Page 5 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – November/December 2015

INSURANCE SERVICES
Preparing Your Home for Winter Storms
AAA
Steering Clear
of Animal
Collisions
November and December are two of the worst months for animal collisions. A collision with a deer or other animal can put a serious dent in your vehicle, if not destroy it completely. There are more than a million collisions each year between animals and vehicles, resulting in about 200 human fatalities.
Here are ways to help prevent an accident or to reduce damage:
• Keep your eyes moving. Continuously sweep your eyes back and forth across the road for signs of animals and movement.
• Be especially attentive in early morning and evening hours. Many animals, especially deer, are most active from 5-8 a.m. and 5-8 p.m.
• Slow down and watch for other deer. Deer rarely travel alone, so if you see one, there are likely others.
• Slow down around curves. It’s harder to see down the road when going around curves.
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Winter storms can wreak havoc on your home. Frozen pipes burst. Snow buildup damages roofs. Moisture and mold penetrate walls through exterior cracks. And don’t forget the danger of fires, whether from woodstoves, cracked chimneys, candles or space heaters.
“While potential dangers are many, by taking preventive measures you can be prepared to weather winter storms,” said John Kubeika, Director of Insurance with AAA Central Penn.
PREPARE YOUR HOME
Clear gutters and downspouts of debris to allow melting snow and ice to flow freely. To help prevent ice dams from forming, keep the attic well-ventilated and the attic floor well-insulated.
Inspect your roof for damaged shingles or tiles, and have them replaced. Don’t miss the base of the chimney, and repair any cracks to prevent water from leaking in.
Check your yard for dead tree branches or overhanging limbs, and remove them. Falling trees or limbs laden with snow can cause serious damage to your roof and other parts of your property, including sheds, outbuildings and vehicles.
To prevent pipes from bursting, insulate exposed pipes, seal cracks in outside walls near pipes, keep cabinet doors on exterior walls open (to allow warmer air to reach the pipes), and allow a slow trickle of water to flow through unprotected pipes during extreme cold spells.
KEEP FIRE SAFETY IN MIND
Have your chimney professionally inspected, cleaned and repaired before winter use. Consider
doing that as soon as possible. Chimney cleaners get busy when the weather turns colder.
Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are fully functional and batteries have been replaced recently. Keep a fire extinguisher handy, especially if you’re going to be building fires in a fireplace or wood stove.
Never leave a fire or burning candles unattended, and make sure candles are placed away from drapes, tablecloths and other items that could catch on fire if the candle is knocked over.
Use extra caution with space heaters to prevent electrical fires or fires caused by the placement of heaters too close to flammable materials.
STOCK UP ON EMERGENCY ITEMS
Be sure you have flashlights and a portable radio with extra batteries, any necessary medications,
at least three days of water and canned food for family and pets, a can opener, first-aid supplies, heating fuel, and a lighter and/or generous supply of matches stored in a sealed, plastic bag.
WHEN THE STORM COMES
Bent attic rafters or internal doors that jam
may be signs that too much ice and snow has accumulated on your roof. Consider having the snow removed in order to avoid potential roof collapse. You can hire a professional, or do it yourself using a snow roof rake with an extension.
DON’T FORGET INSURANCE
For more information on auto, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance, contact your local AAA office or visit AAA online.
AAA Central Penn
HOLIDAY OFFICE SCHEDULE
Offices will be closed on the following dates:
Thursday, November 26 Friday, December 25 Saturday, December 26 Friday, January 1 Saturday, January 2
Offices will be closing at noon on the following dates:
Thursday, December 24
Thursday, December 31
Our Roadside assistance and Contact Center teams will continue to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to serve our members’ needs.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
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Now!