Page 6 - Explore Your AAA – AAA Southern Pennsylvania – March/April 2019

Insurance
Warmer weather means it’s time for backyard barbecues, patio parties and picnic play dates. Make sure to prep your yard carefully for spring and summer fun. Even if you’re an experienced gardener, many commonly used yard maintenance tools can present dangers.
Mowing Your lawn:
Each year, approximately 75,000 people are seriously injured by lawn mowers, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
• Know how to quickly shut off your mower in
case of an emergency.
• Never leave a lawn mower running unattended. • Make sure all lawn mower safety equipment
is intact, and check for frayed or cut wiring
before you mow.
• Never remove safety features such as blade
guards or spark arrestors, which prevent fires. • Remove rocks, sticks and other debris from
the yard before mowing. If they’re picked up and thrown out from the lawn mower, these objects can cause serious injury. Metal blades striking rocks can create sparks that start fires.
• Never attempt to unclog or work on a lawn mower while the engine is on.
• Keep young children away from the mower. • Only add fuel to your mower when the
engine is cool, and make sure to use the recommended grade of fuel.
Floods are the most widespread of all weather-related natural disasters in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Even if you
don’t live in a disaster-prone area, no home
is completely safe from being damaged or destroyed by water.
Still, because most homeowners and renters policies don’t come with it, many Americans don’t have flood insurance. Without it, they risk having to pay out of pocket or take out loans to make repairs and replace items, which can be financially devastating.
IF A FLOOD DOES OCCUR, HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO STAY SAFE:
• Avoid driving in floodwater. Flooding causes
more deaths than any other storm-related event. Many of those deaths occur in vehicles. As little as 12 inches of moving water can sweep most vehicles off the road.
• Head to higher ground. If you have to evacuate, be cautious in floodwater. Avoid stepping into moving water and use a
Trimming Trees:
• Prune tree limbs regularly to keep them from damaging your home, decks and outbuildings. Even after winter weather has past, tree branches can break due to age or disease. If a tree is too close to your home, consider having it removed.
Cleaning Roof Gutters:
• Now that winter is over, remove leaves, sticks and other debris from roof gutters so water can flow freely when the rains return. Make sure gutters are secure and downspouts drain away from your foundation. If possible, extend the bottom of the downspout away from your home by at least six feet.
Removing Yard Waste:
• Consider composting leaves, sticks, grass cuttings and other yard waste instead of burning them or putting them in landfill. Burning yard waste may not be legal in your area and puts your home at risk
for fire. You can also contact your local
broom handle or stick to test water depth. Six inches of water can knock adults off their feet.
• Build an emergency kit for your home, car and work. Include a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, a flashlight and extra batteries, first aid supplies, medications, nonperishable food, a can opener and water. Keep essential electronics charged.
• Create an emergency plan. Talk with your family about where you’ll go in the event of a flood, how you’ll get there and how you will communicate with each other. Don’t forget to plan for pets.
• Shut down safely. Unplug electronics. Know how to turn off your power, gas and water, and, if time permits, shut everything down and move electronics and other valuables to higher ground before evacuating.
Consider purchasing flood insurance if you are at risk. Talk to your insurance agent, and visit floodsmart.gov for more information.
sanitation department for the best way to get rid of yard debris.
Keep your home protected. For more information on home, renter's or other lines of insurance, contact your AAA Insurance agent at 1-800-222-1469, visit AAA.com/Insurance, or stop by your local AAA office.
FLOOD FACTS
• Floods occur in all 50 states.
• Areas vulnerable to flooding include:
- Rivers, streams and other bodies of water
- Storm drains
- Recent burn areas
- New construction areas
- Urban areas with lots of pavement
- Dam failures and snowmelt can also
cause flooding
6 MARCH/APRIL 2019