

-Refusing the Fiscal Stability Pact

-Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

[randomrabbidramblings]

Thanks to Bwahstrella's... questionable policies about her clients' privacy here's her quotes:

Not quite spoilers, but if you want to catch them yourself, don't go ahead. No spoilers about the DLC, just lil' trivia about the characters. There's A LOT of them, I don't even think you could get all of them in a couple of playthroughs, I may have missed a bunch, so if you find some I didn't let me know!

"Augie lives in fear his villagers will discover that their emergency food supplies are just bags of nacho cheese sauce."

"Augie was supposed to build a new temple, but he blew the funds on booking DJ Cheep Tuna for his birthday."

"I foresee Augie will be put on a "performance improvement plan" for using the lighthouse to cook a rotisserie chicken."

"Tell Augie our service hotline is not a free consueling service."

"Find out wich intern told Augie he was doomed and fire them. He is calling like a lunatic now."

"I foresee Augie wearing sweatpants to his parents' anniversary after forgetting to try on his suit until the day of."

"Orion's next cargo ship will catch fire after Salesbot's crates of "furniture parts" turn out to be illegal fireworks."

"I foresee Orion being swallowed alive by a Shovel-Nosed Gobblegazer while star fishing. He REALLY needs a new hobby."

"Magnesio and Vanesia sold MANY "prosperity crystals". The catch? They were ICE crystals. Rabbids got water in the mail."

"I sponsored Telesio in a book-a-thon fundraiser. He read every book in the Winter Palace - TWICE! Cost me a fortune."

"Each postcard of Dr. Vent is stranger than the last. That Rabbid is in dire need of a vacation."

"The balls they throw at the Winter palace are like knitting circles compared to the ones they had there back in my days."

"Woodrow is to recieve terrible dating advice until he rescinds the 5% fortune telling tax on Palette Prime!"

"Woodrow's ex-girlfriend couldn't even read a greeting card inscription without breaking into hives, poor thing."

"The Fates are many, and their voices discordant, but on this ONE thing they agree - they HATE Woodrow's poetry."

"When Woodrow needed money he wrote crude limericks under the name "Bell Chur". Oddly they brought only good luck."

"If Woodrow calls, tell him I am in a seance - DO NOT take a message, especially if it rhymes."

"Yes, it is bad if Woodrow's next poem destroys the galaxy, BUT if we don't have to hear it - mixed blessing."

"Lots of Rabbids from Palette Prime are calling for advice. Woodrow must be working on a new poem. SHUDDER."

"Tell the Palette Prime office I'm eagerly awaiting fresh gossip from the Spellbound Woods about Sweetlopek an the Dryad."

"I foresee the Dryad and Sweetlopek making a fortune selling fall-themed "farmhouse chic" pinecone wreaths to tourists."

"A certain Spark Hunter who is as dense as her name implies owes me for damage to my vacation home on Palette Prime."

"I didn't say Salesbot smuggles artificial pumpking spice into Palette Prime, but I also didn't NOT say it."

"The "authenthic" Paletteville Plaza Farmer's Market scented candles I bought from Salesbot smell like rotting garbage."

"The premium for poetry-related accident insurance on Palette Prime is six times that of our other locations!"

"A golden acorn of opportunity will fall in your lap while you are asleep. It will be eaten by a vole."

"Bea reports that "Madame Bwahstrella Doom n' Bloom Boquets" are a very popular item between mortal enemies."

"Bea's music made a small comeback after DJ Cheep Tuna sampled it for Darkmess Cheese Barber Wrap Tunnel Disco party."

"Tell my publicist to invite Galaxy Confidential to my Doomy Awards dinner party, then seat the Phantom near Bea."

"You didn't need to be psychic to predict the Phantom dumping Bea for one of her backup dancers, but would she listen?"

"Tell Alkementor I need a case of red banana-kumquat-star apple mineral fusion water for my Doomy Awards afterparty."

"I see Sullivan going dateless at the Engineer's Ball if he does not stop blowing me off for his stupid train."

"If Sullivan calls, tell him I'm having lunch with a handsome salesman who prefers electric trains over steam engines."

"Sullivan sent roses to apologize for calling me "vile rabble" after I said his steam train was a "ridiculous fossil"."

"Everywhere I go at the Everbloom I am asked. "Do you foresee more overtime in my future?" Hard to relax."

"I foresee Momma being thougher than leather and harder than steel, with an itch for action and living like there no tomorrow!"

"I wouldn't want to be a certain Spark Hunter when Momma catches up to them with an itch that only revenge can scratch!"

"Tell our Barrendale Mesa location they are absolutely NOT to close during "Big Momma's Bike Rally and Chili Cookoff."

"I foresee Gerspard moving into his Neo-Figurative Hyper-Expressionist Retro-Futuristic Tabloid phase to rave reviews."

"Rabbid Peach wants HOW MUCH for a sponsored post?!"

"Someone tell Rabbid Mario we do not use male models for our gift catalogues before he sends us any more beefcake shots."

"Prof. Backpack's lecture series is postponed until he can find a commercial spaceflight with room for his backpack."

"Can someone remind Salesbot he does not work here? He keeps popping in to help himself to our breakroom snacks."

"My competitor, Madame Bwahstrodamus, could not predict yesterday's weather if she had a newspaper."

"Find out how many lanes the bowling alley in Madame Bwahstrodamus' mansion has so I can build mine with twice as many."

"Sigh... Have my body double do the autograph signing. I need a vacation..."

"I see a new personal assistant in my future if my chicken cheesesteak is cold like last time."

"Curses, hexes, evil eyes... Fortune-telling USED to be fun. Now the Fates most rely on algorithms and statistics."

"I'm Doomed, My Partner's Not - my self-help guide for couples, it's due out this spring."

"Life is short - doom well, doom often, doom much."

[weirdothatwritess]

Hurricane Knowledge!

This is general Hurricane knowledge for anyone ever: don’t go thru any water that isn’t clear, your car can be swept away by just one inch of water because of hydroplaning, get flashlights and water, and get gas NOW if you can because gas stations are gonna be overrun if they aren’t already. If you can hear rescue helicopters and boats, use your flashlight (at night) and a mirror (at day, to preserve battery) and try to do it in SOS, which is 3 quick flashes, 3 slow ones, and another 3 quick ones. If you know you’re gonna flood, put all important documents in ziplock bags or some other waterproofing device. If your house starts to flood and you haven’t lost power and you can get to your breaker box, turn off power to your house.

Hurricane Prep Checklist (with main outline from ChatGPT and anecdotes from me)

(A good rule of thumb is "Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it")

Prep before the storm a) Emergency Kit Prepare an emergency kit that includes:

Water: At least 1 gallon per person per day for at least three days. (ex: family of 5 would mean 15 gallon minimum)

Non-perishable food: Enough for at least three days (canned goods, protein bars, etc.) If there's time, Amazon sells MREs, which are Meal-Ready-to-Eat Rations, what the military uses aka "Just add water" meals

Flashlights and extra batteries. If you're unsure whether you have enough, get more.

First aid kit and any necessary medications.

Personal hygiene items (toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer).

Manual can opener (for canned food).

Portable phone charger (power banks). Getting ones that can recharge of solar power or a hand crank is a good idea.

Whistle/mirror (for signaling for help).

Local maps.

Cash: In case ATMs are down. b) Evacuation Plan

Know your evacuation zone: Authorities will announce evacuations if needed. Know the safest routes out of your area.

Plan ahead: If you have pets, children, or elderly family members, prepare in advance for their needs. Make arrangements for transportation if you don’t have a car.

Shelters: Locate the nearest hurricane shelters or make arrangements to stay with family or friends outside of the evacuation zone. c) Home Preparations

Windows: Install storm shutters or use plywood to protect windows. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking, but it will keep it from becoming tiny shards on your floor, so you can tape them and then shutter them if you have small children or animals.

Yard: Secure loose objects (patio furniture, grills, etc.) that could become projectiles in strong winds. If you're unsure if it would be dangerous, assume it would be and secure it as such.

Roof and Gutters: Inspect and clear gutters and downspouts to prevent flooding. Check for loose shingles or tiles. If you find a loose, non brittle shingle, you can try to secure it with nails, if you find a loose tile, it may be better to take the tile off and use something like flex seal or flex tape to protect the material underneath.

Reinforce doors and garage doors: These are weak points during a hurricane. Consider installing braces or other something similar.

Generator: If you can, get a generator for power outages. Remember to store fuel safely, and never use a generator inside the house. d) Stockpile Essentials

Gas: Fill up your car’s tank, as gas stations may run out or close.

Medications: Refill prescriptions ahead of time, and ASAP, especially with the Adderall shortage.

Supplies: Buy any supplies that you’ll need for an extended period of time (baby formula, diapers, TAMPONS and PADS, etc.). e) Insurance and Documentation

Check your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to ensure that it covers hurricane damage. Flood insurance is often a separate policy.

Document your belongings: Take photos or videos of your home’s interior and exterior, including valuable items. Keep important documents (insurance, passports, IDs, deeds) in a waterproof container. If you don't have one, a ziplock baggie is better than nothing.

During the Hurricane a) Stay Informed

Monitor weather updates from trusted sources (e.g., National Hurricane Center, local government). Keep a battery-powered radio handy in case power and cellular networks go down. Figure out your local emergency weather radio station NOW. b) Shelter in Place (If Not Evacuating)

Stay indoors and away from windows.

Go to a small, interior room on the lowest level of your house (a bathroom or closet is ideal).

Avoid using candles for lighting due to fire hazards; stick to flashlights.

Stay out of floodwaters: Even shallow water can be dangerous. Avoid walking or driving through it.

Power outages: Turn off major appliances to avoid damage from power surges when electricity is restored, and if your house is taking on water, you haven't lost power yet, and you can safely get to your breaker box, turn off power to your house. It's not worth having the electrocution risk.

Avoid tap water: It may be contaminated after the storm, so stick to bottled water. Fill GROUND LEVEL bathtubs and sinks for flushing toilets and minimum hygiene. c) Evacuate if Ordered

If authorities issue an evacuation order, follow it immediately. Do not wait until the last minute, as roads may become congested or impassable due to flooding.

Use designated evacuation routes, as shortcuts may be blocked or unsafe.

If you're nervous about the storm, but an evac order hasn't been given. Ask friends or family that are out of the way of the storm if you can stay with them until it's over, leave the hotels/motels/other "public" accomodations for those that have been ordered to leave.

Storm Surge and Flooding Risks

Storm surge: This is the abnormal rise of seawater level caused by a hurricane and is the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths. Areas along the coast are most vulnerable, but storm surges can affect areas miles inland. It is essentially bringing the sea onto land. Milton could bring worse storm surge in the Tampa Bay area than it saw in Helene.

Flooding: Heavy rains can cause flash floods, even in areas far from the coast. Be prepared to move to higher ground if necessary. If you have a two story house, it may be better to store anythingsemi-valuable that you couldn't reasonably be able to bring with you in case of an evacuation upstairs in hopes that the flooding doesn't get that bad.

After the Hurricane a) Stay Cautious

Do not go outside until it is declared safe. There may be downed power lines, debris, or animals.

Watch for wildlife: Displaced animals (snakes, alligators, etc.) may seek shelter in unfamiliar places.

Avoid floodwaters: Any unclear/not crystal clear water may contain dangerous debris, sewage, or hidden hazards like downed power lines. b) Inspect Your Home

Check for structural damage (cracks in walls, foundation issues) and avoid turning on the power if there’s water damage to electrical systems.

Document damage: Take photos of any damage to your home for insurance purposes before you begin cleaning up.

Mold: Start drying out your home as soon as possible to prevent mold growth. Open windows and doors and use fans if power is restored.

Sheetrock/drywall absorbs water insanely well, so cut at least 4 feet above where the water level went to. Sheetrock/drywall is sold in 4, 8, 10, and 12 foot tall panels depending on which way you lay it, so if the water level plus 4 feet is less than 4, 8, 10, or 12, just cut to the next highest number, it’ll make it much easier to replace and reduce risk of mold even further. c) Check for Safety Hazards

Be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning risks from generators. Only use generators outdoors and far from windows or vents. If not possible to keep it away from windows, soak a towel in water and block the window jamb with it.

Food safety: Discard any food that may have been spoiled due to a lack of refrigeration. Better safe than sorry. Keep the refrigerator closed as much as possible to preserve food and/or medications like insulin longer. d) Help Others

Check on neighbors, especially the elderly, those with small children, or those with animals.

Be aware of mental health: Going through a hurricane can be traumatic. Don’t hesitate to seek emotional support if needed.

Emergency Contacts and Communication

Emergency services: Keep a hard/paper copy list of emergency contacts such as local authorities, utility companies, and insurance agents.

Family communication plan: Set up a way to stay in touch with family members in case phone service is interrupted. Consider using apps that work offline or SMS services that prioritize emergency communication.

Hurricane Recovery and Assistance

FEMA: In the U.S., FEMA offers disaster assistance and recovery services. If your area is declared a disaster zone, apply for federal aid to help rebuild or repair damages.

Local shelters: If your home is uninhabitable, local shelters will be available. Authorities will inform you about their locations post-hurricane.

Detailed Home Preparations a) Hurricane Shutters

Types of shutters:

Accordion shutters: Permanent, unfold like an accordion, and are one of the fastest to deploy.

Roll-down shutters: Installed above windows and rolled down manually or automatically.

Colonial and Bahama shutters: Stylish options but can be less sturdy than roll-downs.

Storm panels: Made of aluminum or steel, removable, and cheaper but take longer to install.

If not shutters, plywood can be a temp solution, but it must be installed properly: use minimum 5/8-inch thick plywood and secure it with screws or expansion bolts. Not nails, as they can be knocked out the easiest.

b) Waterproofing and Flood Protection Flooding is often the biggest risk.

Sandbags: Stack sandbags in front of doors and low windows to block water. You can often get them from local authorities for free before a storm.

If you leave near a beach and aren't evacuating (not recommended), you could theoretically just go get sand from there.

You can also buy playground sand at stores like Lowe's and make your own.

Flood barriers: There are reusable flood barriers available that provide better protection than sandbags, like aqua dams or water-filled barriers that you place around your home.

Seal cracks: Inspect your foundation and basement walls for cracks where water might seep in. Use caulk, hydraulic cement, or waterproof sealant (ie, flex seal) to patch them before the storm.

Sump pump: Install one with a backup power source (battery or generator) if your home is prone to basement flooding. Test it before the storm in a bucket, bathtub, or sink. c) Interior Safety

Interior doors: Keep all interior doors closed during the storm. This helps prevent wind pressure from building up inside the house, which can blow off the roof.

Emergency escape routes: Know how to exit your home in case of sudden flooding or if the structure becomes compromised. Consider having a ladder or rope to escape from upper floors if the lower level floods.

Dealing with Power Outages and Communication Loss Power outages during hurricanes are usually inevitable, esp in states like Texas, and they can last for days or even weeks, depending on how bad the storm was and the damage to infrastructure. a) Generators and Backup Power

Types of generators:

Portable generators: Less expensive but need to be set up outdoors and require manual refueling.

Standby generators: Automatically turn on when the power goes out, but they’re more costly and require professional installation.

Generator safety: Never run a generator inside or near windows due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Ensure it’s placed at least 20 feet from your house.

Fuel: Stock up on enough fuel to last several days, and store it safely. Gas stations might not have power to pump fuel after the storm, so filling up ahead is crucial. b) Battery Backup for Communication Devices

Power banks: Have several fully charged power banks ready to charge phones, radios, or other essential devices.

Solar chargers: Solar-powered chargers can be invaluable when there's no power. You can use them to recharge your phone or small electronics during daylight. c) Cell Network Loss

If cell towers are damaged, text messages often go through when calls don’t because they require less bandwidth.

Use apps like Zello (which works like a walkie-talkie w Wi-Fi) or FireChat (which allows messaging without the internet or cell service using Bluetooth) as backups.

Know how to turn off non-essential functions on your phone to preserve battery life.

Airplane mode will save battery and allow you to use your phone for essentials like taking photos or accessing offline maps.

Low brightness, low power mode (iPhone), dark theme, turning off location services, and using as few apps as possible will all preserve battery.

Mental Health and Stress Management During Hurricanes Going through a hurricane can be traumatic. The stress of it all can really take a toll. a) During the Storm

Create a calm environment: If you have children, try to keep the atmosphere as calm as possible. You might want to prepare activities like board games, puzzles, books, or coloring pages to help pass the time during the storm.

Breathing exercises: Practicing deep breathing can help with anxiety. You can do the 4 square method (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4) or the 4-6-8 method. If you have an Apple Watch, there's the mindfulness app that will guide you through some deep breathing exercises and I know that FitBit has a similar feature. b) After the Storm

Recognize signs of trauma: Anxiety, sleeplessness, and irritability are common after traumatic events. Consider reaching out for professional support.

Community support: After the hurricane, the support of neighbors and community organizations can help people cope. Volunteering or joining relief efforts can also provide a sense of purpose.

It really helped me feel purpose and less helpless when I went through Hurricane Harvey in 2017 to help my neighbors clean up their houses and restore damage.

Pet Care During Hurricanes PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING HOLY, MICROCHIP YOUR PETS! Their collars can come off if they get lost in flooding, and even if the worst happens, it's easier to heal and move on if you know for sure, rather then always wondering. a) Emergency Kit for Pets

Food and water: At least 3-7 days’ worth of food and water for your pets. Don't forget a manual can opener if you use canned food.

Leash, collar, and ID tags: Ensure your pet has proper identification and is leashed when outside or in public shelters.

Pet medications: If your pet requires medication, pack enough for a week or more.

Litter or waste bags: Have plenty of waste bags or litter for your pet's needs. b) Pet-Friendly Shelters

Many evacuation shelters don't allow pets unless they are service animals. Look for pet-friendly shelters in your area now, or find some sort of boarding facility outside the hurricane zone.

Hurricane Insurance and Financial Preparation Hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage, and recovering financially can be difficult. Here’s how to ensure your finances are protected: a) Homeowners’ Insurance

Flood insurance: Standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover flooding. You’ll need a separate policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers.

Windstorm coverage: In hurricane-prone areas, windstorm damage might not be covered in a standard policy. Double-check with your insurer and add this coverage if necessary.

Document everything: Before the storm, take pictures and videos of your home, including the roof, foundation, windows, and valuable items. Keep a list of all major belongings, including serial numbers. b) Financial Documents

Waterproof storage: Store copies of insurance policies, deeds, financial documents, and identification in a waterproof container. Again, ziplock baggies are better than nothing. You could even use a curling iron or straightener to seal them if you aren't confident in the little seal it comes with.

Emergency cash: Have some cash on hand since power outages will probably render ATMs and card readers useless.

Evacuation Tips The SOONER the BETTER a) Timing Your Evacuation

Evacuate early: If you’re in a high-risk area (near the coast, below sea level, or in a flood-prone region), leave as soon as an evacuation order is issued. Roads may become congested, and gas stations and accommodations may fill up quickly.

Gas: Fill up your car as early as possible. Keep the tank full during hurricane season in case you need to leave suddenly. If possible, get Jerry Cans and keep enough for a full tank for your car.

Again, if you're nervous about the storm, but an evac order hasn't been given. Ask friends or family that are out of the way of the storm if you can stay with them until it's over, leave the hotels/motels/other "public" accomodations for those that have been ordered to leave. b) What to Take

Emergency kit: Pack your emergency kit (with essentials like food, water, medications, and important documents) in your vehicle. Pack it with everything listed under the "Emergency Kit" heading at the top of this list.

Personal items: Take irreplaceable items like family photos, heirlooms, and laptops with vital data.

Returning Home After the Hurricane Once the storm has passed, returning home can be just as dangerous as the hurricane itself. Here’s how to approach it safely: a) Check for Hazards

Structural safety: Inspect your home for any visible damage, such as cracks in the foundation or walls. Do not enter your home if it seems unstable.

Utilities: If you suspect a gas leak (smell of rotten eggs), do not enter the home, and DO NOT do anything that would give off sparks (ie, starting your car). Call the utility company and wait for clearance.

Avoid standing water: Standing water may be contaminated with sewage or chemicals, or it could conceal sharp objects and electrical hazards. b) Filing Insurance Claims

Act fast: The sooner you file a claim, the quicker the process will be. Take detailed notes and photos of all damage, keep receipts for any immediate repairs, and document all communication with your insurance company. c) Hiring Contractors

Be wary of fraudulent contractors or "storm chasers" who offer to fix damage for cash upfront. Only hire licensed and insured contractors for repairs.

Extra Tip: Use the “48-hour rule”—if you're unsure about evacuation, plan to leave at least 48 hours before the storm hits. Roads may be gridlocked closer to the storm, and services like gas stations and grocery stores might be overwhelmed.

ANECDOTES:

These MAY already exacerbate points listed above, but it's like a teacher teaching a topic twice: it becomes important.

Don’t go thru any water that isn’t clear (Animals, live wires, dead bodies)

Your car can be swept away by just one inch of water because of hydroplaning

Get flashlights and water.

If you aren't sure you have enough of ANYTHING, get more, if possible.

Get gas NOW if you can because gas stations are gonna be overrun if they aren’t already.

If you can hear (but not see) rescue helicopters and boats, use your flashlight (night) and a mirror (day, preserve battery) and try to do SOS, … — — — …, or just patterns of three as best you can.

If you know you’re gonna flood, put all important documents in soemthing waterproof. Ziplock is better than nothing.

If your house starts to flood and you haven’t lost power and you can get to your breaker box, turn off power to your house.

Don’t fill your upstairs tubs with water, only do that with downstairs/ground level because you can cause leaks in the ceiling and then that’s yet another problem you’ll have to deal with after everything's over.

Cut loose limbs down before the storm hits, and if there’s any iffy trees that you’re not 85+% sure won’t fall and hit your house, and if it’s just a tree to you, take an axe and cut a wedge so the tree is more likely to fall away from your house.

If the tree is sentimental and you can't bring yourself to damage it, take EVERYTHING out of the rooms it’s most likely to hit should it fall.

If you’re not sure you can drive thru a flooded road, assume you can’t. ESPECIALLY if you don't have a "tall" vehicle because you could easily waterlog your engine and cause the following issues:

Engine damage: Water can cause the engine to stall, a condition known as hydro locking.

Water can also contaminate the engine oil, which can lead to engine problems.

Transmission damage: Water can dissolve the transmission's linings, which can cause the gears to slip.

Water can also contaminate the transmission fluid, which can lead to corrosion and failure.

Brake and rotor damage: Submerging brakes and rotors in water can cause them to warp.

Suspension issues: Driving through deep water can flush out the lubricant and cause premature rusting.

Electrical issues: Water can short circuit electrical components.

Try and get laundry and dishes done NOW so that you don’t have dirty clothes just piling up, ESPECIALLY dishes because roaches and other bugs will be looking for a place to go and they follow food scent.

Figure out how you’d escape on to your roof, should need be. Your life is worth more than a roof, don’t be afraid to chop a hole or break a window to get you and your family to safety.

Get paper plates/bowls/etc and plastic utensils. Also get trashbags.

Get protein bars, cereal, non perishable food that you can stand to eat without it being cold.

If you don’t have a generator, try and figure out what will go bad first in your fridge/freezer and try to eat (if you can't, throw it out, save the headache of mold and cleaning your entire fridge and freezer) that before the storm hits;

Once the power goes out, no one opens that fridge/freezer for SHIT unless it’s life, death, or limb.

In terms of trying to keep cool, my family fashioned an air conditioner by getting a 5 gal bucket from Lowe’s, cutting holes in them, caulking PVC into those holes, putting ice in the buckets and then cutting a hole in the lid to put a fan in

[rainbow-nerdss]

Water Damage

Written for @augustwritingchallenge day 8: Robots & Androids Buck/Eddie (9-1-1), 1k AO3 link

Eddie hates it here. 

It’s his own fucking house, but he hates it.

Ever since that… thing crossed the threshold, thanks to Christopher casually mentioning it in front of Eddie’s folks a year ago, and them deciding it was the perfect thing to surprise him with for Christmas. 

A robot.

A fucking robot. In Eddie’s home.

He hates it here.

He’s lasted a solid five years since the first iteration of these so called “Household Assistants” became mainstream, even though everyone he knew sang their praises, even though Chris had begged for one so he didn’t have to do chores. 

“We’ve gotten along just fine without one all my life, Chris, we don’t need one.”

“But everyone’s got one!” 

It hadn’t worked, even when Chris was seven years old with carefully honed puppy dog eyes, Eddie had resisted. So, naturally, his kid got clever and went over his head.

Eddie hates the fucking thing. It does the work just fine, cleans the dishes before Eddie has a chance to, makes the bed with crisper lines than he’d seen even in the army, it even cooks, though it only has a couple of pre-programmed recipes. 

So, maybe Eddie has taken to sabotaging it, just a little. 

Nothing awful, but he’s “accidentally” left magnets in his bed more than once now, and he’s become much clumsier than normal, his morning coffee spilling just as the robot happens to be passing by.

He just wants it gone. Every time he sees it out of the corner of his eye, the unnatural movements, the subservience, it makes his skin crawl. 

Eddie wants to look after himself. He likes looking after himself.

So, he sabotages the robot. 

Unfortunately, his parents had sprung for a pretty fancy insurance policy, on top of a tight warrantee, which means that every time the robot experiences a malfunction, no matter how small or obviously deliberate, it automatically pings the manufacturer, and they send out a repairman.

The repairman is Eddie’s second problem.

He obviously knows what Eddie is doing, but he refuses to just let the damn thing die. 

The first time he showed up, he stuck his hand out to shake Eddie’s, grinned and introduced himself as Buck, then immediately turned his attention to the robot. “Seems this poor little guy had a run in with some water damage! Let's get you fixed up, huh?”

The next time, it was “A magnet? Damn, buddy, you’ve got the worst luck!”

After that, he’d started shooting Eddie knowing looks. “How did you get spaghetti in there? You’re the most accident prone unit I’ve ever serviced!”

It doesn’t help that Chris has taken a liking to him, actually looking forward to his visit whenever Alfred breaks down — because of course he’s named the damn thing after Batman’s butler.

Chris sits himself at the kitchen table every time Repairman Buck, Eddie’s sworn enemy with unfairly nice arms, is over, and he regales him with stories about school and his friends, all while Buck undoes whatever sabotage Eddie hopes might be the final straw.

“You know, you don’t have to do this, man,” Buck says to him one day, after cleaning dish soap out of Alfred’s control panel.

“Do what?” Eddie answers, trying to look innocent. He does feel a little bad, dragging Buck out here every time. Alfred doesn’t even bother him all that much anymore, since Eddie has started cleaning as he goes, leaving very little for the machine to sweep out from under him. It’s mostly a habit by now, and he can’t say he hates how much Chris seems to enjoy Buck’s visits.

“Cut the poor machine a break, okay? If you wanna see me so much, just ask me out for coffee instead of pouring it on Alfred.”

Eddie turns red. “I don’t— That’s not why I—” 

Buck just grins, folding his arms across his (large, bulging) chest, like he’s just waiting for whatever excuse Eddie will come up with.

Eddie sighs. “Look, it’s— I never wanted Alfred. He entered this house against my will, and I really wish you were worse at your job so I could’ve done away with him a month in.”

Buck’s face fell. “Oh, I— I’m sorry, man, I thought…”

Buck thinks Eddie has been doing all of this for him. He thinks Eddie likes him. And Buck seems… disappointed, to hear that’s not true.

“I should um… I should go. I’ll send the apprentice next time, he’s terrible with water damage.”

Buck starts to leave, and Eddie is frozen, not knowing what to do.

He hears a sizzle behind him, and turns to see Christopher with an empty, upturned glass in his hand. 

Alfred is smoking.

“Buck, wait!” Eddie shouts, running to the front door. 

There’s Buck, just sitting on the top step. He turns, and Eddie drops to sit next to him. 

“You know, it’s the wildest thing — he’s already broken again. Maybe you should come back in and take a look?”

Buck frowns. “It’s—”

“And then maybe… Once Alfred’s up and running, we could get him to set an extra spot at the table for dinner? If you—”

Buck nods. “Yeah. Yeah, okay.” He stands and they go back inside. 

“Actually,” Buck says, halfway through yet another service. “I should admit something, before I’m done here.”

“Yeah?” Eddie asks, from where he’s sitting next to Chris, watching Buck work.

“I think these things are absolutely terrible cooks,” Buck says with a grimace.

“Not as bad as dad!” Chris insists. 

Buck laughs. “How about I get him fixed up, then I’ll cook for you.”

“You want to cook for us? After spending so much time working?”

“I like cooking. Besides, you guys are definitely my favourite clients.”

Eddie meets Buck’s eyes, sees the slight hesitation in his expression. He’d been nervous to ask this, Eddie realises. 

“Whatever you want, Buck.”

And he means it. He isn’t even annoyed when Alfred makes his stupid fucking whirring startup sound, because Buck jumps to his feet and asks if he can look around the kitchen. 

“Admit it, dad,” Chris whispers. “You’re kind of glad we got Alfred, aren’t you?”

Eddie messes up his kid’s hair and scoffs, but he can’t deny it.

The annoying robot servant is worth it, for bringing him Buck.

[riverkvgd581]

No Time? No Money? No Problem! How You Can Get Flood Cleaning Services With A Zero-dollar Budget

Steps to Take For Hurricane Preparation in Wilmington NC-Hurricane Preparation for Wilmington, NC: Steps to Minimize Damage and Ensure Safety. Wilmington, located on the coast of North Carolina's southeast, is no stranger to hurricanes. These powerful storms bring strong winds, heavy rain, and potential destruction. As a resident or business owner in this historic port city, it's crucial to take proactive measures when hurricane season approaches. The following essay will outline the steps you need to take in order to minimize damage and ensure safety before a hurricane hits.

10 Best Facebook Pages Of All Time About Damage Restoration Service

Firstly, understanding the risks associated with hurricanes is vital. In Wilmington, storm surges and flooding are common threats due to its coastal location. It is important to know whether your home is located in an evacuation area and where higher ground may be found.

Second step: Create an emergency plan. This plan should include various scenarios, such as evacuation routes and meeting places for family members if you become separated. Make sure that all family members understand the plan and what they should do during a storm.

How To Explain Sewage Cleanup Near Me To Your Boss

Thirdly, an emergency kit can be crucial for survival in the aftermath of a storm when resources are not readily available. Your kit should contain non-perishable foods, water (at minimum one gallon of water per person per day), medications with extra batteries, personal hygiene products, first aid supplies, copies important documents in waterproof containers and cash, since water damage company wilmington nc ATMs might not work during power failures.

Next on the list is securing your property. This includes trimming trees that may fall on your home or power lines, installing storm shutters or board up windows, securing loose objects outside such as patio furniture that could become projectiles, reinforcing garage door and ensuring proper drainage to reduce flood risks.

The 3 Greatest Moments In Water Damage Companies Near Me History

Insurance checks are equally important. You can avoid financial ruin by reviewing your homeowner's policy to ensure that you have adequate coverage for wind and flood damage.

Communication plans are also necessary, as normal means of communication may not work during severe weather conditions. Install emergency alert apps on your smartphones or radios powered by batteries so you can keep track of the storm's progress.

If authorities order an evacuation of Wilmington or the surrounding area due to a hurricane, don't hesitate to leave immediately. Follow the planned route and avoid flooded roads at any cost! Remember that you can replace your belongings but not your life.

14 Savvy Ways To Spend Leftover Water Damage Help Budget

For those who decide or need to shelter in place because they are not in immediate danger areas - prepare your home by filling bathtubs with fresh water for flushing toilets if necessary; turning refrigerators/freezers settings down to their coldest setting prior so food lasts longer during potential power outages; unplugging electrical equipment susceptible surge damages; securing exterior doors using deadbolt locks or wooden dowels sliding tracks sliding glass doors etc. ; moving valuables upper floors case flooding becomes an issue within home itself among other precautions specific each individual situation/location within Wilmington area affected by Hurricane warnings/advisories issued local state federal authorities accordingly time manner given circumstances hand respectively overall general welfare everyone involved therein thereafter henceforth forthwith hereupon thereupon thusly hereby herewith thereby wherefore whereas ergo therefore consequently pursuant thereto whence wherewithal hitherto hereafter hereinafter aforementioned premises considered...

After the storm, recovery efforts begin. Check with neighbors to see if they need help cleaning up debris or salvaging what is left. Contact insurance companies and start the claims process. The community as a whole draws closer together. Every dark cloud has a silver lining. Indeed, perseverance and resilience are hallmarks of human spirit.

In conclusion preparing hurricanes well advance goes long way towards keeping oneself loved ones property secure face natural disasters like those frequently experienced along Atlantic seaboard specifically beautiful yet occasionally beleaguered region surrounding historical cultural gem otherwise known Queen City sea herself Wilmington NC Godspeed good luck god bless!

[the-empress-7]

I live in a coastal town on the east coast. We have to have regular Home Owner's Insurance and Wind and Hail insurance. The Wind and Hall Insurance covers damage in the event of a named Tropical Storm or Hurricane. Property in this area that is at certain $ of risk for flooding due to a storm are required to have Flood Insurance. Wind and Hail only covers water damage from rain coming in through a damaged roof or window. Flood Insurance is to cover water from ground level. Our neighborhod is a not at risk for flooding unless a strong Cat 4 hurricane hits our area but we have Flood Insurance to protect our assets as it is relatively inexpensive. All of our policies cover personal property and we can elect a higher coverage amount if we our personal property is above average value.

I would imagine California mortgage companies require additional insurance if a property was at a certain % of risk for being heavily damaged by Earthquake, Fire or Mudslide.

Yes @gimletagain has written extensively on this topic, their house is borderline uninsurable given the numerous risks in that area and the premiums are sky high as a result.

[plethoraworldatlas]

Having grown up on a farm in Uganda, I have seen the damage of the climate crisis firsthand. My family lived in a small village near the banks of Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world, and my childhood was spent climbing trees, planting seeds, and eating fruit straight from the trees. We grew bananas, guavas, beans, cassava, sugarcane, and coffee. It sounds idyllic but I remember the first time I realised climate change would affect us—it was a rainy season unlike any we had seen before. For days and nights heavy rain battered the fields and strong winds bent and broke the crops until they were unsavable. Not only did the rains affect us financially, but I missed months of my schooling because flooding blocked the roads and I couldn’t get to school.

Burning fossil fuels, which releases carbon pollution into the air and causes our world to overheat, is the number one cause of the climate chaos we’re facing. 2024 may be even hotter than 2023, resulting in even more catastrophic weather.

But there is still hope. Those with power must act now, and the insurance industry holds more power than most to slow the crisis and protect our future. Without insurance, fossil fuel projects can’t operate. If insurance companies updated their policies and refused to insure new fossil fuel projects, there would be no new oil pipelines, liquefied natural gas terminals, or dirty coal mines. If they focused instead on insuring clean, safe energy and a just transition, our communities and our world would be safer for current and future generations.

The insurance industry’s role is to protect and manage risk, but right now it is failing spectacularly at both. Instead of protecting communities, it’s adding fuel to the fire by continuing to insure new fossil fuel projects. The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is a prime example. This proposed pipeline would run 1,443 kilometers between Hoima in Uganda and Tanga in Tanzania, but the project has stalled as it has not yet secured full insurance and financing due to the many human and environmental rights abuses associated with it. These include the harassment and imprisonment of peaceful protesters, the disturbing of sacred burial grounds, and the forcible removal of communities to make way for the pipeline. If EACOP gets insured and goes ahead, it will cross 200 rivers and pass through Lake Victoria’s water basin. Over 40 million people depend on the lake for survival, as well as countless animal species; if the pipe leaks and spills oil into the water, what will happen to them?

The corporations behind EACOP say it will “unlock East Africa’s potential,” but let’s be clear: It is neocolonialism at its best, and the only ones who will gain are the foreign companies set to profit. EACOP will irrevocably damage East Africa’s biodiversity, displace thousands of people, destroy their livelihoods and communities, and unleash 32.3 million metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere per year, setting off a climate bomb that will make our world overheat to devastating levels. The International Energy Agency has stated that there can be no new oil pipelines if we are to save the future, and yet insurance companies including AIG, Tokio Marine, Chubb, Hiscox, and Lloyd’s of London still refuse to rule out insuring EACOP.

[advantageautoglasstoronto]

Auto Glass Repair Tips for Hail Storm Damaged Windshields

Hail storms can wreak havoc on vehicles, especially windshields, leaving behind a trail of cracks, chips, and shattered glass. Dealing with hail storm damage can be overwhelming, but prompt action and proper auto glass repair techniques can help restore your windshield's integrity. In this blog, we will provide essential tips for repairing hail storm damaged windshields, helping you navigate the process and ensure your vehicle's safety.

1. Assess the Damage: Before proceeding with any repairs, carefully assess the extent of the damage to your windshield. Small chips or cracks may be repairable, while larger or more severe damage may require windshield replacement. Contact a professional auto glass repair technician to evaluate the damage and recommend the appropriate course of action.

2. Protect Your Vehicle: If you are unable to repair the windshield immediately, take steps to protect your vehicle from further damage. Cover your car with a tarp or park it in a covered area to prevent additional exposure to the elements. This will help prevent water seepage, which can worsen the existing damage and lead to further complications.

3. Temporarily Prevent Further Damage: To prevent chips and cracks from spreading before you can repair them, apply clear nail polish or a temporary windshield repair kit. These products act as a temporary sealant, preventing moisture and debris from penetrating the damaged area. While this is not a permanent solution, it can help stabilize the damage until you can get professional repairs.

4. Avoid DIY Repairs: Although there are DIY repair kits available on the market, it is generally recommended to leave windshield repairs to the professionals. Windshield repair requires specialized tools, materials, and expertise to ensure a proper and safe repair. Attempting to repair the windshield yourself may lead to ineffective repairs, further damage, or compromised structural integrity.

5. Seek Professional Auto Glass Repair: Consult a reputable auto glass repair company that specializes in hail storm damage repairs. These professionals have the experience, knowledge, and equipment to assess and repair the damage accurately. They may employ techniques such as resin injection or windshield replacement, depending on the severity and location of the damage.

6. Insurance Coverage: Check your insurance policy to determine if hail storm damage repairs are covered. Many comprehensive auto insurance policies include coverage for windshield repairs or replacements. Contact your insurance provider to understand the claims process and any specific requirements for filing a hail storm damage claim.

7. Timely Repairs: Address hail storm damage to your windshield as soon as possible. Even minor chips and cracks can worsen over time due to temperature fluctuations, road vibrations, and stress on the glass. Prompt repairs can prevent further damage and potentially save you from needing a full windshield replacement.

Dealing with hail storm damaged windshields requires swift action and professional expertise. Assess the damage, protect your vehicle, and seek the assistance of a reputable auto glass repair company. Avoid DIY repairs and consult your insurance provider to understand coverage options. By taking these steps, you can effectively address hail storm damage and restore the integrity of your windshield, ensuring the safety of you and your vehicle on the road. Remember, timely repairs are key to preventing further damage and maintaining the longevity of your windshield.

Advantage Auto Glass Toronto provides excellent windshield repair service in Toronto. 

To get our services, visit https://www.advantageautoglassrepair.com/

[bripops]

Right now, the northeast is at really high risk for flooding so here's a friendly reminder from someone who learned the hard way:

CHECK YOUR RENTER’S INSURANCE FOR WATER DAMAGE COVERAGE

You will be shocked by how little a standard policy covers when it comes to water and/or flood damage.

Flood insurance almost always requires a completely separate policy managed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) under the scope of FEMA. You can get it as a renter, but it usually involves calling a local agent because it’s highly regional and takes a lot of different variables into account. NEVER assume the person you’re renting from has adequate coverage. Even if they have homeowner’s insurance, it probably doesn’t extend to renters’ belongings.

While you’re at it, MAKE SURE YOUR POLICY COVERS WATER BACKUP. This is different from flood insurance. A lot of basic policies only cover water damage from appliance malfunctions, like a washing machine overflowing. Coverage for water backing up out of a drain or sewer often costs extra (in my experience not more than a few extra bucks per month) and has to be opted into, it’s not included.

Doing this will save you.

Last December, after three days of nonstop pouring rain, the drainage system outside an entrance to the house we were renting just couldn’t handle the volume anymore and water started pouring in under the door. We used everything we had to try to slow it down, and we were up all night using a wet vac we borrowed from a neighbor to try to contain hundreds of gallons of rainwater. I will never forget the mounting horror as I realized the water wasn’t going to stop until the rain did. It's not like a plumbing issue or dishwasher malfunction where you can cut off the source.

We were lucky, and the rain tapered off by the next morning. The layout of our living room meant that most of our stuff was away from the door, and we were able to bail water fast enough that very little ended up being a total loss and nothing important was damaged. We did, however, need to take our dog and get a hotel for a week, and ended up having to find a new place to live in five days (the week before Christmas, while recovering from COVID) because the damage needed so much renovation that moving was pretty much the only option.

Our renter’s insurance covered nothing. Even without a NFIP policy, I was able to confirm with the insurance company that our claim would have been approved if we’d opted into the water backup coverage, because the rainwater was coming out of the overwhelmed drain. We could have replaced the stuff we lost, and probably a bunch of stuff we had to work really hard to salvage. That particular policy would have covered some of the moving costs too, and they would have paid for temporary accommodations for us. (once again we were extremely lucky, and the hotel costs got reimbursed as a courtesy because they took longer to make a decision than they were supposed to)

Renter’s insurance is not expensive. The tricked out policy I got for our new place with every add-on they offer runs me less than $30/month. It would have covered thousands of dollars of expenses that we’re still trying to crawl out from under more than six months later. In an ideal world you will never need to use it, but if you do, IT. WILL. SAVE. YOU.

I am by no means an expert, and can really only speak from my experience so if someone who knows more about this wants to chime in, please do! Keep in mind that all of this is going to vary significantly depending on which insurance company you use and your specific policy. Just please, for the love of god, get renter's insurance if you don't have it already, and read every page of the policy so you know what's covered and what you might need to opt into. Do it now, because shit like this

isn't going to wait.