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February 25 Maine Wind Storm Damage Update

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Our Maine insurance agency has been very busy taking claims and reporting them to insurance companies, and keeping our clients informed of the progress of their claims.

So far, the damage that’s been reported to us has been mostly concerned with homeowners insurance: trees falling on property and wind damage to buildings, followed by water backup into basements. Many Mainers lost power, which caused their sump pumps to fail, allowing water to back up into their homes.

pie chart of claims reported to Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance

What kind of damage did you have to your property?

Is Your Fallen Tree Covered by Maine Homeowners Insurance?

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We’ve been very busy today with calls from clients who suffered damage in yesterday’s wild storm – and there’s more weather on the way this weekend. Most calls have concerned fallen tree limbs, which can be some of the trickiest claims to advise insureds about. Here’s why.

 3 Sources of Insurance Coverage for Tree Damage

  • Homeowners property coverage;
  • Homeowners liability coverage;
  • Your car insurance.

3 Types of Financial Loss for Tree Damage

  • The cost to cut up and haul away the limb;
  • The cost to repair damage to your property;
  • The cost to repair damage to your neighbor’s property caused by your tree.

You can see how this might get complicated pretty quickly. But there’s more.

How Common Insurance Policies Respond to Tree Damage

  • Most property policies pay for YOUR damage if the tree or limb damages your building or structure. They also pay to remove the offending tree or limb from the damaged property (“chop and drop” coverage).
  • Most property policies do NOT pay to remove a tree or limb that doesn’t damage anything else. There are exceptions to this rule, depending on which company you’re insured with, and which optional coverages you bought.
  • Liability coverage pays for your “legal liability” for damage to someone else’s property. You have to be considered “negligent” for coverage to apply. Just because it was your tree that fell on your neighbor’s fence, that doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Liability could depend on the condition of the tree before the storm, among other factors.

Put all of these factors together, and you can understand why there’s no quick answer to “am I (or my neighbor) covered when a tree falls in my yard”. Your best bet is to call your agent, and get their opinion of your unique situation.

What to Do if a Fallen Tree Damages Your Property

While every situation’s different, these should apply to most.

  • Take photos of the damage or the fallen tree or limb.
  • Take immediate steps to protect your property from additional damage.
  • Make arrangements to have the tree removed. No need to wait for an adjuster to see it.
  • Remember, there’s a difference between the law and being a good neighbor.

If you’re not legally responsible, and your liability doesn’t cover their damage, their homeowners policy will probably cover it. But, they’ll have to pay their property deductible. In the interest of maintaining good relations, you and your neighbor may want to talk about cost sharing.

Good luck weathering the storm!

Local Fan, Cape Elizabeth Boosters Win Jackpot from Local Insurance Agency

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Falmouth High basketball fan Adam and the Cape Elizabeth Boys’ Basketball Boosters split a $600.00 jackpot after Adam sank 3 consecutive shots in less than 30 seconds at halftime of Tuesday’s Falmouth / Cape contest Tuesday night. Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance has sponsored the contest for several seasons.

Adam collects his prize from Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance
Bob O’Brien and Dave McKenna of Noyes Hall & Allen present a check to Adam, who won the Cape Booster Shoot jackpot.

At halftime of every Cape Elizabeth Boys’ home game, the Boosters draw a 50-50 ticket. The winner gets 30 seconds to make a free throw, 3-point shot, and half-court shot. If they make all three shots, they split the jackpot with the Boosters. The jackpot starts at $200 and increases by $100 every game in which it is not won.

There have been a few winners over the years, but none has accomplished it in 3 shots before. Adam did it with “nothing but net”!

Noyes Hall & Allen is proud to sponsor the Cape Booster Shoot as a way to help local sports and extend its community involvement.

Congratulations to Adam – and to the Boosters!

Buying, Selling or Renting? Better Know About Maine’s New CO Detector Law

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  Beginning November 1, 2009, a new Maine law requires smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in every rental property, and in any residence purchased after that date.

 

As always, insurance companies will allow Homeowners insurance discounts for smoke detectors and other protective devices.

Detectors Required

    • Must be 120V with battery backup and powered by the building’s electrical system.
    • Plug in units are acceptable, as long as they have a battery backup.
    • Detectors must be in each unit, near bedrooms for apartments or rental homes – even seasonal or occasional rentals.
    • Must be photo-electric type if located within 20′ of a kitchen or bathroom.

 

Buying a Home?

Buyers (not sellers) must certify that these detectors are in the property in order to close on a purchase & sale agreement. The Maine Dept. of Public Safety is drafting a certification form which will be used for this purpose.

For more information:

 

3 Things Every Coastal Maine Homeowner Should Know About Flood Insurance Changes

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As the Press Herald reported in this September 5 story, FEMA is updating its current flood hazard maps for much of the southern Maine coast. These maps are used to determine insurance costs in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the only flood insurance available for most properties. Maine business property insurance,  homeowners insurance and condo insurance do NOT cover flood damage.

FEMA proposes to change the zoning of much waterfront property in South Portland, Portland and Cape Elizabeth. The cities of Portland and South Portland are challenging the new zoning, but there’s no guarantee that they will be successful.

The Zone Differences

FEMA’s zone classification system defines an area that has a 1 percent chance of being inundated by flood waters in a given year a “special hazard area”. There are two categories of “special flood hazard areas”, “A” and “V”.

The difference is that “A” zones are low-lying areas subject to flooding, while in “V” (velocity) zones, the water is more likely to flow with the increased hazard and damage of wave action. Many of the proposed changes would switch local oceanfront property from an “A” zone to a “V” zone; some may extend “A” zones to properties not previously considered to be in a “special hazard zone”.

How This May Effect You

Compared to properties not in a “special hazard zone”, Properties in an “A” zone:

  • Pay higher flood insurance rates.
  • Are required by FHA lenders to be insured for flood.
  • Require an “elevation certificate” – a special survey that the property owner must pay for and provide to the flood program.

In addition to these conditions, properties in a “V” zone:

  • Pay even higher flood insurance rates
  • May be unable to purchase flood insurance if they’re on piers or wharves that are over water.

What You Can Do

View local flood maps at your local planning office.

If your property is proposed to be re-located into either an “A” or “V” zone, call your insurance agent immediately. Since the maps are not yet effective, property owners can take advantage of cost-saving options that allow them to “lock in” at their current zone. Depending on your property’s value and location, this could save you thousands of dollars per year.

For more information, contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 799-5541, or the FEMA Map Assistance Center at 877-336-2627.

* * * UPDATE * * *

The Portland Press Herald  reported on September 21 that FEMA is delaying implementation of the new flood maps, and will re-start the appeal process, likely in early November. The agency cited technical errors in the notification process, not any methodological errors, as the reason for the delay.

The $50,000 Tweet?

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Our May 29 post warned about the danger of being sued for damages caused by blog entries, tweets, or Facebook content. 

Today, Mashable reports on a Chicago Sun Times article about a real estate management company suing a tenant of one of its buildings. The May 12 tweet complained about the company's response to her allegations of mold in her apartment. The company was not amused, suing the woman for $50,000 in damages, claiming that she libeled them.

Make no mistake: it's expensive to respond to a lawsuit – let alone lose one. Let's hope that the woman had a homeowners or renters policy with optional "personal injury" coverage as we suggested in our original post. This coverage is NOT part of a standard homeowners policy, but can be added for about $15 or $20 per year.

For more information about personal insurance, contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance today.

Will Maine see a hurricane this year?

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June 1 is the traditional beginning of the Atlantic tropical storm season. The National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center doesn’t openly issue long range seasonal forecasts, but that doesn’t stop other organizations, from Accuweather (which predicts 10 named Atlantic storms) to the Farmers’ Almanac (9) from doing so.

  • In the event of a hurricane watch/warning or tropical storm watch/warning, new coverage cannot be bound, nor coverage added or increased for existing policies providing property, inland marine or auto physical damage coverage.
  • Policies quoted and bound prior to the issuance of a watch or warning will be honored if coverage was scheduled to take effect during the watch/warning period.

Wind damage and flooding are the most common types of damage caused by tropical storms. Wind is covered by most standard policies, but flood is not. Flood insurance is a government program, sold by virtually any insurance agency,

including us

. The flood insurance program has a 30 day waiting period from the receipt of an application until coverage begins.

Although hurricanes hit New England much less often than southern coastal areas, we are not immune. Maine has been struck by 5 named storm, including 1991’s Bob.

Bottom line: the time to evaluate your insurance coverage is before a storm hits. Be assured that if a disaster does hit our area, Noyes Hall & Allen and the companies we represent are ready to respond quickly, professionally and effectively.


Burglaries on the Increase?

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An article in today’s Sunday Telegram cites evidence that home burglaries are on the rise in Cumberland County. The county Sheriff’s Department says they investigated 54 burglaries from December to February, double that of last year.

While we haven’t yet seen an increase in burglary claims this year, it’s always a good idea to be vigilant and to take measures to keep your home safe.

Here are some suggestions from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

  • Be sure your outdoor lighting illuminates all entrances to your home.
  • Cut back shrubbery to discourage burglars from hiding near window and doors.
  • Keep windows and doors locked at all times. Make certain your garage door is closed and locked.
  • Install a peephole in your front door.
  • Windows and sliding glass doors should be secured with auxiliary locks. Special door pins, available at home improvement stores, can prevent your sliding doors from being lifted from their tracks during a burglary attempt.
  • Deadbolt locks should be used on all exterior doors (single or double cylinder with a minimum one inch throw is recommended).
  • Never hide or store keys or tools outside.

The Sheriff’s Department also offers these hints if you’re planning to be away from home for an extended period:

  • Let trusted friends and neighbors know that you’ll be away.
  • Make your home appear occupied. Attach timers to lights and television sets and set them to turn on and off at different times.
  • Have your newspaper and mail held, or picked up by a friend or neighbor.
  • Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
  • Open some of the drapes or blinds on your windows. During daytime hours, it gives the appearance that someone is home, and during the evening, lights inside the house are more visible.


Believe it or Not: An Insurance Company with Empathy

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Kudos to Progressive Insurance for reaching out to Kentucky ice storm victims via email. In addition to offering help in reporting and tracking claims, Progressive asks clients to call if they need extra time to make a payment in the wake of the storm.

In addition to sending emails, Progressive utilizes a special catastrophe web site that their customers can access for information about their policy, their claim, and other FAQs.

We applaud Progressive for this response, and our thoughts go out to midwesterners dealing with the ice storm. We’ve had our share here in Maine, and we know that this is a very challenging time. Stay safe!

 

Attention Renters: $0.50 a Day Makes All the Difference

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Heavy_involvement_adjacent_bldgs
This morning’s news brings the latest report of an apartment fire rendering families homeless and with only the clothes on their backs. Unfortunately, these things happen too frequently. Even more unfortunately, people who rent apartments often do not buy renters insurance. These policies start at about $150 per year, and can prevent a bad situation from becoming devastating.

A Renter’s Policy Covers a Lot More Than You Think

 including the costs of:
  • Replacing your “stuff”. If you bought Replacement Cost coverage, your insurance will pay for you to replace your belongings with brand new replacements. No depreciation is applied.
  • Temporary housing. While you’re displaced, your policy covers the increased expense of housing, food and other living costs.
  • Liability. Sometimes, the negligence of tenants can cause a fire to the building. A renters policy could protect you against resulting lawsuits.

Apartment FireYour Landlord’s Insurance Doesn’t Cover You

Too many people fail to buy renters coverage because they think that their landlord’s insurance covers them. This is absolutely false. Protecting yourself for about $0.50 seems like a pretty good deal, doesn’t it? It’s literally a case of “better safe than sorry”.

For more information, check out our web site or the Insurance Information Institute.