Generally, how does my homeowners policy respond to storm damage to my property?

Your homeowners policy covers most losses that may occur to your dwelling and personal property. Commonly, losses resulting from theft, fi re, wind, vehicles and vandalism are covered.

What if there is damage because of a storm?

A standard homeowners policy covers storm damage to the dwelling, its contents and other structures such as garages and fences, up to the policy limit. Such damage also acts as a trigger for coverage of other consequential losses and expenses including removal of debris and loss of use.

What if my family and I cannot live in our home because of the damage?

When storm damages make it necessary to leave your home temporarily, your homeowners policy covers the additional costs necessary to maintain your normal standard of living for such things as meals, lodging, laundry, transportation, entertainment, etc. You will need to present receipts for all of your expenses to be reimbursed.

What clean-up expenses can I expect to recover following a storm?

Your homeowners policy will cover costs for removal of debris when covered property is damaged. This includes the removal of trees that fall on covered structures, but this coverage for trees usually is limited to $1,000 for a single storm.

Am I covered for protecting my property from damage?

Your policy obligates you to protect your property from further damage following a loss as a condition to payment of your claim. You can expect your policy to pay for such expenses to board windows and make emergency repairs. Also, property removed from your home to protect it from an impending storm receives more comprehensive coverage than what is provided at your home—for a limited period of time, it covers fl ood, earthquake and any direct damage to your dislocated property without exclusions. However, the expenses to remove the property from harm’s way is not a covered expense.

What damages are not covered by my homeowners policy?

Trees, shrubs and gardens damaged or destroyed by the storm are not covered. The spoilage of food due to an inoperative refrigerator or freezer resulting from an off -premise power outage is not covered by many policies, unless the appliances are inoperative because the damage to power lines or other utility equipment occurred on your property; for example, lightning damage to your circuit box or a tree falling on power lines connected to your home.
It is important to note that there is no coverage for any damage that is a direct result of flood, surface water or water that backs up through sewers or drains that is caused by an act of nature (a storm).

How can I find out what is covered in my specific circumstances?

The information provided here includes general guidelines for storm damage coverage. You should contact our agency for definite answers and further advice. 732-389-1510

What is a household inventory and why do I need one?

A household inventory could prove invaluable if you lost some or all of your household belongings in a fire, burglary or natural disaster. A household inventory is a list of all the personal belongings in your home including when and where you bought each item, their  original cost and any identifying information, such as model or serial numbers. For an investment of just a few hours, you can survey your belongings and be prepared in the event of a loss.

How do I take my own inventory?

There are three basic steps. First, list all of your major belongings and furnishings. There are two ways to take or create your inventory. The first is room by room. If you choose this method, you would list all the contents (i.e., couch, loveseat, T.V., stereo, etc.) each with the make, model number, description, original price and any comments.

The second method is categorically (i.e., Entertainment: T.V.—living room, T.V.—bedroom, DVDs A, B, C and D—living room; DVDs E, F, G and H—bedroom,etc.) again each with the make, model number, description, original price and comments. Attach any applicable receipts and appraisals. The second step is to back up your inventory list with photographs or video. Take photos or videotape every room, with closet and cabinet doors open. Note the date, contents shown and location.

Third, store the inventory and photographs/videotape in a safe place away from your home, such as in a safe-deposit box in a bank. Keeping a copy of the list or tape at home is fine, but it is wise to keep the original inventory and receipts in a secure location in case a fire or natural disaster destroys your home.

Of course, you should likewise protect certain valuables and hard-to-replace documents such as deeds, bonds, stocks and insurance policies by storing them in a safe-deposit box. These are general recommendations. For the best advice on your personal insurance needs, contact our agency.

Memorial Day is to honor and remember those we have lost at war.  It is also important to remember and help those that returned wounded.  Click on the link and learn about the WWP.  Use the donate button on the left side of their website to make a donation.

God bless those who have fought and died and those who have fought and returned.  God bless America.  Have a safe and happy summer.

Do you have a classic or collectable car that you need to insure?  Get a quote online now from American Collectors.  Great rates, great coverage!

Need help or have questions? Contact us at Kennedy & Ward Insurance Agency.

NJ Insurance landscape changes down the shore

 Am I covered if an earthquake damages my home?

Unless you’ve purchased earthquake coverage, you are not covered by a standard homeowners policy. So, structural damage to the home and any loss of furnishings and personal possessions would not be covered.

What about my business?

Again, unless you’ve purchase earthquake coverage, you’re not insured for structural damage, property loss or business interruption.

How does earthquake insurance work?

You can purchase an endorsement to a homeowners, renters or business policy or as a separate policy to cover your losses from earthquakes and aftershocks. Since different building materials react differently to earth movement (brick versus wood, for example), premiums vary by the type of construction of the building.

Earthquake insurance deductibles are considerably higher than standard deductibles. Usually they are determined by a percentage of the building’s value, generally from 5 percent to 40 percent.

Can I buy earthquake insurance at any time?

The only time you can’t buy the coverage for a home is within 72 hours after an earthquake, since there may be damaging aftershocks within that period of time. For a business owners policy, an earthquake endorsement cannot be added within 168 hours.

With earthquake coverage, am I covered for aftershocks?

Yes. With a homeowners earthquake endorsement, any damage from the earthquake and from aftershocks that happen within 72 hours of the earthquake will be considered one occurrence so you will pay your deductible only once. It works in a similar way for a business owner’s earthquake endorsement. The earthquake and aftershocks within 168 hours are considered one occurrence but while one deductible will apply, so will one limit.

I belong to a condo association. What if the common property is damaged?

If you belong to a townhouse or condominium association that has inadequate earthquake coverage or none at all, you could be charged for repairs to common property.

If you have earthquake coverage and loss assessment coverage on your unit-owners policy, you may be able to extend it to cover you for this liability to the association. Please check with our agency for more information.

Do I really need earthquake coverage in this area of the country?

Small earthquakes have happened in this area and probably will happen again. In fact, some experts predict that within the next five years, the Northeast will suffer a major quake. However, there’s no way to be sure one way or the other of earth movement.

New Jersey DEP – Earthquake Risk in New Jersey

Contact us or call 732-389-1510

 Your Professional Insurance Agent, Kennedy & Ward Insurance Agency.  We want you to know about the insurance you’re buying.

 As a contractor, you know that to be insured, you are required to comply with the U.S. Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. Insurance carriers know OSHA regulations reduce worker injuries and illnesses, thus reducing their liability and improving their bottom line. Think of OSHA violations as traffic violations, the more you have, the greater risk you present to your insurance company, and the higher your premium will be.

The trick is to avoid costly OSHA violations and fines.

I only have a couple of employees; am I still bound by OSHA regulations?

Regardless of the size of your business, if you have employees, you are required to comply with OSHA regulations.

What are my basic responsibilities as an employer?

One basic OSHA requirement states the following: The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions … to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.  In short, OSHA wants to see proof that employees have been trained.

Most training is required on a yearly basis.

Furthermore, OSHA requires a competent person on every job site. A competent person, according to OSHA, is one who “is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. OSHA continues to state that “It shall be the responsibility of the employer to initiate and maintain [a written health and safety] program … which provides for frequent and regular inspections of the job sites, materials and equipment to be made by competent persons designated by the employers.

Do I have to keep records to show my compliance?

Yes. One aspect of the OSHA recordkeeping requirements is the 300 form (replaces the OSHA 200 form). Recordable injuries and illnesses must be recorded on the OSHA 300 form or equivalent.
In addition, this form must be posted from Feb. 1 to April 1 for the previous year.

The only exception to this rule is employers with 10 or fewer employees. In addition, any death or workplace incident sending three or more employees to the hospital overnight must be reported to your local OSHA office within eight hours, regardless of the number of people you employ.

How do I handle inspections?
How are violations handled?

There are several basic facts important
to contractors:

• OSHA prioritizes inspections based on the following:
  1. work sites on which OSHA believes an imminent danger to employees exists;
  2. work sites where reportable death or catastrophe has occurred; and
  3. work sites that are the subject of complaints.
• Employers have the right to refuse access to an OSHA inspector, however, this does not limit OSHA’s ability to observe the site from a remote location. In addition, OSHA can return with a compulsory process to mandate an inspection. If you force OSHA to use this legal process, it may not be as lenient on minor violations.
• Allowing OSHA on-site does not mean that an employer waives all rights of defending himself in either an informal conference or a formal hearing.
• Upon being issued a notice of violation, contractors always should respond in writing within 15 working days and request an informal conference with the area director. This is your best chance to reduce citations and fines.
• Citations must be posted where all employees can see them for a period of three working days, or until the violation is corrected, whichever is longer.
• Employers should correct violations. A common misconception is that once you’re caught, there’s nothing you can do. When at tending the informal conference, being able to prove violations were corrected as soon as they were discovered can help you tremendously in reducing
  citations and fines.

What if my employees are conducting business off-site?

Employers are responsible for their employees whenever they’re on company time. If you send your employees to a job site, you are responsible for anticipating any hazards that employee may encounter, as well as preparing that employee for such hazards. In other words, a plumbing contractor is responsible for electrical hazards his or her employees may encounter when working next to an electrician.

Who can I turn to for help?

For further information on how to comply with OSHA regulations, contact either your local OSHA office

 Your Professional Insurance Agent, Kennedy & Ward Insurance Agency … We want you to know about the insurance you’re buying. Contact us or call 732-389-1510