What’s your IQ when it comes to calamities?
Find out by taking this quiz.
1. Your home is three times more likely to be damaged by:
- a. a flood than a fire.
- b. a fire than a flood.
Just because you haven’t experienced a flood in the past doesn’t mean that you won’t in the future. Unfortunately, your homeowners insurance policy won’t cover flood damage to your home or property; only flood insurance will cover those losses.
You can secure flood insurance to protect your home or business through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program. Erie Insurance also partners with American Bankers Insurance Company to offer flood coverage. To learn more about this coverage, contact an ERIE Agent today.
2. Which natural disaster can produce the fastest winds on Earth?
- a. Cyclone
- b. Hurricane
- c. Tornado
- d. Tsunami
At these speeds, they are capable of destroying structures, uprooting trees and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles.
Maintaining a Household Inventory Record
is important because it details everything you own and the estimated cost to replace lost or ruined items. A Household Inventory Record (stored somewhere besides your home) is an efficient way to request reimbursement for your personal belongings should a disaster wreak havoc.
If you need to rebuild your home or business, does you policy provide adequate coverage? Ask your local ERIE Agent about your coverage and replacement cost options for damaged property.
3. EF2 and EF3 tornadoes with 111 mph to 165 mph winds can destroy a property in how many seconds?
- a. 4 seconds
- b. 12 seconds
- c. 24 seconds
- d. 32 seconds
The biggest initial risk to property is flying debris, which can shatter windows and create holes in exterior walls. Once an opening is created, air rushes inside the structure and pressurizes it like inflating a balloon. If the roof blows off, the entire structure can collapse within seconds.
If a tornado hit your hometown, would you be prepared? When was the last time you reviewed your insurance coverage with your Agent? Give your local ERIE Agent a call today.
4. What should you do to protect homes and businesses against power surges and lightning strikes?
- a. Use surge protectors
- b. Unplug electronic equipment
- c. Install lightning protection
- d. All of the above
To protect homes and businesses against power surges and lightning strikes, the III recommends:
- Installing a lightning protection system that provides a specified path on which the lighting can travel.
- Using surge protectors or UL-listed surge arrestors that are installed on electrical service panels as well as incoming phone, cable, satellite and data lines.
- Unplugging expensive electronic equipment such as TVs and computers when you know a storm is on the way.
Check out the III video on how to pick a lightning protection system for more information.
5. What is the leading cause of most home structure fires?
- a. Home heating
- b. Cooking
- c. Candles
- d. Electrical
To prevent kitchen fires in your home, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that you:
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking.
- Keep a fire extinguisher within arm’s reach — and know how to use it.
- Place a smoke detector close to your kitchen and routinely replace the batteries.
- Do not throw water on a grease fire. It won’t extinguish it — and when burning oil splashes, it will actually spread the fire.
It also helps to know which foods are the most flammable.
6. What is the leading cause of dryer fires?
- a. Mechanical failure
- b. Electrical failure
- c. Failure to clean the dryer
- d. Answers A and B
If you notice heavy clothes such as jeans or towels taking a long time to dry or clothes feel hotter than usual at the end of the cycle, a clogged dryer vent exhaust may be the problem.
7. Wind-driven rains and standing water can lead to damage inside your home or business. What can you do to prevent or minimize damage?
- a. Redirect pooling water
- b. Seal gaps
- c. Call an expert
- d. All of the above
What’s more, water can also cause significant damage when it seeps in through gaps around windows and doors, pipes, electrical outlets, circuit breaker boxes, and electric and water meters. Go to the IBHS Web site for tips on what to do — or call an expert for advice.
Unlike fire, some of the damage caused by water, such as mold, slow leaks and foundation seeping, is generally limited or not covered by insurance. If you’re not sure what’s covered under your insurance policy, contact your local ERIE Agent.
8. Frozen pipes are one of the biggest risks for property damage. To prevent pipe damage, keep a home or business interior temperature from dipping below …
- a. 55 degrees
- b. 32 degrees
- c. 25 degrees
Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are particularly vulnerable to freezing in extremely cold weather. That’s because exterior building holes for television, cable or telephone lines give cold air easy access to pipes.
A burst pipe can cause more than $5,000 in water damage, according to research by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). To learn about extra steps you can take to prevent burst pipes, visit disastersafety.org.
9. How can you spot a potential tree problem? When you see …
- a. Cracks in the trunk or major limbs of a tree
- b. V-shaped rather than U-shaped forks in the tree
- c. Branches that rub or interfere with one another
- d. All of the above
When the tree boughs break, you could be faced with costly property damage. According to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), falling trees and limbs account for hundreds of millions of dollars in damage each year. They also cause personal injury and even death and have the potential to destroy homes right down to the foundations.
Depending on the cause of the damage, debris removal may or may not be covered. Refer to your insurance policy for coverage specifics and talk to your local ERIE Agent.
10. With all the risks you face every day, how often should you review your insurance coverage with your Agent?
- a. Every year
- b. Every one to two years
- c. Every two to three years
- d. Every three to five years
Let your ERIE Agent know about all the changes happening in you and your family’s life at least once per year so he or she can ensure there are no gaps in your coverage.
ERIE’s independent Agents will help you make important decisions about your auto, home, life and business insurance. They’re experienced, hard-working insurance professionals completely committed to giving you the peace of mind you deserve.