News & Notes from Kohler & Green

Some tips to save gas....

2012-02-24T06:05:00.000-06:00

How To Save Gas With Eight Secret Tips on Howcast

Call us today for a quote on you auto insurance.

2012-02-09T19:43:00.000-06:00

Protect your home from frozen pipes

2012-01-11T06:23:00.000-06:00

Preparing Your Home for Winter Weather

As if slippery sidewalks and snow-covered cars aren’t bad enough during the winter, you face another potential headache: ruined carpets and water damage to your ceilings and walls from leaks caused by ice dams or bursting pipes. You can avoid the resulting aggravation and expense by taking several basic steps right now to prevent this kind of damage.

First Things First

If you're handy with a hammer and screwdriver, you can do much of the work yourself. Work involving your home's structure may require a building contractor, however, or even a registered design professional such as an architect or engineer.
Before making any structural changes to your home, check with your local building officials to be sure what you're doing complies with local building codes.

Ice Dams

An ice dam is an accumulation of ice at the lower edge of a sloped roof, usually at the gutter. When interior heat melts the snow on the roof, the water will run down and refreeze at the roof's edge, where temperatures are much cooler. Eventually, the ice builds up and blocks water from draining off of the roof. This, in turn, forces the water under the roof covering and into your attic or down the inside walls of your house. Once an ice dam forms, the potential damage can be serious. Take these steps now to avoid trouble later:

Keep the attic well ventilated. The colder the attic, the less melting and refreezing on the roof.
Keep the attic floor well insulated to minimize the amount of heat rising through the attic from within the house.

This two-step approach decreases the likelihood that ice dams will form or, at least, reduces their size. As an extra precaution against roof leaks in case ice dams do form, install a water-repellent membrane under your roof covering. Talk with your local building official about minimum code requirements for ice dam protection.
Unfortunately, ice dams may be unavoidable if your home has recessed lighting near the roof. Heat generated from these lights melts snow, which then contributes to ice dam buildup. The only sure way to avoid this problem is to eliminate recessed light fixtures near the roof.
Review your homeowners insurance policy periodically with your insurance agent or company representative to make sure you have sufficient coverage to protect the investment you’ve made in your home. Report any property damage to your insurance agent or Kemper Preferred Underwriter immediately and make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.
Thanks to the Institute for Business and Home Safety and the Insurance Information Institute for this information. Visit IBHS at www.ibhs.org and III at www.iii.org.

Winterizing Your Home

It is recommended you check that the following steps are taken to ensure your home is ready for winter weather. Make sure that:

Inside

Furnace and furnace filter is clean and working properly
Pipe bringing fuel to the furnace is tight and insulated
Thermostat and pilot light working properly
Heating ducts are clean and clear
Areas where cold air may leak in are recaulked
Hose bibs are drained to prevent frozen water pipes
Temperature inside is always at least 65 degrees to prevent frozen pipes
Doors to unused rooms are closed to concentrate heat to populated areas

Outside

Trees are trimmed away from the house and power lines
Gutters are cleaned out to prevent backed up water from freezing and water damage to the roof
Extensions added to downspouts to direct water away from your home
Chimney is clear of debris; damper is closed when not in use
Gasoline drained from lawnmower and other engines not used in the winter
Standing water accumulated in crawl spaces drained with a sump pump to prevent foundation damage
Outdoor faucets and irrigation systems are drained

This list is not all-inclusive and particular precautions may not be appropriate in all circumstances. You are encouraged to use good judgment.

Daylight Savings: Body Clocks Reset - ABC News

2011-11-04T06:04:00.000-05:00

Daylight Savings: Body Clocks Reset - ABC News

The importance of an Independent agent!

2011-09-22T06:56:00.002-05:00

Why you should choose an independent agent!

2011-09-01T06:33:00.003-05:00

Call us for a quote!

2011-08-23T06:02:00.000-05:00

Call us for a quote!

2011-08-23T05:57:00.000-05:00

http://youtu.be/fNVY1B4o2qw

Stay safe in the extreme HEAT!!!!!!

2011-08-03T06:09:00.000-05:00

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.asp

Auto-Owners Insurance

2011-07-29T06:10:00.000-05:00

Whats coverd by my car insurance

2011-07-11T15:52:00.000-05:00

What's covered by my car insurance?

If you aren't sure what's covered by your car insurance, you're not alone. In this article, you'll find some of the most frequently asked questions of Progressive Insurance —and their answers—so that you can be confident when making decisions about your car insurance.

How can I make sure I have "full coverage"?

Generally, people ask for "full coverage" when they want more than just what's required by the state. Most states require that all drivers carry Liability coverage, which pays for damage to other vehicles or injuries to other people that you cause.
By adding what is commonly referred to as "physical damage" coverages, which include Comprehensive and Collision insurance, damage to your own vehicle is also covered, regardless of who caused the crash.
Once you've chosen these coverages, you might also want to add insurance that will cover your medical payments, protect you if you're hit by an uninsured driver, or come to the rescue if you break down on the side of the road. Your local independent insurance agent can walk you through all of your options and help you choose the policy that's right for you.

If I get into a fender bender when driving a rental car, would it be covered under my car insurance?

Generally, if you have liability and physical damage coverages on your car insurance policy, there's a good chance you'll be covered in a rental car. Call your independent agent to get the facts before you turn down that extra coverage.
Another option: check with your credit card company. Some credit cards provide coverage at no charge if you use their card to pay for the rental. Restrictions may apply, so be sure to ask for an exact description of what's covered.

A friend just borrowed my car. Will my car insurance pay for the damages if he or she causes an accident?

In most states, insurance coverage follows the car, so your car insurance would pay for the damage if your friend causes a wreck. Two things to keep in mind: if the cost to repair that damage exceeds the amount allowed by your policy, your friend may need to make a claim on his or her car insurance policy to pay the difference. And, your rate may go up as a result of the claim.
For more information, talk to your local independent agent.

How to protect your pets from the heat!!!!!

2011-07-08T10:13:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to protect your dog from the heat!

Travelers Insurance

2011-06-27T12:24:00.000-05:00

Flo recommends snapshot by Progressive

2011-06-14T09:34:00.000-05:00

Now open in Van Buren, our second location

2011-06-07T12:54:00.000-05:00

Kohler & Green Insurance is excited to have expanded from Fort Smith to 615 N. Plaza Dr. in Van Buren in order to service the Crawford County area.

Rechelle Sunshine Pate has worked with Kohler & Green since 2001 and will be the primary managing agent of the Van Buren office.

Breann Lewison has also joined the Kohler & Green team. She has come from Western Arkansas Title Services in Van Buren as an agent in training and is bringing valuable experience and knowledge to the company.

We are a full service insurance agency offering Auto, Home, Business, Health and Life insurance with companies and products to fit just about any insurance need, including preferred and non-standard. Please call or come by our office and let us quote your insurance today!

The basics on Auto Insurance Coverage

2011-06-07T12:46:00.000-05:00

The Basics on Auto Insurance Coverage

What is Auto Insurance?
Auto Insurance helps to protect you and your family in the event of an auto accident or other cause of loss. It covers the injuries and damages for you and others involved in an accident. It may also cover the repair or replacement costs of your vehicle if it is damaged or stolen. Speak with a Kohler and Green agent to get an auto insurnace quote and determine if you are eligible for Repair or Replacement Plus coverage.
Why do I need Auto Insurance coverage?
In most states, specific forms and limits of auto insurance coverage is mandatory to satisfy your financial responsibility. In many cases, financers of car loans require proof of auto insurance coverage to protect their financial interest in the vehicle in case of an accident or some other mishap.
Without auto insurance coverage, you are solely responsible for the costs of injuries and damages involving your vehicle.
How much auto insurance coverage should I purchase?
The required minimum coverage in your state may not be enough to cover all of the injuries and damages sustained in an accident, and the responsible party would have to pay these expenses out of pocket. Contact a Kohler and Green agent today to help you determine the best auto coverage options for your needs.
How can I keep my auto insurance premiums down?
Generally, the longer you drive without major citations or accidents, the lower your premium will be. You may also qualify for vehicle and driver discounts with Kemper. Some of the discounts we offer include:

Airbags
Anti-lock brakes
Anti-theft devices
Automatic safety belts
Driver training
College kids away at school
Multiple cars

A Kohler and Green agent can help you determine the best coverage options and available discounts.

What to do after a vehicle accident

2011-03-25T11:54:00.000-05:00

Each year, thousands of people are involved in traffic accidents during the Memorial Day Weekend. If you are one of these unfortunate people, will you know what to do in the aftermath of a collision? How you react can prevent further injuries, reduce costs and accelerate the clean-up and repair process.

The Consumer Protection Association of America is increasing public awareness on this subject by designating the week before Memorial Day "National Driver Education Week." The Association has developed a list of suggestions to help drivers anticipate what they need to know about dealing with an accident.

"These tips can make a big difference in everything from protecting yourself and your passengers to ensuring that you won't be without a car while yours is in the shop," said Dr. Ray Bruce, president of the association.
Over 6.3 million police-reported motor vehicle crashes occurred in the United States in 1998. Almost one-third of these accidents resulted in injury. In 2001, nearly 42,000 people died on America's roadways. Clearly, accidents are a part of life in America.

So, if you are involved in a traffic collision, try to remain calm, and follow these steps:
Action Plan to Deal with Accidents:
1. Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Glove Compartment. Drivers should carry a cell phone, as well as pen and paper for taking notes, a disposable camera to take photos of the vehicles at the scene, and a card with information about medical allergies or conditions that may require special attention if there are serious injuries. Also, keep a list of contact numbers for law enforcement agencies handy. Drivers can keep this free fill-in-the-blanks accident information form in their glove compartment. The DocuDent™ Auto Accident Kit ($19.95), supported by AAA and insurance companies, offers a comprehensive kit that includes a flashlight, reusable camera and accident documentation instructions. A set of cones, warning triangles or emergency flares should be kept in the trunk.

2. Keep Safety First. Drivers involved in minor accidents with no serious injuries should move cars to the side of the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leaving cars parked in the middle of the road or busy intersection can result in additional accidents and injuries. If a car cannot be moved, drivers and passengers should remain in the cars with seatbelts fastened for everyone's safety until help arrives. Make sure to turn on hazard lights and set out cones, flares or warning triangles if possible.

3. Exchange Information. After the accident, exchange the following information: name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver license number and license plate number for the driver and the owner of each vehicle. If the driver's name is different from the name of the insured, establish what the relationship is and take down the name and address for each individual. Also make a written description of each car, including year, make, model and color — and the exact location of the collision and how it happened. Finally, be polite but don't tell the other drivers or the police that the accident was your fault, even if you think it was.

4. Photograph and Document the Accident. Use your camera to document the damage to all the vehicles. Keep in mind that you want your photos to show the overall context of the accident so that you can make your case to a claims adjuster. If there were witnesses, try to get their contact information; they may be able to help you if the other drivers dispute your version of what happened.

5. File An Accident Report. Although law enforcement officers in many locations may not respond to accidents unless there are injuries, drivers should file a state vehicle accident report, which is available at police stations and often on the Department of Motor Vehicles Web site as a downloadable file. A police report often helps insurance companies speed up the claims process.

6. Know What Your Insurance Covers. The whole insurance process will be easier following your accident if you know the details of your coverage. For example, don't wait until after an accident to find out that your policy doesn't automatically cover costs for towing or a replacement rental car. Generally, for only a dollar or two extra each month, you can add coverage for rental car reimbursement, which provides a rental car for little or no money while your car is in the repair shop or if it is stolen. Check your policy for specifics.

The final question in dealing with an accident is usually who will pay for the damages? If the accident was minor, you and the other drivers may decide to handle the damages yourselves without the involvement of an insurance company. But this isn't always the best idea, for several reasons.

While the other driver may agree to pay for the damage to your car on the day of the accident, he may see the repair bills and decide it's too high. At this point, time has passed and your insurance company will have more difficulty piecing together the evidence if you file a claim.

Also, keep in mind that you have no way of knowing whether another driver will change his mind and report the accident to his insurance company. He may even claim injuries that weren't apparent at the scene of the accident. This means that your insurance company may end up paying him a hefty settlement, or worse yet, you could be dragged into a lawsuit. So make sure that your company has your version of what happened and check your policy — if the damages paid out by your insurance company are below a certain amount, the accident may not be considered chargeable.

Auto accidents take a tremendous toll on everyone involved, both financially and emotionally. If you're one of the lucky ones who have thus far avoided a serious accident, hopefully the tips on prevention will help keep it that way. The chances are high, though, that at some point you will be involved in a minor accident. Just keep your head and make safety your primary concern. You'll have plenty of time to deal with the consequences later.

What to do in a tornado

2011-03-25T11:51:00.001-05:00

1. In a house with a basement, seek shelter in the basement under some sturdy object (such as a workbench or pool table). The sturdy object is required because concrete blocks, boards, and other debris often fall into the basement of a home destroyed by a tornado. Persons under such an object are more likely to escape injury. Any part of the basement is usually adequate so long as a workbench or table is available.
Safety procedures in a home made entirely of brick are less certain. Brick walls, in all likelihood, will not be blown very far by a tornado and may fall into the basement upon occupants seeking shelter there. In these homes a very sturdy table can be constructed in the basement, and persons may hid under it.

2. In a house with no basement, Seek shelter on the first floor in an interior room, such as a closet or bathroom. Small rooms with a small floor area tend to be more structurally sound.
For many years, news releases suggested that tornadoes came from the southwest and that persons should seek shelter in the southwest corner of the basement of their home. This is both helpful and misleading information. As discussed in Chapter 2 not all tornadoes come from the southwest.
Knowing the direction of movement of the tornado can be most important to a person trying to get out of its path or to a person trying to decide the best place in which to take shelter in a home.
Studies of tornado-damaged buildings have shown that the side of a house first hit by a tornado is more likely to receive damage than the opposite side of the house. For example, if a tornado is approaching from the southwest toward a home without a basement, a person should seek shelter on the first floor in a small interior room or on the northeast side side of the house.
In addition to these rules, it is important to stay away from windows, since flying glass may cause injuries.

3. In mobile homes, seek safety in a designated safety shelter. As a last resort, lie down in a ditch or depression or culvert. If a shelter is not available in your park, ask for one or choose a park that has a shelter.
The mobile home is an especially vulnerable target for tornadic winds. A typical mobile home not tied down by guy wires can be rolled over by strong thunderstorm winds of 60-70 mph. In the higher winds of a tornado, mobile homes (tied down or not) may be completely disintegrated and the inhabitants literally flung to the winds. In recent years, nearly half of all tornado deaths have occurred in mobile homes. Mobile homes are relatively inexpensive and movable and are not likely to decrease in popularity. It therefore seems imperative that the safety factor be increased for people living in these dwellings.
The owner of a mobile home park in Emporia, Kansas realized the need for a community shelter for increased tornado protection. He built a shelter/clubhouse for $40,000. The next year this mobile home park was devastated by a powerful tornado. Despite having only minutes warning, about 80 people took refuge in the shelter, which suffered no major damage. In contrast only two of the 101 mobile homes in the park escaped damage. The concern of this mobile home park owner for his patrons led to many lives being saved.

4. Do not get in a car or truck. Vehicles are generally tossed into the air and reduced to a pile of battered junk.
In the April 1979 "Terrible Tuesday" tornado which passed across Wichita Falls, Texas, about half of the 46 fatalities were people trying to escape in vehicles. If you cannot drive at right angles from the tornado movement, abandon your vehicle and take cover in a small depression, ditch, or culvert under a road.
Choose a location such that your vehicle won't be rolled over on top of you. In 1974 an Indiana school bus driver saw an approaching tornado and ordered his pupils into a ditch. Unfortunately, the twister hurled the bus on top of them, killing one student. On the other hand, a 27 year old school bus driver in Minnesota saw a 1984 tornado, picked up the only student left in his bus, a first-grade girl, and ran 100 ft away. As they lay down in a ditch, the bus was picked up by the twister and dropped in a nearby slough. The first-grader's comment was, "Boy, have I got something for "Show & Tell" tomorrow!"
An Illinois first grade teacher who was afraid of tornadoes received safety information at her school. A week later, the teacher, Mrs. Donna Coartney, was driving across the countryside with her mother and teenage son. Suddenly they spotted two tornadoes, one of which was bearing down on their vehicle. There was no chance to drive away from the huge funnel. Mrs. Coartney slammed on the brakes and said, "Mother, we've got to get down in that ditch!" Her mother looked at the ditch, muddy from the rain, and replied, "I'm not getting in that ditch because I've just had my hair done." "Oh yes you are!" was the daughters reply, and they got out of the car and lay down in the ditch. The teenage son lay on them to protect them as the tornado ground over their location. They were pelted by gravel and their clothes were muddied, but otherwise they were uninjured. The type of hairspray used by the beautician isn't known, but there was not a hair out of place on the mother's head, even though it was packed with mud and pebbles. After the storm, their vehicle was nowhere to be seen. It was later found hundreds of yards away, a mangled wreck. Another lady was driving behind them. She stayed in her car and was badly injured.

5. Large rooms with poorly supported roofs are not safe areas in tornadoes. Auditoriums, gymnasiums, and church sanctuaries are examples of such structures.
In schools, move to the basement or a designated shelter area on the first floor. Restrooms and other small, sturdy rooms are usually good choices. Avoid areas into which tall chimneys or high walls could collapse. Stay away from windows. If there is no time to move to a safer location dive under tables or desks.
When a new section was built on an elementary school in Algona, architects suggested putting tornado safety areas in two restrooms. After the summer of 1979 tornado at Algona, inspection showed that those two rooms were the only ones left intact after the storm. They would have offered good protection had school been in session.
In shopping centers, go to designated storm shelters (ask store personnel). Stay out of mall walkway areas. Stay away from outside walls and windows. Get under a table, behind a counter or in a restroom or small storeroom. DO NOT GO TO YOUR PARKED CAR.
In churches, move out of large rooms such as the sanctuary or fellowship hall areas. The safest areas are interior hallways, small rooms opposite to the approach of the storm, bathrooms or closets, or under tables or chairs in basement areas. The latter are preferable.
Every church, school, store, and other public buildings should have well-thought out plans and clearly labeled tornado safety locations. County civil defense directors are happy to assist in determining safe locations.

6. Modern reinforced concrete buildings, such as large institutional or office buildings, are usually not heavily damaged by a tornado. While major structural damage or collapse of such buildings may not occur, windows can be blown out (or in), along with other minor damage. These structures will generally provide relatively safe areas during a tornado, providing persons stay away from windows. Hallways on lower floors or in the basements of such buildings are the preferred safety areas. It is also not advisable to use elevators during a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning, since the electrical power may go
1. Seek shelter under a sturdy table in the basement.
2. If no basement is available, go to a first floor, small interior room or a room on the opposite side from a tornado. Stay away off.

7. In motels, go to a designated shelter area. Alert others as you go. Underground locations are the best. Stay away from windows. As a last resort, get under a bed or lie flat in an interior hallway on the first floor with a mattress or blanket covering you. DO NOT get caught in your car.

Protect yourself when severe weather strikes!

2011-03-25T11:45:00.000-05:00

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk from this hazard.
Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while rain or nearby low-hanging clouds obscure others. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible.
Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.
The following are facts about tornadoes:

They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may vary from stationary to 70 MPH.
Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.
Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.
Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.
Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer.
Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.