Page 21 - AAA Now! – AAA Akron Auto Club – Summer 2020

AAA
INSURANCE MATTERS
Are You Prepared for Lightning Storms?
Electrical storms are most common in the summer months, but lightning can strike at any time. When these storms rumble through, they can cause a significant amount of damage in a short time.
The National Weather Service reports that lightning strikes about 25 million times a year, killing an average of 49 people in the United States and severely injuring hundreds more. Lightning strikes cost $825 million in homeowners insurance losses in 2016, up 4.5% from 2015, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Lightning is only one part of the problem. High winds, torrential rains and fire associated with lightning storms also can be devastating.
DURING THE STORM
• Seek shelter inside a building and stay away from windows and doorways. Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after a storm passes. Lightning can strike miles from a storm’s center.
• Avoid contact with conducting pathways, like plumbing pipes, corded phones, televisions, computers and other electronic equipment. Stay away from any appliances that are plugged in, such as toasters and hair dryers.
• Use only a cell phone or cordless telephone during an electrical storm. Ensure that your
mobile phone is fully charged and keep an extra
battery or portable battery booster on-hand. • Delay household activities – doing the dishes,
laundry and showering – until after a storm passes. Pipes, faucets and metal sink basins are conduits for electricity and touching them can result in an electric shock.
• If you are caught outside during a thunderstorm, seek shelter in a hard-topped vehicle or a low area, such as a tunnel. Steer clear of fences, isolated trees, telephone poles, power lines and pipelines.
LIGHTNING STORM INSURANCE COVERAGE
Damage caused by lightning, such as fire, is generally covered by standard homeowners or renters insurance policies. Electrical appliances damaged as a result of a lightning-induced power surge also might be covered by a standard policy.
Lightning-caused damage to a vehicle is typically covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.
Lightning storms can often have other impacts to your home and vehicles, including:
• Damage caused by falling trees due to high winds.
Standard homeowners and auto insurance policies
typically cover this kind of loss. However, if the tree was known to be weak before the storm, the damage might not be covered.
• A wildfire that results from a lightning storm can cause damage to homes and cars. Insurance coverage for wildfire, even if caused by lightning, is included in a standard home insurance policy, and by the comprehensive coverage of an auto insurance policy.
• Heavy rains can bring flooding, which is not covered by most insurance homeowner policies. Homes damaged by flood may be covered by a separate, optional flood insurance policy, typically provided by the National Flood Insurance Program.
• Damage to cars, as a result of flooding, is generally covered under the comprehensive portion of auto insurance policies.
Call 330-762-0631 or visit your Downtown
AAA Akron Branch for a Free Insurance Review by one of our local, experienced agents. When you choose AAA Insurance, you’re selecting the personal guidance and legendary service that made AAA famous. Together we will help you build the policy that suits your unique needs. Insurance service that is personalized, experienced and trusted.
COME RAIN, WIND, OR HAIL,
YOU’RE PREPARED.
Get your insurance checkup today.
Insurance provided by CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer. © 2019 CSAA Insurance Group
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