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All Rights Reserved Property and Casualty Insurance Information from the Georgia Insurance Information Service GIIS On FaceBook GIIS on YouTube  gainsinfo on Twitter Inside Insurance: GIIS Videos and More              Avoid Roof Repair Scams                       Trapster Problems                 Freezing Pipes from Fox5 News                 Click here for more GIIS Videos Top of the News                                                                                                 Top of the Weather Important Information: Check Frequently FluTracker Map Click here to see if your home needs flood insurance Severe Weather Week in Georgia    After a year of natural disasters that caused millions of dollars of damage to Georgia in 2009, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), its Ready Georgia campaign, the National Weather Service (NWS) and local emergency management agencies are supporting Severe Weather Awareness Week in the state, Feb. 1-5.    Severe Weather Awareness Week is a time when Georgians should practice emergency preparedness and response procedures for all types of severe weather events that could occur, and residents can learn more about those threats throughout the week.    "Georgia is susceptible to nearly every type of natural disaster," said Charley English, director GEMA/Homeland Security. "Though severe weather comes in different forms, by being prepared for one, you are prepared for them all."    The week's activities will kick off with Family Preparedness Day on Feb. 1, when all Georgia households are encouraged to get a NOAA Weather Radio and program it for their county. On Wednesday, when tornado safety is emphasized, a statewide tornado drill will be issued by NWS. Severe Weather Awareness Week's specific observations are: Monday, Feb. 1 – Family Preparedness and NOAA Weather Radio Tuesday, Feb. 2 – Thunderstorm Safety Wednesday, Feb. 3 – Tornado Safety and Statewide Tornado Drill (issued by NWS) Thursday, Feb. 4 – Lightning Safety Friday, Feb. 5 – Flood Safety (alternate drill date)    To help Georgians prepare for severe weather, GEMA's Ready Georgia – a statewide emergency preparedness campaign – offers tools that residents can use to create an emergency supply kit, develop a communications plan and stay informed about potential threats. Ready Georgia's interactive Web site, www.ready.ga.gov, provides detailed information on Georgia-specific emergency preparedness and allows users to create a personal profile and receive a customized checklist and family communications plan.    "Georgians who take the time to educate themselves on possible threats are twice as likely to be prepared than others," continued English. "In the event of severe weather, you can be your own first responder if you've taken simple steps to prepare, plan and get informed."    During winter storms, floods, tornadoes or hurricanes, it could take emergency workers 72 hours or more to reach certain areas in order to open roadways and restore utilities. The benefit of being self-sufficient for three days, or longer is that residents can survive circumstances that might otherwise be tragic. GEMA offers this information from its Ready Georgia campaign: Prepare for Severe Weather: Make your own Ready kit of emergency supplies. Most of the items are inexpensive and easy to find, and any one of them could save your life. - Water: at least three gallons per person for drinking and sanitation - Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food - Manual can opener if kit contains canned food - Battery-powered or hand crank NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries - Flashlight and extra batteries - First aid kit - Whistle to signal for help - Face mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place - Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation - Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities - Local maps - Specific items for children, family members' special needs or pets - Cash or travelers checks - Important documents in a waterproof container - Blankets and warm clothes Plan for Severe Weather: - Be sure every family member knows important phone numbers for schools, offices, home and emergency services. - Identify an out-of town contact. It might be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call in town, so an out-of-town contact is in a better position to communicate among separated family members. - Identify a meeting place near your home where family members can meet if separated during severe weather. - Identify a meeting place away from your home where family members can meet if your neighborhood in not accessible. - Map out evacuation routes in case you are ordered to evacuate, and always keep at least a fourth of a tank of gas in your car. - Know your insurance policies and whether your home is in a flood zone. Stay Informed about Severe Weather: - Find out what type of disasters could occur and how you should respond. - Learn your community's warning signals and evacuation plans. - Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify severe weather, such as advisories, watches and warnings. - Monitor NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, television and the Internet to stay informed of severe weather conditions. For more information, contact your local EMA, call GEMA at 1-800-TRY-GEMA, or visit these Web sites: www.gema.ga.gov, www.ready.ga.gov, www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc, www.redcross.org. A Firm Foundation: How Insurance Supports The Georgia Economy    The insurance industry in Georgia has a significant impact on the state’s economy that extends well beyond its responsibilities to collect premiums and settle claims. It employs licensed professionals, pays taxes, owns municipal bonds and serves people in their times of greatest need.    Created by the Insurance Information Institute for the Georgia Insurance Information Service, this must-read document provides a comprehensive look at what the insurance industry provides to Georgia.    To view and/or download the document, Click here. Driven To Distraction Is Serious Business An editorial by Bob Dallas, Director, Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety    Let's face it, Americans are driven to distraction. Whether it's screaming kids, bigger billboards or other erratic drivers, we must safely negotiate busier roadways without being overwhelmed by these unavoidable distractions.    But what about avoidable distractions; the ones drivers create for themselves? We have all seen these high risk drivers in the next lane: eating or drinking, multitasking and calling, among other distractions. While these distractions by all accounts are diversions to safe driving performance, at least they are not designed to take the driver's eyes off the road...and keep them there.    But one avoidable distraction is unique: texting. Like reading a book, texting is designed to take and keep a driver's eyes off the road. Add to that the pervasive texting by our younger and future drivers and it's easy to foresee how this popular trend could become our next deadly highway trend. It's a problem so pervasive some traffic enforcement officers have labeled it "DWI: Driving While Intexticated."    That is why Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is to be commended for raising the issue in his upcoming national Distracted Driving Summit. Too often, traffic safety policy is established only after thousands die and many times that are severely injured. By addressing the issue before more lives are lost, Secretary LaHood will save immeasurable misery caused to friends and families of loved ones. This is in addition to saving health care costs we as a nation cannot afford.    While some will argue the challenges in enforcing texting laws are too large to overcome, the same arguments were made for other highway safety measures we now take for granted. For example, no longer is it acceptable to drive impaired, or ride without wearing a safety belt, and teens ease into driving with graduated licensing laws. By bringing together safety experts and stakeholders, the Summit will produce life saving enforcement strategies which states may consider adopting to reduce crashes due to texting.    What's the alternative? Hu RU kidN? Mor crs wl crsh! Feds Take On Texting While Driving Issue    The Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood says his agency is very concerned about the number of traffic crashes attributed to texting while driving and similar distractions. A new campaign has been announced along the same lines as the anti-drunk driving campaign and others.    Secretary LaHood called the practice a "deadly epidemic" that continues to get worse every year. Records show the number of distracted drivers involved in fatal road accidents increased from 8% in 2004 to 11% in 2008.    A fast way to wreck your vehicle is to text someone or read a text message from someone while driving. More and more states are passing laws to prohibit the practice, but notice how many states still have not passed appropriate laws. From the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 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