Oklahoma Winter Storms Ahead:
Are You Ready?

We admit it: As insurance pros, our picture of winter isn’t exactly cozy. Oklahoma Winter Storms means traffic snarls, hillsides turning to sheets of ice, and cars sliding around like hockey pucks. Cold temperatures can cause pipes to burst, frost swells and other damage. Heating your home with fireplaces and holiday lighting can increase the risk of fire.

A picture-perfect winter requires a few precautions

Here are a few of our top tips to help reduce weather-related hassles this winter.

Winter-proof your car with good snow tires or chains, new wiper blades, antifreeze, and emergency road supplies.

Keep your attic cool to help prevent ice dams. Insulate the attic floor and make sure it is well-ventilated.

Do not overload circuits with holiday decorations.

When Oklahoma winter storms hit, be smart

If you do not have to drive, stay put. If you must drive, make sure you’ve winterized your car and have a full tank of gas.

When the air is cold, keep bath and kitchen cabinet doors open so warm air can circulate around pipes. If pipes do freeze, let them thaw normally—they’ll be less likely to burst.

And if the power is out, make sure you avoid leaving candles or fires burning unattended. If you use a portable generator, follow the instructions and do not use it indoors.

Know what your insurance covers

We want to help you rest easy.  You will be more relaxed when you know you have prepared your property to lessen the chance of winter storm damage. Your insurance policy covers repairs. Repairs can be anything from adding roofing cement to replacing shingles. I could also be a full rebuild. However, your deductible does apply. Check your policy to see what is covered and to confirm the deductible you have chosen.

If you have any questions at all about your coverage, call Tulsa Insurance Guy at 918-574-6262 and we will help you review your options.

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The answer to this question in the most simplest of terms is Risk. Every renter or property owner has an inherent risk of a liability claim simply because they own or rent property. Yes, your homeowner’s or renter’s policy will provide liability coverage , but the coverage is typically  limited to $300,000 and in many cases, this may fall short of your needs if an action is brought against you.

A Personal  Tulsa Umbrella Policy adds an additional layer of protection on top of all your underlying personal policies. It will provide additional liability coverage for:

• Homeowner’s coverage
• Renter’s coverage
• Personal auto insurance
• Watercraft Insurance
• Motorcycle Insurance
• RV Insurance

Since most personal insurance policies have maximum limits of only $300,000, you are at risk if the claim can’t be settled for the limit in your policy. For example, if you are in an at-fault car accident, it would not be difficult for the injured driver or drivers and passengers to accumulate over $300,000 in injury expenses that you would be held responsible for. Any amount of awarded damages over your liability limit is going to come out of your pocket. Remember, car accidents are not always the result of one car versus another car. Many times they are the result of one car, causing a multi-car pileup or driving through a convenience store. Without a Personal Tulsa Umbrella Policy that would increase your liability limits to a million dollars or more, say goodbye to your investments, savings accounts, and any other assets that are not protected from a lawsuit.

How do I know if I need  Tulsa Umbrella Policy?

The easiest way to determine if you need a Personal Tulsa Umbrella Policy is to add up the value of your assets. Anything over the liability limit of your auto, home, renter’s, boat, motorcycle, and RV insurance policies is at risk of being lost if an action brought against you.

The good news is that most Personal Tulsa Umbrella Policies are very affordable. A typical one million dollar policy can cost as little as $175 per year depending on your situation. Most insurers will offer limits of $1 million to $5 million dollars without many underwriting questions. Call your agent or independent broker and find out how little you’ll pay for so much coverage.

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For most people, their home is their most valuable asset and should be insured properly to preserve the value for the life of the home. The homeowner’s insurance policy plays an important part in making certain that you have the funds needed to make repairs to your home or contents when the worst happens. The policy is typically issued as a packaged product and can be customized to meet your needs and budget.

Dwelling Coverage

The dwelling coverage on your Tulsa homeowner’s insurance is what pays when repairs or replacement of your home is needed in the event of a covered peril such as fire, windstorm, hail or lightning strike. Your dwelling limit should equal the replacement cost of the home, which is typically higher than the market value or loan amount. Most insurance companies will require the home to be insured for replacement cost, and your agent will use an approved method to determine this amount. Your lot or land is not part of the equation when determining this limit of coverage.

Other Structures

The other or unattached structure coverage is for paying for repairs or replacement of structures not attached to the dwelling such as Gazebos, workshops or unattached garage.

The limit provided is usually a percentage of the dwelling limit, but can be adjusted up or down with most insurance companies.

Contents Coverage

This coverage on your Tulsa homeowner’s insurance pays to repair or replace your home’s contents in the event of a covered peril. Anything in your home that does not leave a scar when removed is considered the contents. Items that are attached to your home are considered part of the dwelling and are insured under the dwelling coverage. Many policies have sub-limits for items like jewelry, guns and collections so be sure and speak with your agent on how to best cover them. All contents coverage claims are subject to a deductible you select.

Personal Liability

Anyone who owns or rents a home can be held personally responsible if someone is injured while on the property. The Personal Liability coverage is available to pay for legal defense, settlements or a judgment awarded by the court. Most homeowner insurance policies provide limits starting at $100,000 which can be increased to $500,000 or higher depending on the company. In most cases, a deductible is not required for this valuable coverage.

Medical Payments

Your Medical Payments (med-pay) coverage on Tulsa homeowner’s insurance protects you in the event that someone suffers a minor injury on your property. Unlike the Personal Liability coverage, an action does not have to be brought against the homeowner or renter to trigger this coverage. For example, if a visitor were to slip and fall on your property and suffer only a minor injury, your insurer would offer the med-pay coverage for an ER visit or diagnostic tests. You select your med-pay limit which normally starts at $1,000.

Living Expenses

Most homeowner’s policies include coverage for living expenses. A typical example would be when your home is partially damaged by a covered peril, and you are required to live in a hotel or apartment while repairs are being made. This homeowner’s insurance coverage will reimburse you for these additional living expenses up to the limits you select. Many companies provide limits of 10% of the dwelling as part of the policy package.

Optional Coverage

Optional homeowner’s insurance coverages can be added (endorsed) to your policy with an additional premium paid. While many companies offer different optional coverages, the list could include:

• Identity Theft
• Water backup and sump overflow
• Scheduled personal property
• Mold
• Golf cart coverage
• Business property

Since your home is probably your most important asset, it seems logical that you would purchase complete and affordable homeowner’s insurance coverage to protect it. Speak to an experienced agent to get the advice needed to make an informed choice about this important coverage.

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