Recent Trusted Choice study shows…

July 2010
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July 27th, 2010

Recent Trusted Choice® study shows many Americans are not properly prepared or insured for natural disasters.

The survey commissioned by Trusted Choice® and the Big “I” revealed that less than 22% of respondents are properly prepared and insured in the event of a disaster. More than 51% are only partially prepared and insured and 22.7% reported that they are not prepared or insured properly for the damages that could be caused by a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or tornado.

The results of this survey were gathered on a national basis. Recent results from occurrences in our own state offer a better prospective on what it could m Natural Disaster

ean for residents of Connecticut.

For example, the recent storm that touched down in Connecticut early in March, causing over $5 million dollars in damage, revealed that only 7% of residents were properly prepared and properly insured for the damages they suffered. The underinsured, with losses had to file with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, which were initially denied in April and required an appeals process by the state. Although the funding was eventually approved, it was a long-overdue decision that left the underinsured waiting to put the pieces of their lives back together.

A similar set of circumstances occurred after the tornado that touched down in Bridgeport in late June. A very small percentage of people affected were properly prepared and insured, leaving the rest in a similar situation to the March storm. Most recently, the tropical storm that hit parts of Connecticut on July 21, 2010, classified as a tornado in parts of Litchfield County, brought comparable damage and circumstances. Unfortunately, natural disasters can occur anywhere, meaning that everyone should make efforts to be prepared and to protect themselves.

Nowhere is the value of preparedness and insurance protection more apparent than with natural disasters. Flooded basements and severe mold, as well as ruined furnaces, yards, personal possessions, automobiles, were some of the damages caused by each of the most recent and significant storms. In many cases such damages could cause a home to be uninhabitable. If you are unprepared and underinsured, these circumstances could be devastating.

There couldn’t be a better time to get a policy review to determine if your insurance protection is still in line with your property value and to see if flood protection would be right for you. The end of summer generally seems to be peak time for hurricanes, tropical storms, and the like, causing flooding and damage in their pathways. Be sure you are prepared and protected in the event of one. Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency website to learn how you can prepare for such an occurrence. For more information about how you can protect yourself and your property from losses, give our office a call at (203) 481-2684 to speak with one of our insurance professionals. Our advice is always free and we are always happy to help!