~ Celebrating 87 Years of Service ~
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Homer Yost Agency

HERALD

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~ Dedicated to the Memory of our Namesake, Homer Yost ~

In This Issue
Hoarding - An Emerging Fire Safety Issue
Tis the Season of Giving and Hope
Winterize Your Vehicle
Ask Anne
Hoarding: 
An Emerging  
Fire Safety Issue

We are increasingly becoming aware of the fire safety issues caused by compulsive hoarding, as fire departments report more serious fires, injuries and deaths are the result of this type of behavior.  In fact, some studies suggest that between  3% - 5% of Americans are hoarders.

What exactly is hoarding?
 It can be defined as accumulating large amounts of various items in the home due to strong urges to save or due to anguish experienced when discarding.  The home becomes so congested that daily living is compromised. In extreme cases, the rooms become so loaded with possessions that the rooms can no longer be used as designed.  But even in less extreme cases, hoarding poses a serious fire hazard.

Hoarding is a fire hazard for various reasons, including:
  - exits are often blocked preventing emergency escape;
  - people are injured tripping over things or by items falling on them; and
  - it is more difficult for firefighters to search for occupants and, ultimately extinguish the fire. 
   - People living in adjacent structures can also be affected due to excessive smoke and other fire conditions.   

Professionals trained to counsel hoarders know how to gently guide them to recognize that change is necessary.
Information courtesy of NFPA - (National Fire Protection Association).
  
From all of us at
Homer Yost Agency,
we wish you and your family a very
Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!
 
Homer Yost Agency Logo
Homer Yost Agency
421 N. Market Street
Wooster, Ohio  44691
Tel: (330) 264-6603      Toll Free: (855) 301-6603
www.yostagency-ins.com
Issue #10                                                         December, 2014

Welcome to the Homer Yost Agency Herald, a quarterly publication dedicated to providing timely information and tips to insure a better life!   

Winterize Your

Vehicle   

 

It is hard to believe the winter season is upon us again.  As we travel "over the river and through the woods" visiting family and friends over the holidays and beyond, we need to make sure our vehicles are prepared for the weather conditions and a potential emergency.

 

1.  Winterize your vehicle by checking for the following items:

  • make sure your tires have adequate tread;
  • make sure your antifreeze levels are sufficient;
  • check battery and ignition system;
  • check brakes for wear and fluid levels;
  • make sure your heater and defroster work properly;
  • check windshield wiper equipment and washer fluid level.

2.  Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle.

Items to include: 

  • windshield scraper and small broom/brush;
  • shovel;
  • flashlight;
  • water;
  • snack food;
  • first aid kit;
  • blanket;
  • road salt/sand;
  • emergency flares;
  • tow rope/chain;
  • jumper cables

Also remember to keep plenty of gas in your tank; slow down for the conditions; and don't follow other vehicles too closely.  If weather conditions are severe, do not travel.  It is not worth the risk.  Follow these tips for safe winter driving and arrive safely at your destination. 

 

Information courtesy of FEMA and the American Red Cross. 

Ask Anne

Your Frequently Asked  

Insurance Questions

     

Q.  Why is the insurance replacement cost limit of my home so high?

     
A.  Many people believe the amount of insurance coverage on their home is based on the price they paid for the home or its fair market value (the amount they would expect to receive if the home were sold today).  However, the amount of insurance should be based on the cost of replacing the home.  In fact, the costs associated with replacing or rebuilding a damaged home are higher than costs to build a new home.  Some of the items adding costs to the replacement  value include:
     *  the cost of demolition and debris removal, and    
     *  rebuilding to comply with current local building
         codes.

Also, accessing the work site when rebuilding can often be more difficult than in new construction.  In general "top down" construction, or repairing a house that isn't totally destroyed, is more costly than "bottom up" construction of a new home.

Notify your agent if you make any improvements to your home.  Regularly updating the replacement cost of your home is the best way to protect your investment and give you peace of mind. 


Tis' the Season of Giving and Hope

 As we prepare for the holidays, let us also open
our hearts to those in need.  Whether giving a gift
to a child who would not have received a present
on Christmas morning, donating food or warm
clothes to a family in need, sending a gift to a
service person far from home, visiting a lonely
elderly person who needs companionship, or
adopting a shelter animal longing for a forever
home, spread the joy and good cheer of the season
to others in need.

Have a joyful Christmas and a blessed New Year!