A Helping Hand

Americans love to give and now Taiwanese-Americans in the Bay Area are finding an urgent cause to give to their friends and distant relatives in Taiwan.

Typhoon Morakot devasted the small island nation of Taiwan for a three-day period earlier this August. The local population experienced horrific mudslides, flooding, and more than 400 deaths. The typhoon reached record limits and is considered the worst typhoon to hit the island in 50 years.

The Taiwanese-American Center in San Jose is focused on raising half a million dollars to aid victims of the typhoon, mainly through benefit concerts. Caring for those in need is a universal urge, and their efforts should be applauded. When disaster strikes, people want to know that they can be helped so that life can return to normal. Talk to us, your local agent and ask us about how you can be ready for the next big flood or storm in your area; don't expect the worst, but do expect quality service and a helping hand when things get rough.
source

A year after Ike, are you ready?

Hurricane Season has begun, and severe weather will threaten most areas located along the Gulf Coast. The National Weather Center is predicting at least 15 named storms this year. Due to the unpredictable nature of hurricanes and tropical storms, it is imperative to have a plan now to protect your home, family and pets. Even though the season has been slow so far things are changing fast. Some of the United States worst hurricane seasons started off slow.


Hurricane Ike made everyone realize that we need to be more prepared when trying to evacuate before the storm and survive after. To start your Tropical Storm plan you need to have multiple evacuation routes or a place to stay. It is good to know where the nearest official shelter and Red Cross are in case you need help before, during and after a storm. Always think about your animals and make sure you have a place for them to go in case you can’t take them with you.


It is always good to have a “Go Bag” of items that are a necessity for survival for you and your family. Your “Go Bag” should be able to be taken with you at any time you need to evacuate the home. Some of the items in my “Go Bag” are a first aid kit, flashlight, lighters, knife, clean drinking water, non perishable food, any medications and a battery operated radio. My “Go Bag” is in the closet and all I need to add is food, water, prescriptions and any important documents, and I am ready to go. My animals have their own “Go Bag” loaded up with leashes and a small first aid kit. The only items I will need to add to their bag is food, water and prescriptions. The “Go Bag” can be a plastic storage bin or even a backpack. Make sure you don’t get to big of a storage bin that you can’t carry it easily.


When your family makes the decision to not evacuate it is good to have enough supplies for up to a week per person. Each person in your home will need one gallon of clean drinking water per day and plenty of food. Make sure and have some tools in a place you can find them. You’ll never know when you might need to make a quick fix to keep the house together. Remember, the electricity will probably be out so you will need a manual can opener, a lighter for cooking and a lantern or flashlight. Mosquito and bug spray will be ideal since you will probably be outdoors cleaning up debris. We can not rely on the Red Cross and Government to provide food and water to everyone. Be prepared!


Today, you need to read your flood and home policies to understand the coverage. Flood and home insurance does not cover everything you think it does. Make sure your insurance amounts are based on the current reconstruction cost. A 2,000 square foot home might sell for $135,000 but would need coverage at $175,000 or higher to be reconstructed. Remember the insurance company is not going to buy your home but they are going to remove all debris and reconstruct the home with new materials. Many agents are selling people inferior policies just to make some money. Make sure you know what is going on with your insurance.
Now is the time!

3000 miles to a World Record

Few would dare to undertake a voyage around the world. Fewer still would be confident in their teenage son taking aim at the record for the youngest solo sailing trip around the world.

Mike Perham, a 16 year-old from England with immense talent and ambition, is seeking to break a recent record set by a young American, Zac Sunderland. Mike isn't undertaking his trip solely for glory, however. He's using the trip as a fundraising tool for two of his favorite charities (see Mike's blog for more details).

Mike is a veteran yachtsman and despite delays he is now only 15 days from completing his global voyage and making a mark in the record books.

Reaching for your goals isn't easy, but with hard-work and support it can be done. Talk to us, your local agent, about your dreams. Whatever they are, we'll be there by your side, protecting what matters so that you can reach your goals.
source

Living Well

Good friends can be hard to come by, but Fredericksburg, Virginia, resident Larry Haubner has friends willing to make sure he spends the rest of his long life in comfort.

Larry is a senior citizen who maintains a vigorous excercise routine. More precisely Larry is 107 years old, and almost too healthy for his own good. Social security and money from his life savings kept him comfortably housed at Greenfield Assisted Living until 2007. Larry's friends and the community rallied to make up the difference.

Today Larry faces a similar crisis as the previous fundraising has run dry. This time the community has expanded the call to the internet and Facebook.

Larry's story is a reminder that while life can be short, friendships can be enduring. Larry has touched many lives through his warm personality and charm and now his life is benefiting from the generosity of others. Life should be about spending time with those who care about you, not worrying about your finances. Get in touch with us, your local agency, today and we'll help you wherever you're at, so you can stop worrying and start living again.
source

Giving Back

Good news may seem hard to come by these days, but for the children of Alexandria, Indiana, this summer will be full of happy memories.

Recent budget cuts at the state and municipal level have forced community pools out of commission. But, where there is a will there is a way and across the country local businesses and individuals have been teaming up to ensure that pools stay open.

Alexandria is a small town of 6,000 residents. Bake sales and other fundraisers brought in over 40,000 dollars needed for maintaining the pool.

When people help their community they feel a sense of pride and wellbeing. As a local insurance agency we are always looking for ways to give back to our community and we will always strive to bring that same feeling of pride and satisfaction to our valued customers.
source

A Challenging Climb

What would cause someone to tackle the legendary Appalachian trail? For Trevor Thomas it was proving to himself that macular degeneration, a form of blindness, would not hold him down.

The rugged Appalachian trail, stretching across 14 eastern states, has often been attempted but rarely completed in whole. Only about 8,000 hikers have made it through the entire 2,175 mile journey. History records that only five of them were blind.

Trevor, an extreme sports enthusiast prior to the onset of his condition, had his very nervous sister drop him off at the trail's start point in Georgia. When his guide didn't show up Trevor was bold enough to ask passing strangers for help navigating the trail. Eventually he found someone willing to guide him through the mountains. Trevor would have the help of many strangers, but his greatest ally was a determined spirit. Injuries and exhaustion dogged him by the end of the hike in Maine. He pushed on and scaled the steep sides of Mount Katahdin, an incredible accomplishment for anyone.

Trevor's story is a good reminder that when life is difficult the best response is not always to run away. Some times we just need a way to see how strong we really are. Like Trevor, you don't have to face hardship alone. Contact us, your local agent, today. We can help you on your journey.
source

Dealing With Disease

When 14-year-old Spencer Lane was diagnosed with Crohn's disease he found a unique way to cope with the frequent symptoms and interruptions to his schoolwork. Spencer and his parents decided to enroll him at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center, a nearby campus of the Old Dominion University.

Rather than slowing down, this kid is speeding up and tackling a tough problem head on. He's smart enough to keep up in college level courses, but is enrolled part-time in order to manage his symptoms.

Besides his smarts and determination, Spencer is also an activist. Last year Spencer raised more than $6,000 for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Changes to his diet have reduced the vomiting that is common with the disease. More important than any conventional treatment is the fact that setting goals has allowed Spencer to push through a difficult circumstance and define himself by what he can accomplish, and not by the disease he has.
source