So begins an ongoing discussion between homeowners, rental property owners, business owners, their insurers, and local government. Who is to do what? Who pays for the removal? How much cost does insurance cover? What’s the responsibility of local government?

This is an issue to a lesser or greater extent not just with tornadoes, but also with residential and business fires, explosions, the aftermath of flooding, plane crashes and earthquakes just to name a few.

The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) says if a tree hits a home or other insured structure, such as a detached garage, standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for the damage the tree does to the structure and the contents in it. This includes trees downed by wind or hail.

It does not matter who owns the tree. If it lands on your home, you should file a claim with your insurance company. After a hurricane or windstorm, trees, shrubs and branches can become projectiles capable of traveling significant distances and can cause considerable damage to property. In most cases, an insurance company is not going to spend time trying to figure out where a tree or other item originated.

In some situations where the felled tree was located on a neighbor’s property, the policyholder’s insurance company may try to collect from the neighbor’s insurance company in a process called subrogation. This sometimes occurs if the tree was in poor health or not properly maintained, according to the I.I.I.

Cars damaged or destroyed by falling trees are covered under the optional comprehensive portion of a standard auto insurance policy. This is important because often, those who own older vehicles may drop the comprehensive coverage. Those who rent homes should also note that without comprehensive coverage, they are at risk for the cost of the debris removal on their vehicles as well.

Standard home insurance policies also provide coverage for damage to trees and shrubs due to fire, lightning, explosion, theft, aircraft, vehicles not owned by the resident, vandalism and malicious mischief. Coverage for these disasters is generally limited to up to five percent of the amount of insurance on the structure of the house. Generally, most insurers will limit the coverage to about $500 for any one tree, shrub or plant. Trees and plants grown for business purposes require a separate business insurance policy, according to the I.I.I.

Home-based business owners should discuss this issue with their insurer to understand what coverages they have available regarding business interruption and additional debris removal coverage for a business owner.

When disasters occur, debris often piles up on the side of the road after it has been removed from the property of the landowner. Issues arise over the cost of removal and who is responsible, which may delay the removal of the roadside debris.

Businesses have an entirely different issue regarding debris removal since business insurance policies are available specifically to handle the removal of debris from the business owner’s property and from the property of others especially in the case of a tornado, hurricane or other catastrophic incident.

Both homeowners and business owners should work with their insurers before a catastrophe occurs to understand who is responsible for what; what coverages are available regarding debris removal and what the policy limits are for such situations.

Caution. Policyholders may have to reimburse government entities with insurance proceeds earmarked for debris removal if the government entity handles the removal instead of the policyholder engaging a private business. Check with your agent or company about that.

As has been reported following the recent tornadoes, another problem faces affected residents and business owners. The fly-by-night tree removal scammers have been known in Georgia and Alabama to provide preliminary quotes for tree or other debris removal in the hundreds of dollars and then submit a final bill in the thousands of dollars. Insurers and the public have reported tree removal charges of $15,000 up to $80,000.

Be aware that it is best to work with tree removal professionals whom you know personally or by reputation. Seek advice from your insurer as well before engaging any tree removal service. Ask your neighbors and friends what they are paying to make sure you are not paying too much for tree removal.

Immediately after a disaster there is chaos and confusion and the need for search and rescue. It is only after the last victim has been saved, the fires doused, the debris sifted, that town officials, the media and the community turn to the rebuilding phase.

What can one expect from his or her insurer in the short term and over a longer period of time? Let’s focus on home insurance because it is so essential to the rebuilding of communities like Tuscaloosa, Alabama or Ringgold, Ga. Just how essential is insurance?

Well, without it, the communities across “Tornado Alley” and now “Dixie Alley” would not have recovered. Today, communities in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and several other states are in the rebuilding process, Most of that rebuilding could not be accomplished without insurance dollars.

Property and casualty insurance is the primary mechanism for assisting the majority of these individuals and families who have lost some or all of their housing, personal belongings and vehicles.

Insurers have responded rapidly and in large numbers to these disaster scenes with mobile claims units, regional disaster centers and teams of adjusters who have been making their way through the damaged areas working to help those whose homes or businesses were either totally devastated or damaged. Generally, the company efforts are focused to reach everyone as soon as possible for an initial assessment, but to work with the worst cases first.

What is significant now is that those affected by these incredible storms know what they can expect, what they should do and when.

Those with significant losses should make every effort to work with their insurers, but at the same time find out what other financial resources may be available for state and federal emergency management agencies.

The role of the insurer through the homeowner’s insurance policy is very important. The agreement between the company and the insured provides that the homeowner is to be repaired to the pre-disaster condition. Homeowners and their insurer’s adjusters work together to restore families and make their property whole again.

Adjusters, structural engineers and other construction professionals are well trained in how repairs should occur. Damage to a property may be so severe that it must be demolished and rebuilt while many others are damaged but are structurally sound and are repairable to pre-disaster condition.

There are important coverages that homeowners should be aware of that can help them during this difficult time. For example, policyholders who have additional living expenses (ALE) as part of their homeowners or renters insurance policy will be reimbursed by their insurer for the cost of staying at a hotel, having to eat out at restaurants, etc. It is important to note that ALE coverage is available only when the insured property is uninhabitable because of a loss covered under the homeowners’ policy. Federal flood insurance policies do not include ALE coverage, so this assistance will not be available when a person cannot live in the home because of flooding or storm surge.

Generally, ALE pays for the difference between pre- and post-loss housing and food costs. As an example, before the loss a homeowner may have had a mortgage payment and utility bills (phone, electricity, etc.), and average monthly costs for groceries could be $500. Post-loss, the homeowner/family is staying in a motel or rents an apartment and eats many meals in restaurants. The insurer will pay for the difference between the cost of all these items pre-loss (minus non-continuing expenses such as utilities) and the cost of these things post-loss.

Also, the temporary accommodations have to be similar to the insured property, e.g., if you lived in a two- bedroom house, the insurer will not pay for the rental of a five bedroom house. Policyholders should keep all receipts for lodging and meals to make the claims process easier. Some insurers will provide ALE funds immediately upon being notified of a loss; others may reimburse policyholders at a later date. It is important for policyholders to contact their insurer or insurance agent for more information about this coverage.

The amount of coverage for ALE differs from insurance company to company and depends on the specific homeowners policy. Many policies provide coverage equal to about 20% of the amount of insurance on the home. For example, if the dwelling coverage is $500,000, ALE coverage would be $100,000. Some policies also have time limits; i.e. once the covered event occurs, the policyholder’s ALE coverage will cover expenses for a certain period beyond that date.

ALE coverage provides an important lifeline to policyholders whose lives are devastated by disasters. In many cases ALE coverage can help families leave shelters and move to better housing, providing the opportunity to improve a difficult situation.

With so many vehicles that were damaged or destroyed in these violet storms, there is important information for motorists. If the vehicle’s windows are shattered, try to cover the vehicle with a tarp to prevent further damage before it is removed from the scene. If the vehicle has debris on it, often insurers will pay to have the debris removed, so save receipts and take photos if possible for your adjuster. If the vehicle is non-drivable, work with your insurer about its removal to a repair facility or a holding garage. Older model vehicles may need to be moved to a salvage facility. If only minor or moderate damage has ocurred and glass is broken out, have it replaced as soon as possible before it is taken to a repair facility to insure now further interior damage can occur.

With hail losses, work with your carrier on a paintless dent repairs or an authorized repair facility if traditional body repairs must be done.

Communication with your insurance agent or insurance company is crucial at this time because it is often difficult for adjusters to locate the insured and begin or continue the claims adjusting process.

Rebuilding will be completed over time. Homes and businesses will once again thrive. One step at a time should be the expectation. It works best with maintaining contact with your insurer.

The feeling I get after watching this devastation is exactly the way I felt feel after the death and destruction hurricanes bring to coastal areas. There is the sudden impact of the events with the damage as it occurs, followed by the discovery of those who were injured or worse.

We are now in what is the “long tail” of the aftermath. The clean up, recovery and rebuilding is on. Another aspect of these horrible events is the phase where we think about what we did right and what we should have done.

To watch the death toll rise from 83 before sunrise the morning after the storms hit to 173 before 8 a.m. just makes me wonder about how close we all can be to the same fate. Later it went much higher.

All this is said to direct our focus to the importance of advance planning and the kind of preparation that may save more lives in the future. Here are very real ways we can prepare to survive.

Weather Broadcasts: The news media is providing more and more very good coverage of these events even before they occur, but I continue to be amazed by the number of us who still do not have a weather alert radio on in our homes. Weather alert radio broadcasts are also available on some weather Web sites and through various apps on smart phones. This is one service that can literally save lives with advance information.

Advance Planning: It’s one thing to know something bad is happening and another to do nothing about it. We see this virtually every year with hurricanes. “I’ve ridden them out before, so I’m not going anywhere.” What about those in homes with no basements, those in mobile homes and recreational vehicles or the road warriors who have a iPod, a CD or satellite radio on and may not have a clue as to what’s about to happen?

If your home is clearly not the safest place to be in severe weather, it makes sense to plan where you and your family should go that is much safer. Going to a safer place should be considered sooner rather than later.

Inventory Your Belongings: The devastation we saw from these tornadoes should remind us to think about what will happen in the recover phase of a disaster. If your home or apartment is smashed to pieces, the only way you can have a reasonable chance of replacing what you had before the incident is with an accurate room-by-room home inventory that includes pictures of everything from the large furniture pieces to the drawer full of silverware, the closets full of clothing and everything in between. The inventory should be copied and kept in several places such as a bank safety deposit box, with relatives in other cities and in other locations such as an on-line site that you trust.

Your insurer will need proof of loss and the inventory is the best way to provide that proof so you will be financially protected.

Homeowners and Renters Insurance: Most of us have homeowners insurance if we have a mortgage because it is required by the mortgage-holder. Nationally, less than half of renters obtain renters insurance, and while the landlord is responsible for the building, we are responsible for our belongings in the landlord’s building. The only way to be protected against loss is to have a renter’s insurance policy that is much less expensive than a homeowner’s policy since you (delete “r”) are only insuring belongings and not the building.

Contact Your Insurer: Literally thousands of claims are filed with insurance companies after disasters such as we experienced. Your insurer needs to know how to reach you when there is no power, or your property is damaged to the point that you must temporarily relocate.

Cell phone numbers, relative or friends’ phone numbers are import to provide or the number of your hotel or other temporary residence so you can be prepared to meet with your insurer’s representative.

Go-Kit: We often speak of a go-kit for your vehicle with blankets, flashlights and other survival gear, but what may be the most important to have ready to go at a moment’s notice is a medical supply kit. It should have basic first aid items, and a supply of medicines that you and members of your family need on a daily basis. This is especially important when there are children, seniors or those with chronic illness issues.

There is so much more to consider, and our Web site, http://www.giis.org, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, http://www.gema.ga.gov or many others have a great deal of preparation information.

On one side of this oddly shaped puzzle are the proverbial “bad guys.” These individuals cost just about all of us a great deal of money, time and often injury or even death.

The Insurance Information Institute estimates that fraud accounts for about 10 percent of the property/casualty insurance industry’s incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses. Using this measure, from 2005 to 2009, property/casualty fraud amounted to about $30 billion each year. Also, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said that healthcare fraud, both private and public, is an estimated 3 to 10 percent of total healthcare expenditures. Healthcare fraud amounted to between $75 billion and $250 billion, based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ data for 2009.

Just in the area of property and casualty insurance, there are numerous ways unscrupulous individuals try to get money illegally. These are some of the best-known types of insurance fraud:

• Auto glass fraud
• Inflated tow/storage charges
• Hail damage
• Farm losses
• Auto repair/body shop
• Staged/caused accidents
• Arson for profit
• Phony auto theft for profit
• Organized group/ring activity
• Workers compensation fraud

On the other sides of the puzzle are the “good guys.” Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, as one of his priorities when he took office earlier this year, has added attorney Drew Lane to head the department’s fraud unit.

According to the commissioner, Drew is a former district attorney and knows how to work with the state’s 49 district attorneys and their staffs to help them make stronger cases that can be effectively prosecuted. Said Hudgens, “We are excited to have a person of Drew’s caliber in this role, and we look forward to significantly stepped up prosecutorial efforts.”

“Georgia is fortunate to have insurance fraud statutes,” Lane said. ”There are several states that do not have any at all.”

Lane noted that many district attorneys do not have enough resources for units specialized in the prosecution of white-collar crime. “Our mission is to be an effective resource for the district attorneys and for our investigators to present cases to the prosecutors in such as way as to make it easier to evaluate and prosecute them.”

“We want those who scheme against the public and their insurers to know Georgia is not a good place to do business,” Lane emphasized.

He added that one of the insurance commissioner’s priorities is that he and is will staff go after a broad spectrum of insurance fraud. Lane added, “We want to reduce the cost and other ill effects of insurance fraud, and we want this criminal element to know the DOI is serious about it.”

“We greatly appreciate the support we have received this year by the General Assembly in passing House Bill 423 which, among other things, provides consumers a five-day right of rescission regarding contracts signed with roofing contractors who have solicited the homeowners through door-to-door and related sales tactics.”

“We already partner with the special investigative units of insurance companies and other organizations such as the National Insurance Crime Bureau to fight fraudulent claims,” Lane added.

“The Insurance Commissioner’s Office will be adding more ‘boots on the ground’ to more effectively work with prosecutors and provide more resources for them to fight insurance fraud, and we want to make ourselves more accountable and efficient in this effort,” Lane concluded.

Today’s unstable economic situation has forced many a nine-to-fiver into a new career not based in some swanky office complex but in an unused bedroom or den at home. This is where the entrepreneur starts out with a great idea, a laptop, an Internet connection and a dream that he or she can not only survive but make it big.

OK, here’s one of those landing gear things to consider. You are “safe” in your home. You go online to a legal forms site and fill out a few forms, and now you are Way Cool LLC or Hot Stuff Inc. You get a smart phone and a web-based service that makes you sound like a very cool dude with a neat phone system.

Let’s get back to your spacious office in the den or an unused bedroom. So, you have office equipment, files, a paper shredder, sales materials and a desk system you bought at a discount furniture store.

One day you are on a business call and your home is reduced to a pile of rubble during a thunderstorm because an ill-placed lightning bolt nailed your international headquarters.

Not to worry. You have a good homeowners insurance policy, right? Wrong. The home-based business you have grown is not covered. You may have a limit of $2,500 and only $250 for off-premises business losses. You are most likely going to need more coverage if a major claim arises.

Besides the office equipment you might lose via fire or theft, a client may visit you and fall down your staircase. Now you are face to face with a potential liability claim that would not be covered under your homeowners policy.

How is Hot Stuff Inc. or Way Cool LLC going to survive if your losses cannot be covered since your homeowners policy excludes business claims?

A home-based business insurance policy, generally costing less than $500 per year, could provide coverage for your business property for up to $10,000 and would include general liability coverage between $300,000 and $1 million. If you had to shut down your business due to damage to your home, such a policy would cover the income the business loses and even ongoing expenses, such as payroll, for up to one year. There is also limited coverage for loss of valuable documents, accounts receivables and use of equipment.

While your auto policy may cover some limited use for business, it would likely not cover you if the vehicle is used primarily for business. It will also not cover your vehicle if it is owned by the business. You would want to protect yourself from liability if you are in an accident where you are at fault. You may be sued both personally and against your business.

If your business grows and you have three or more employees, you should contact the state department of workers compensation to see if you are required to provide workers comp insurance.

Anyone starting a home-based business or growing such a business should contact your insurance agent or company to discuss your business needs and the types of coverage suited for your business.

Somewhere between “We’re all doomed” and “Don’t worry, be happy,” a reality exists that has a nasty habit of showing up every few years somewhere.

Consider these examples: The earthquake and tsunami devastation in Japan, and what may still happen there. The destruction wrought by Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, Rita, and Ike. Tornadoes recently smashed their way through the South and other parts of the country, and don’t forget the incredible flooding that affected many parts of the U.S. this winter.

So many federal, state, business and volunteer organizations try their best to warn us to be prepared for a variety of infrequent but definitely predictable catastrophes that can and do occur. But we go on with our daily activities and we do not want to consider even the possibility that there’s danger out there.

It’s horrible to watch news reports of literally thousands of people suddenly washed away by a tsunami that followed a 9.0 earthquake in a nation with one of the most sophisticated economies in the world. And don’t forget a nuclear power plant was operating in the same coastal area where the quake and tsunami struck.

Closer to home, take a moment and go to http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/seismic/recenteqs/REQ2.html and look at the earthquake map and see what’s transpired in the last several years in our own back yard.

On April 28th, Georgia and many other states will participate in the Great Central U.S. Shake Out. The goal of this event is for as many families as possible to practice how to protect yourselves during earthquakes, and to get prepared. The details are found at http://www.shakeout.org/centralus/.

As you may have heard, we are now in severe weather season across the Southeast and serious weather events have already been recorded. Does your family have a weather alert radio on at all times in your home? They’re readily available from big box home improvement retailers and worth the minimal investment.

All state and local emergency management agencies, the insurance industry and hundreds of safety, church and volunteer organizations continually remind us to prepare a family disaster plan so that everyone knows what to do in case of fire, tornado, floods or other calamities where danger is a real threat.

The question is: Do You Have A Plan and Has Your Family Rehearsed It? Does everyone know what to do and where to go should something catastrophic happen? Go to http://www.ready.gov for help with a family plan.

Do you know what is and what is not covered in your homeowners, renters or auto insurance policies that are related to high winds, flooding, fire, earthquakes or lightening? Earthquakes and flooding are typically not covered by homeowners insurance or renters insurance. In this part of the country, earthquake coverage is added to your homeowner’s policy by an addendum and there are typically policy limits as to what is and what is not covered and for how much. Flooding typically requires a separate policy in order to have any coverage from rising water. Without renters insurance you have no coverage for your possessions that may be damaged or destroyed.

What happens if you are in a high water situation and your vehicle fills with water? Are you covered?

This is yet another part of your planning process to be prepared for the unexpected. Call your agent or insurance company and make sure you know what coverages you have and what you may need before a calamity. Having the right answers to these questions can make all the difference when disaster strikes.

· Protect people which means employees and visitors as well as property

· Identify how to get critical business operations running as quickly as possible

· Minimize the amount of down-time so you don’t lose customers/clients to competitors

Is that all? Actually, there is a very well thought out program to help guide the small business owner through the steps to make sure your business is as protected as it can be from potential disaster.

It’s called Open For Business® and available free online at http://www.DisasterSafety.org. There’s a link on the Home Page.

Some of the basic planning steps include, but are not limited to:

· Identify the potential impacts that threaten the business and their potential severity

· Put a framework in place for building resilience

· Create response procedures to prevent chaos and get the business quickly going again

· Make a well-thought-out business recovery plan

I have been surprised by the number of business owners I speak with who never get around to making regular back-ups of their data and consider where those back-ups should be stored. Just like not keeping the original of a home inventory in your home should it be destroyed, data back-ups must be made frequently and safely stored off-site and/or online.

The structure of your business location, whether in a home, an office complex, a shopping center or a free-standing building, presents its own set of concerns that must be considered in case of a catastrophe.

Safety and emergency procedures are vital for the business operator, customers and visitors as well as employees who should know what to do and when in a variety of potential situations.

Something as simple as a power outage can get your attention even for a few minutes or an hour, so the owners must think in much bigger terms as to who does what and when.

Think about it. It’s not just thunderstorms or tornadoes or hurricanes. What about the potential for a pandemic, or an underground natural gas supply line explosion such as what happened in California recently. How many businesses never thought they’d be flooded out until the water was knee deep?

Communication with employees, customers and vendors cannot be overstated, as are other issues such as inventory replacement or even protection of your property and goods after a disaster.

Open For Business® is a must-view, and using the materials provided can make a huge difference in how you and your business fair in a disaster situation.

While local and state governments, along with FEMA and state National Guard units, work hard to get their plans updated, there are a few million people involved in these states that often miss the point of why these drills take place and what it means to prepare.

Let’s look at what happened starting from the recent past with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, and devastating floods that affected several states more than once. Look at the sky the next time a severe thunderstorm approaches and watch the cloud to ground strikes that invariably result in house, apartment and business fires that destroy not just things but often kill people.

How many people will continue to lose their lives because they refuse to evacuate when a major hurricane is headed their way? How many people continue to get trapped in quickly rising water because they ignore weather warnings, don’t pay attention to local news or have a weather alert radio?

How many homes and apartments catch fire from lightening or other causes, and the occupants have no evacuation plan, no idea of how they can get out of their dwelling if the main exits are blocked, or don’t even have working smoke alarms at home?

There are many steps we can take to do our part to protect life and limb.

• A weather alert radio is a must in every home since often disasters occur after TVs and broadcast radios are turned off.
• Working smoke detectors are a must. When the alarm starts to chirp, change the batteries. Don’t just throw them away.
• Families with small children or disabled adults should rehearse fast evacuations so everyone knows what to do and where to go if a problem occurs anywhere in the home or apartment.
• Take the time to consider where you are in relation to potential flooding when not at home and what to do if floodwaters develop. The state’s emergency management agency web site and the FEMA web site are good sources along with the Institute for Business and Home Safety and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.
• When evacuation orders are given, GO! The longer a family waits to act, the more difficult it is to get through heavy traffic.
• An emergency kit can be very helpful in your vehicle if a rapid evacuation is required. First aid kit, drinking water for each family member, non-perishable food and a place for prescription medications for anyone in the family who may need them are important. Also, a waterproof container for important family papers is recommended such as insurance policies, family contact information, and other papers that may be hard to replace.

There are many other action items that should be considered.

• Familiarity with alternate evacuation routes since interstates become crowded very fast.
• A working fire extinguisher.
• Battery or hand-crank am/fm/weather radio.
• Battery-powered lights including flashlights, lanterns and flashing red lights for emergency notification are a must.

The important issue is to be aware that bad things don’t happen only to other people. When severe weather approaches, or other disasters occur such as an explosion at a chemical plant or a train derailment, we may be involved whether we are ready or not. Best to be ready.

Severe Weather Week occurs annually in February and is all about the importance of planning and preparation.

The question is: Who is planning and preparing? The government and social service agencies that support those in harm’s way certainly do, but what about those of us who too often think, bad stuff happen to others, but not to me.

Look at the last year and consider the tornadoes, floods, lightning-caused fires and traffic crashes caused by blinding rain and very slick roadways.

In a recent column we looked at a basic auto insurance policy, but now we turn our attention to the protection we need for where we live, as a homeowner or a renter.

What is in a standard homeowners insurance policy? Here’s how the Insurance Information Institute explains the basic coverages:

• Coverage for the structure of your home.
• Coverage for your personal belongings.
• Liability protection.
• Additional living expenses in the event you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a fire or other insured disaster.

Structure: This part of your policy pays to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged or destroyed by fire, hurricane, hail, lightning or other disaster listed in your policy. It will not pay for damage caused by a flood, earthquake or routine wear and tear. When purchasing coverage for the structure of your home, it is important to buy enough to rebuild your home.

Most standard policies also cover structures that are detached from your home such as a garage, tool shed or gazebo. Generally, these structures have a coverage amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home.

Personal belongings: Your furniture, clothes, sports equipment and other personal items are covered if they are stolen or destroyed by fire, hurricane or other insured disaster. Most companies provide coverage for 50 percent to 70 percent of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home. If you have $100,000 worth of insurance on the structure of your home, you would have between $50,000 to $70,000 worth of coverage for your belongings. The best way to determine if this is enough coverage is to conduct, and keep up to date, a home inventory.

This part of your policy includes off-premises coverage. This means that your belongings are covered outside your home, unless you have decided against off-premises coverage. Some companies limit the amount to 10 percent of the amount of insurance you have for your possessions. You have up to $500 of coverage for unauthorized use of your credit cards. However, expensive items like jewelry, furs and silverware are covered, but there are usually dollar limits if they are stolen. Generally, you are covered for between $1,000 to $2,000 for all of your jewelry, furs and similar valuables. To insure these items to their full value, purchase a special personal property endorsement or floater and insure the item for its appraised value.

Trees, plants and shrubs are also covered under standard homeowners insurance. Generally these have a coverage amount equal to 5 percent of the amount of insurance on the house — up to about $500 per item. Perils covered are theft, fire, lightning, explosion, vandalism, riot and even falling aircraft. They are not covered for damage by wind or disease.

Liability protection: Liability covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members cause to other people. It also pays for damage caused by your pets. So, if your son, daughter or dog accidentally ruins your neighbor’s expensive rug, you are covered. However, if they destroy your rug, you are generally not covered.

The liability portion of your policy pays for both the cost of defending you in court and any court awards — up to the limit of your policy. You are covered not just in your home, but anywhere in the world.

Liability limits generally start at about $100,000. However, experts recommend that you purchase at least $300,000 worth of protection. Some people feel more comfortable with even more coverage. You can purchase an umbrella or excess liability policy that provides broader coverage, including claims against you for libel and slander, as well as higher liability limits. Generally, umbrella policies cost $200 to $350 for $1 million of additional liability protection.

Your policy also provides no-fault medical coverage. In the event a friend or neighbor is injured in your home, he or she can simply submit medical bills to your insurance company. This way, expenses are paid without a liability claim being filed against you. You can generally get $1,000 to $5,000 worth of this coverage. It does not, however, pay the medical bills for your family or your pet.

Additional living expenses: This pays the additional costs of living away from home if you can’t live there due to damage from a fire, storm or other insured disaster. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other reasonable living expenses incurred while your home is being rebuilt. Coverage for additional living expenses differs from company to company. Many policies provide coverage equal to about 20 percent of the insurance on your house. You can increase this coverage, however, for an additional premium. Some companies sell a policy that provides an unlimited amount of loss-of-use coverage, but for a limited amount of time.

If you rent out part of your house, this coverage also reimburses you for the rent that you would have collected from your tenant if your home had not been destroyed.

Renters: If they purchase renters insurance, they have much the same coverage as homeowners with the exception of the coverage for the structure. That is the responsibility of the landlord. The renter is protected for loss of personal belongings, liability and additional living expenses, but the cost of a renters policy costs much less since there is now structure coverage.

Sadly, less than 50 percent of renters obtain this coverage so they have no financial protection in case of a fire, theft, disaster or liability claim that the policy would have covered.

Protecting yourself and your family has many aspects including adequate insurance for your home, owned or rented.

Simply put, a lack of experience directly affects the recognition of as well as the response to hazardous situations. That leads to both speeding and tailgating. And there's more.

Night driving is a major factor as are teen passengers. I've had experience with all these and other factors in my years as a newspaper and TV news reporter, as well as my work with the property and casualty insurance industry.

I have seen what happens when teens are involved in early-evening and late-night crashes. Experts note these are the times of day when the most accidents occur with teen drivers. And it is no surprise there is a greater chance of teen-involved accidents when other teens are present.

Not long ago, while watching a TV show, I heard the squeal of brakes and then a loud "thud" just up the street from my home. It was mid-evening, and we live near a hill.

The motorist was driving too fast down the hill, and when all was said and done, the car did a 180-degree slide, hit the curb and came to rest in the front yard of a home. Hopefully, this was a life lesson none of the four teens in the car will forget.

The car jumped the curb but missed the trees in the yard.This was a classic situation: After dark, all teens in the vehicle, traveling too fast on a hill and a loss of control. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 2,739 drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2008, down 13.7 percent from 3,174 in 2007 and down 20.2 percent from 3,431 in 1998. An additional 228,000 young drivers were injured in 2008.

One key factor attributed to the drop in fatalities was the enactment in most states of graduated drivers license laws for the youngest teen drivers. Under graduated drivers license laws, Alabama requires a 6-month learner's permit along with intermediate or provisional license requirements, restrictions on night driving, restrictions on passengers and cell phone/texting while driving.

Georgia and Mississippi require a 12-month learner's permit and restriction on talking on a cell phone while driving. Mississippi does not have a passenger requirement.

Tennessee has a 6-month learner's permit as well as a cell phone restriction.

The only state with virtually no restrictions other than a six-month learner's permit is North Dakota.

There were more than 208.3 million licensed drivers in the U.S. as of 2008 according to federal agencies, and that included 12.9 million drivers between the ages of 16 and 20.

The largest segment of drivers in that year was 41.5 million in the 35-44-age bracket. Drivers 65-and-older totaled 31.2 million, but more than 10,000 "baby-boomers" a day are now turning 65 and will continue to do so for nearly 20 years according to recent news reports.

The problems of preventable mistakes by teen drivers continue to pose challenges in search of solutions.

The New York City-based Insurance Information Institute provides a streamlined explanation of each and how it applies to the owner of the policy.

To have enough liability insurance is very important because if you are involved in a serious accident, you may be sued for a large sum of money. Definitely consider buying more than the state-required minimum to protect assets such as your home and savings. In Georgia, the minimum required is $25,000/$50,000/$25,000.

The first $25,000 refers to the total amount of coverage for injuries to one person in the other vehicle. The $50,000 refers to the total amount of coverage for all individuals in the other vehicle.

However, this coverage is not included in the so-called minimum limits coverage mandated in Georgia or many other states.

Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $500 deductible, though you may want to opt for a higher deductible as a way of lowering your premium. Comprehensive insurance will also reimburse you if your windshield is cracked or shattered. Some companies offer glass coverage with or without a deductible.

Underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when an at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to pay for your total loss. This coverage will also protect you if you are hit as a pedestrian.

Not all of these coverages are part of the minimum limits mandated by many states. Minimum limits leaves the policy holder financially at risk. Additionally, other optional coverages may include reimbursement for towing charges or roadside assistance.

Already this year we have heard of house and apartment fires typically from space heaters, electrical shortages or food left on stoves, not to mention lightening or in the case of apartments or rented condos, a fire started in another unit destroys yours and several others as well.

When the flood waters recede, the smoke clears or the or the burglars are gone, you are likely to be in touch with your insurance agent or company to file a claim for what was destroyed, ruined or stolen.

Sadly, more than 50 percent of renters across the nation do not obtain renters insurance. Their losses are not recoverable. Homeowners usually have insurance mainly because their mortgage holder requires it.

Either way, in order to prove to your insurance adjuster what you had and its value, your best proof is a home inventory of your possessions. You cannot just guess at what you had. You must be able to provide reasonable proof in order to receive the most compensation according to the terms of your policy. Here’s how to create the inventory as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The low tech way: List all your belongings room-by-room. Start in the entry area and write down every piece of furniture, lamps, mirrors, wall hangings, chairs, jewelry and even clothing.

Here’s the important part. Make note of when each item was purchased, what it cost and a brief description. Above all, take a photograph of it or videotape the room and its contents. This can be done on an 8x10 or 11x14 legal note pad or even plain paper, but the most important thing is to do it.

The high tech way: Don’t worry because it’s free if you have a connection to the Internet. Go to the website of the Georgia Insurance Information Service, http://www.giis.org. In the upper left portion of the screen is a blue and gray button that says “Download Free Home Inventory Software.” Connect to the “Know Your Stuff” page from the Insurance Information Institute.

This free web-based program provides an easy-to-use program where you can enter, on a room-by-room, each item. You may also upload your pictures or video of your possessions. The program not only keeps track of each item after you enter the information, but it can print reports room-by-room, and provides totals of the value of all items listed in each room. If you use a spreadsheet program, you can do it yourself, but it’s more time consuming to do the initial set-up.

Here’s the most important part once the inventory is done. Using Know Your Stuff, the information is kept on-line in a secure, password-protected program. No matter how the inventory is created, written or by computer, store a complete copy in a bank safety deposit box or provide several copies to relatives. Keeping a copy in your home may be helpful, but if your home or apartment is destroyed, there goes your inventory.

Once it’s complete, remember to update it every time you either get something new or you get rid of something so it is always accurate.

Keep in mind that once winter is over, here comes the spring severe weather season with tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and high winds. By early summer, it’s hurricane season in the Southeast and then the cycle starts over.

A home inventory, whether you rent or own, is the most accurate way to prove to your insurer a detailed rundown of what you had and what you may have lost, what the value of these items is, and how much you may be able to recoup from your insurer to purchase new things. The importance of an inventory cannot be over stated when disaster strikes.

There’s one or two days a week that the bad guys eagerly wait for. It’s the “Come Burglarize My House” sign that may be in your yard. The day before and the day of trash pick-up are great for cruising. That’s when most of us put out, along with our regular trash, the empty boxes from the new HDTVs, computers, appliances and other goodies we buy ourselves during the holidays.

Here is something to think about to help with home safety precautions.

1. The bad guys just make notes of the addresses where they see the empty boxes and come back when no one is home.
2. Many shoppers hold on to the box for a while in case something goes wrong with the newly purchased gadget and it must be returned. When it’s time to get rid of the box, think about these ways to do it:
   * Take the box to a recycling center for disposal.
   * Break up the box and put it in one or more trash bags so outsiders don’t know what it is.
   * Repurpose the box, if possible, for storage in your home.
3. Consider more use of intrusion alarms and better household security measures. Unlocked windows and doors give burglars easy access. Sadly, there are many of us who have burglar alarms but don’t take the time to use them.

There’s another precaution that slips by those of use who use social networks on the Internet.

Watch what you say on-line with comments on Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace or any other social networking site.

Bad guys look for users who announce to the world they are on vacation, at out-of-town meetings or traveling with friends or family.

There is even a web site that posts just such messages in an effort to let people know how dangerous too much information can be.

Don't let a Grinch burgle your home and ruin your holiday.

“Look,” I said. “A problem up ahead.” As we rounded a curve there were three sets of flashing blues, and by the time we got closer there were six police vehicles parked along the curb, red warning cones behind and in front of each vehicle.

“It looks like a fatality situation,” I said. “There are way too many police cars for just a wreck scene.”

As we came close to the intersection, there it was. A Honda Gold Wing motorcycle lay on its side, wheels away from the road and the seat facing the road. Several officers were talking while traffic was forced to merge to one lane as we all passed slowly.

Sadly, I was right. In the morning paper I saw the story about a 60-year old male who died at the hospital some time after the motorcycle crashed. Then I read on.

The story reported that police are looking for a black or gray Ford F-150 extended cab pick-up. A university sticker was seen on the back of the pick-up. Witnesses reported that the crash occurred when the truck changed lanes in front of it.

Every day I scan news media reports from several Southern states and many national media. Virtually every week I see stories from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida where at least one cyclist has died or been seriously injured. Just as sad, these crashes are not limited to motorized vehicles. Bicyclists do not escape the wrath of four wheeled vehicles either.

So what happened that evening an hour or so before we drove by? Was the truck driver under the influence when he suddenly changed lanes? Was he or she on a cell phone and failed to notice the Gold Wing? Was it just a moment of inattention, and the driver doesn’t even realize what happened?

At this point I don’t suppose it matters to the gentleman who is no longer with us. It should matter to the rest of us, though. Changing driving habits is not easy for one or two individuals, much less an entire society.

What does make sense is that we who drive miles and miles every day should try to whatever we can to remember that virtually every vehicle, including motorcycles, is equipped with turn signals. If you can, don’t change lanes without using them to let others know what you are about to do.

Keep in mind that motorcycles and bicycles are, indeed, harder to see for many motorists than another four-wheeled vehicle.

Yes, there are a few hotrod cyclists out there, most often on “bullet bikes,” who test our patience. However, many drivers of cars and trucks don’t have a corner on the safety market either.

“Live and let live” seems to be a better alternative than “tough luck.”

This applied research and training facility, according to IBHS, will significantly advance building science by enabling researchers to more fully and accurately evaluate various residential and commercial construction materials and systems. The facility is entirely funded by the property insurance industry.

The laboratory’s 750,000-gallon water tank will supply the test chamber’s 200 nozzles, capable of creating “rain” at a rate of up to eight inches per hour. In addition, hailstones, burning embers and different types of “debris” will be introduced into the windstream via a series of special ducts and other mechanical systems as part of a variety of tests.

“The new lab is a tangible, dramatic, generous demonstration of the property insurance industry’s deep commitment to reducing and preventing losses that disrupt the lives of millions of home and business owners each year,” said Julie Rochman, IBHS’ president and CEO. “We are confident that IBHS’ scientific research will greatly improve residential and commercial design and construction — and we are very excited to get to work.

Initial research at the IBHS Research Center will focus on improved roofing performance. Because roof covers are replaced more frequently than any other building component, changes in roofing products and installation requirements can produce significant paybacks within a short period of time.

Priority areas of testing include studying performance of shingles in various windstorm conditions, exploring the effects of short- and long-term aging on roofing material and systems, as well as developing cost-effective methods to retrofit various systems to reduce damage and losses.

“In addition to wind alone, damage from wind driven hail, water and fire will be core components of our research programs,” said Dr. Timothy Reinhold, IBHS senior vice president of research and chief engineer. “There is so much to be learned about new construction as well as how best to retrofit existing buildings now that we can closely watch building materials and entire systems perform in real world conditions. We are pleased that even at this early point in our initiative, we already are able to forge significant partnerships with leading public, private, and academic institutions who appreciate the quantum leap forward the findings from our lab will mean for building science in this country.”

Testing at the lab also will enable the insurance and construction industries to learn more about “green” building components and techniques. Research will focus on the durability and resiliency of sustainable building technology, with particular emphasis on the potential for a technology to either reduce or increase property losses.

Russ hit on a couple of winners: Turn signals. Most folks would never miss them if they weren't on their cars since they don't use them anyway. Or they flip them on 14 blocks ahead of where they are planning to turn.

Especially for motorcyclists: Never trust turn signals, but if you see one blinking, ride like they will turn but be prepared if they don't!

What's with aggressive drivers who think they are playing a video game with their constant weaving in traffic?

TM makes a great point: 60 miles an hour equals 88 feet per second. Take your eyes off the road as you Twitter, look at a navigation system or dial the phone for three seconds, and you just about travel the length of a football field.

And that is a "slow" 60 miles per hour.

Carol read my mind: I am at a stop sign waiting for an oncoming car that has the right of way. I wait and wait for the driver to get to the intersection only to see the driver make a turn instead of passing through the intersection.

What turn signals? I could have been several hundred yards down the road before he ever got to the intersection if the turn signal was used. What a waste of my time and gas.

(The trouble is, Carol, it's not about you or me. It's about the other driver.)

Bill has an excellent observation: If you try to drive at the speed limit, you will get run over, especially on interstates.

Fred has an observation about slow motion: Drivers who turn left onto a driveway or another street go so slow that it seems they expect the vehicle to tip over. Following at a very safe distance cannot be overstressed.

Mary appreciates the meaning of merging madness: Entering an interstate or major road is difficult since cars and trucks often don't move over. Merge means to "move over, please" and "yield" means you have to wait for a safe opening. Why is that so difficult?

(Mary, please see my note to Carol above.)

Several e-mails also mentioned the pedestrian who takes his or her life in hand when crossing a street even in a designated crosswalk.

One South Carolina reader correctly pointed out that state law requires motorists to yield to pedestrians. Ditto for Georgia. To paraphrase a Tina Turner song, "What's state law got to do with it?"

The contributions from our readers are greatly appreciated. When we share mutual experiences on our roadways, we understand all too well the dangers and aggravations we face daily.

Other than a pair of torn pants, I was none the worse for wear.

I know real slip-and-fall incidents happen, but I didn't make an issue of it. That being said, businesses are increasingly paying more attention to these claims and how they supposedly occurred.

Slip-and-fall claims targeting businesses and their insurance companies are being scrutinized more carefully for potential fraud, according to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). An analysis of questionable slip-and-fall claims submitted by NICB member companies showed a 57 percent increase in the number of referrals over the past two and a half years.

More than 4,600 questionable claims were received in 2008, 2009 and through the first half of 2010. Most of those claims were tied to commercial policies, meaning individuals file claims against businesses for so-called injuries while on the property owned by the business.

"While many people have legitimate accidents in stores and businesses across the country, we've seen a growing number of cases that have some indication of potential fraud," said Joe Wehrle, NICB president and chief executive officer. "Our agents, working with insurance company investigators and law enforcement, are busy identifying and targeting organized criminal rings that make a good living staging slip-and-fall accidents."

According to Wehrle, these "accident teams" come into an area and hit several retailers, grocers or other businesses with sophisticated schemes and professional execution. They hope to collect a quick payout and move on before anyone realizes what's going on.

Here's how a typical slip-and-fall case works:

It may involve two people going into a big box store or retailer and splitting up. The first person goes down an aisle while the other keeps a lookout. When the coast is clear, he or she pulls out a small bottle of liquid, pours it on the floor and then pretends to fall on the floor. The partner runs to assist and tells everyone he or she witnessed the fall.

NICB reports it works with insurers to raise the awareness level and urges companies to analyze claims before they pay. The bad news is many retailers are self-insured and look at this as a cost of doing business.

They will write a check without investigating.

NICB reports these costs add up to millions of dollars in unwarranted payouts.

"We're reaching out to these companies and urging them to join us in fighting commercial fraud," Wehrle said.

He said the NICB has increased its focus on commercial fraud, as well as slip and falls and workers' compensation fraud. These cases are priorities for many of its member companies who write commercial policies.

The number of questionable slip-and-fall claims submitted to NICB went from 325 in the first quarter of 2008 to a high of 565 in the fourth quarter of 2009. In the first half of this year, 997 claims were referred to NICB for further analysis.

New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Chicago were the five cities with the most questionable claims for slip and falls, and California, Florida, New York, Illinois and Texas were the top five states.

Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422) or by visiting nicb.org.

You may also text your information to TIP411, keyword "FRAUD."

NICB is supported by nearly 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. Other fraud issues investigated by NICB include medical fraud, staged accidents and other automobile fraud and roof hail damage fraud schemes.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes co-sponsored a news conference and seminar September 14th in Marietta, Ga. for a gathering of emergency response professionals to discuss the lack on information retained by the public on the need for flood insurance.

As one of the presenters, I focused on the issue of how homeowners and renters can protect their property and/or belongings from the damage and destruction of flood events.

The perception among homeowners and renters that flooding “just can’t happen where I live” is often misguided. After more than 20 inches of rain fell last week in Austin, Texas, and after the devastating floods one year ago in the metro Atlanta area, more and more individuals see how flooding can, indeed, happen to them, but the number of those who obtain a flood insurance policy continues to be considerably lower than the number of those at risk.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), county emergency management agencies and property and casualty insurance companies continue to advise the public about the importance of flood insurance since homeowners and renters policies typically do not cover losses from flooding, also known as rising water.

There is a very easy way to find out what your relative risk is for flooding based on the flood plain maps developed by FEMA. On the web, go to www.floodsmart.gov . This FEMA website has a red box where one can enter a home address, city state and zip code and indicate if this is or is not a residence. The viewer is then shown whether the address has a low or medium risk , or a high risk, of flooding.

What many homeowners and renters fail to understand is that flood insurance is the only protection one has for expenses to building and contents damage or destruction. Renters obtain coverage for contents only since the landlord is responsible for the building.

Flood policies have limits. Generally, up to $100,000 for contents and $250,000 for the structure. Flood insurance is administered by FEMA and is usually obtained through agents of property and casualty insurers for homeowners or renters. Due to the limits of coverage, for those with high value homes, excess coverage is also available to fill the gap between the regular FEMA coverage and the actual value of the home and belongings.

Another significant issue discussed with the media and those attending the seminar relates to the definition of a 100-year or 500-year flood since the public sometimes perceives that these types of floods only occur once in 100 or 500 years. In truth, they can occur virtually any time as we have seen recently.

As was pointed out, the damage and destruction that resulted from Hurricane Ike that first hit the Texas coast was much more serious as the remnants of the storm crossed the Midwest due to the intense rain and related severe storms.

The bottom line for homeowners and renters should be very clear. Check your relative risk with the Floodsmart website and talk with your insurer about the cost to protect you financially from flooding either in a home or a rental unit. The sight of interstates under water, vehicles floating down city streets, and boat rescues at homes and apartments are more common than many people think.

Without adequate coverage, these flooding incidents can be financially devastating.

There are times when certain coverages can be helpful and others when they are simply not necessary.Also, some of the services offered are actually not insurance but are, in fact, a warranty. The e-How website describes the difference this way: "A warranty insures that maintenance will be covered for normal wear and tear while insurance provides you the comfort of knowing your property will be replaced or repaired if damaged."

I rent vehicles regularly for business travel, and I always decline the additional insurance offered by the rental agency because I have auto insurance coverage under my personal policy for my own vehicles.

An exception might be if the renter doesn't own a vehicle and has no personal insurance or if the renter has dropped collision from their auto insurance. Then the add-on may be something that should be considered but not before doing some pre-rental research.

Another suggestion for your financial protection involves the use of major credit cards. Check with your card company to find out whether your financial institution provides some level of protection if your rental vehicle is damaged or destroyed in a traffic crash.

-- A consumer can take several actions before making a commitment to purchase these types of policies, especially if they are offered by a third party such as a rental agency or other salesperson.

-- Check with your personal insurance agent to see whether your current coverage provides protection with an existing policy such as I pointed out regarding vehicle rental insurance.

-- Before you buy, look into the cost of the warranty along with any articles on the product, such as from Consumer Reports.

Is travel insurance necessary? As one who is pulled in many directions regarding disaster responses and other quickly developing events, I might very well consider travel insurance to cover trip costs should I have to cancel at the last minute.

There are stipulations on different types of travel insurance policies, so check to see what is and is not covered. Add-on policies - like all insurance - are purchased because someone feels they have a risk. Making sure you have the right type and amount of insurance means you are better protected.

Unlike the California situation where a wreck and a very old car were involved, the typical cause of vehicle fires includes mechanical or electrical failure. The usual culprits are leaks of flammable liquids or oils, brakes and worn-out parts.

The danger of vehicle fires is very serious. Looking into this issue, we have a magnified problem in the Southeast, especially in this summer heat.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, most highway vehicle fires occur annually in July and August.

In fact, 49 percent of U.S. highway vehicle fires are attributed to these top three causes. What is even more disturbing is that unlike the California incident, there may be more than one person in the vehicle, oftentimes including an elderly individual, young children or both.

What is important is that vehicle owners should be vigilant and have their vehicles inspected and properly maintained, especially during the hot weather months.

Here are a few ideas to reduce the likelihood of highway vehicle fires and help your vehicle last longer.

• Engine coolant: Maintain the coolant at proper levels during hot summer weather. The vehicle owner’s manual provides additional instruction and it’s a good idea to consult with an auto technician.
• Engine oil level: Motor oil is the lifeblood of the engine because it provides lubrication for moving parts and assists in engine cooling. Maintaining the oil at the proper level reduces the chances of engine damage or failure.
• Belts and hoses: Hot weather puts additional stress on the engine’s belts and hoses. Gaskets and seals may leak, hoses might deteriorate, and belts could become brittle. These factors could cause oil consumption to increase. A failed hose or broken belt may cause the engine to overheat. It is a good idea to regularly inspect the belts and hoses for unusual wear and cracks.
• Keep it clean: A good idea to reduce the likelihood of an engine fire is to have the engine degreased. That will eliminate the buildup of oil and grease.
• Easy does it: All vehicles should be driven easier during hot weather. Especially during heat advisories, motorists should try to avoid heavy traffic, idling, high speeds and, at all times, aggressive driving.

Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability. Most policies provide $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage. If the claim exceeds the limit, the dog owner is responsible for all damages above that amount, including legal expenses. Most insurance companies insure homeowners with dogs. However, once a dog has bitten someone, it poses an increased risk. In Georgia, according to state code, liability can be established if the animal has bitten someone before, or, in jurisdictions where a leash law is in force, the animal is not on a leash when it bites someone.

In these instances, the insurance company may suggest that the homeowner find the dog a new home, or may charge a higher premium, nonrenew the homeowner’s insurance policy when it expires, or exclude the dog from coverage.

Some insurers have taken steps to limit their exposure to such losses. Some require dog owners to sign liability waivers for dog bites, while others charge more for owners of biting breeds such as Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. Others insurers do not offer insurance to dog owners at all. Some will cover a pet if the owner takes the dog to classes aimed at modifying its behavior or if the dog is restrained with a muzzle, chain or cage. The I.I.I. reports it is unlikely that insurers will begin offering specialty insurance policies just for dog bites since the cost of such policies would be prohibitive.

Dog owners in Georgia are liable for injuries their pets cause 1) If the owner knew the dog had a tendency to cause that kind of injury; or 2) If the injury was caused by unreasonable carelessness on the part of the owner.

My unscientific observations are intended to remind us of how these actions can result in traffic crashes that are easily avoided and will help keep our auto insurance rates in check.

There's a law in this state that one should, whenever possible, move to the left lane when a law enforcement officer has a vehicle stopped on the side of the road. Guess how many vehicles don't make the move even when they would have no problem doing so?

Professional truckers get it. If they can move those big rigs, why can't someone driving a two-door sports car? Oh, did I mention the driver is usually on a cell phones in one hand, eating a burger with the other and steering with one knee?

Georgia has just enacted its "no texting while driving law."

OK, that was welcome news, but now we have a new chorus growing at stoplights and stop signs. It's the sound of car horns behind the driver who, while stopped, takes a few seconds to check incoming e-mail on his or her Blackberry or iPhone and doesn't see that the light's changed or the car in front has already moved on.

This problem is getting worse as more and more drivers lower their tolerance for lack of attention by the driver in front.

Here's one that really is a curiosity more than anything else.

When I'm on an interstate, and it really doesn't matter which one, no matter how fast I drive, somebody will pass me. It seems logical that one might go five miles an hour over the posted speed limit on an interstate, but when I'm doing 60 in a 55 mph zone, and the car on my right passes me doing no less than 70, it reminds me of the comedian who noted that speed limit signs must be just a suggestion.

My favorite is the driver who gets behind a transit bus that should have been noticed blocks away and then gets stuck in traffic as the bus stops to let off and take on passengers. That same driver's inattention occurs often when coming up on a traffic crash that blocks part of the road or when construction closes one or more lanes ahead.

The one that really makes me wonder about the attention span of some motorists is the individuals who do not see or hear the police car, ambulance or fire truck coming up behind them with emergency lights flashing, siren and horn blaring.

People learned to walk way before they thought about wagons, cars or other forms of mechanical transportation, so why do so many motorists treat pedestrians like they have no business crossing a street?

Law enforcement puts a sign in the middle of a crosswalk that states what any motorist should know, "Pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk. It's state law." Let's not forget the "you can't see me ... I'm in your blind spot" driver.

There's always someone who likes to drive to your right or left with the front of that driver's vehicle even with your back bumper. That puts him or her in your blind spot so if you decide to change lanes quickly without looking over your shoulder, guess who is at fault in the crash that occurs?

What's your favorite traffic obsession? What makes you nuts when you see other drivers do really weird things in the name of saving a few seconds, or for no particular reason? Let me know and we'll revisit this topic again with several readers' favorites.

Just one more. The oldie-but-goodie set, including me, learned to drive on stick-shift vehicles. Today, it's more of a new thing for many drivers. When stopping at a red light, please put the car or truck in first gear right after you come to a stop so you don't have to fumble with the transmission when the light turns green.

Because of the tremendous pressure on the U.S. economy, this is a good time to review what we often miss about segments of business that are dealt with more on a one-to-one basis.

Georgia's insurance industry has a major impact on the state's economy that extends well beyond providing policies, collecting premiums and settling claims. It is a highly segmented industry that employs licensed professionals, pays a variety of taxes, owns municipal bonds, purchases real estate and serves its customers through financial protection.

As an employer, the insurance industry provided more that 86,400 jobs in 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That accounts for about $5.5 billion in compensation in just one year.

As a significant contributor to the gross state product, the insurance industry added more than $7.5 billion in 2007. In total, that represents 2.3 percent of the state's gross state product.

In addition to paying the usual taxes in Georgia, insurance companies provided more than $348.2 million in premium taxes in 2008, about one half of which goes to the state treasury and the other half to local governments.

Insurance companies invest in state and local municipal bonds that help fund road construction, schools and other public projects. These bonds also provide other businesses with the capital they need for research, expansion and other ventures. A 2007 Insurance Research Council study revealed that property and casualty insurers held more than $9 billion in Georgia municipal bonds in 2005 with educational projects comprising the largest share, 22 percent of the combined total purchased by insurers.

Insurers also help provide economic security for businesses and individuals through claims payments. In 2008, direct property and casualty insured losses reached $9.6 billion. Life insurance claims and benefits payouts in Georgia totaled another $9.6 billion in 2008.

Sadly, catastrophes are a fact of life in Georgia and other states, but the role of property and casualty insurers helps businesses and individuals to recover following these devastating events. Georgia, according to the Insurance Services Office (ISO), is No. 5 on its list of top 10 states experiencing payouts for catastrophes in 2008, with insured losses amounting to $1.04 billion. These catastrophes included Tropical Storm Fay in August and a series of tornadoes in March.

A catastrophe is defined by ISO as an event that causes $25 million or more in insured property losses affecting a significant number of policyholders and insurers.

Back in the dark ages, when I was a young boy, somebody told me if you see a bolt of lightning, count the number of seconds until you hear the thunder. That will give you an idea of how far away the lighting is in miles.

Then I learned a few fundamentals of mathematics, physics and a law or two of nature. The speed of sound is about 1,120 feet per second, so sound is relatively slow moving. A mile is 5,280 feet. So forget that one-second wives' tale. It takes sound about 4.7 seconds to travel 1 mile.

Strike statistics

Lightning is very dangerous to any living thing, not to mention trees, buildings or anything else it might hit.

In 2009, there were 34 lightning fatalities in the U.S., seven more than in 2008, which had 27 fatalities, but seven fewer than the 10-year average of 41. As far as location, the most dangerous place to be is in an open space outside, which accounted for 20 deaths, or 59 percent, of lightning fatalities.

Although personal injury and death is a huge concern, the fact is that 24,600, or 78.3 percent of, lightning strikes between 2002 and 2005 were categorized as "Outside and Other," which includes brush and forest fires.

Strike statistics for other categories in the same time period include:

-- 100 vehicles, or .3 percent

-- 4,800 home structures, or 15.3 percent

-- 1,900 non-home structures, or 6.1 percent

Protect yourself, your property

Be aware of situations that could make your home more vulnerable to lightning.

If struck by lightning, tall trees can topple onto a structure and cause damage and/or fire.

In addition, corrugated stainless-steel tubing, a type of natural gas pipe that has been used in new-home construction during the past several years because it costs less to install than iron pipe, has been found to be a contributing factor in fires and explosions when the tubing is energized by lightning.

Homeowners should investigate products on the market that serve as lightning arresters that make your home more resistant to lightning strikes.

They should also check with their insurance agent or carrier regarding the amount of coverage they have if their home were damaged or destroyed by lightning. They should make sure it's enough given current rebuilding costs.

Lightning also has a track record of not just starting fires, but blowing out electrical systems, including the appliances and other plugged-in devices.

The spring thunderstorm season may have passed, but severe lightning is a constant problem throughout the summer because of the tropical storms that follow hurricanes, severe heat-generated storms and unusual weather patterns.

David Colmans is the executive director of the Georgia Insurance Information Service. Contact him at 770-565-3806 or dcolmans@giis.org.

Lightning Insurance claims

The number of lightning claims and the dollar amount of those losses fell 25 percent from 2008 to 2009, reflecting lower catastrophe losses in 2009. During the same period, the size of the average claim held steady, dropping by less than 1 percent.

The computer system that takes information from auto insurers about their Georgia customers suddenly crashed, preventing insurers from providing current information about new policies, changes in policies and cancellations.

It's known as the Georgia Electronic Insurance Compliance System (GEICS for short). Once the information is received by the state, it's forwarded to the computer system that supplies information to the state's law enforcement officers and each county's the tag and title offices.

When a water pipe burst on the roof of the revenue building in Atlanta, computer systems, including the GEICS data unit, crashed.

The good news is that data already in the law enforcement system up to midnight Saturday is still good, and auto insurance can be verified. The bad news for some motorists is insurance transactions that were not sent to the revenue department prior to midnight Sunday did not get in the system until sometime in the middle of the next week.

This once-in-a-blue-moon incident is a good example of why it is important for all Georgia motorists to keep their valid auto insurance card in their vehicle at all times. Not only is it state law even with the GEICS system in place, but if anyone is stopped by law enforcement and a rare computer crash creates a problem, the insurance card becomes the best proof of insurance at the time.

As a reminder for those motorists who may have lost track of the importance of the GEICS verification system, there are other reasons why it is important for vehicle operators to keep their insurance cards with them at all times:

-- When law enforcement operates a roadside traffic check with so many vehicles, officers usually just ask for the driver's license, insurance card and registration. They don't take the time to run the vehicle license plate as they would during a normal traffic stop.

-- When renting a vehicle, the GEICS system is not available to rental companies; so the insurance card is necessary to prove valid insurance for the driver.

-- When using a loaner vehicle from an auto repair shop, the same is true as with rental companies that the driver must show proof of valid auto insurance.

-- When driving outside Georgia, law enforcement in other states will ask for a valid auto insurance card and problems will occur without it.

With as many computer systems as we have that store and pass on driver's license and auto insurance information, a glitch in any system along the way can create a potential problem for a motorist who is stopped by police or trying to obtain a car tag.

The simple solution is: Don't drive without a drivers' license, a valid auto insurance card and the vehicle registration papers.

This year we watch the endless back and forth of North Korea versus South Korea, a subject very close to me since I served in South Korea in 1962 and 1963 in the U.S. Army.

North Korean guards at the Demilitarized Zone killed a U.S. soldier who was on routine patrol just two weeks before my scheduled rotation back to the U.S. My rotation back went off without a hitch, but to this day I remember the photo of the young Specialist Fourth Class who lost his life.

Across the nation are ceremonies remembering the war dead, but as we enjoy the three-day holiday weekend we are constantly reminded that a brief vacation can easily be marred when the predictions of state highway patrols announce the anticipated holiday fatalities. The Georgia State Patrol says 15 deaths and nearly 2,000 crashes are predicted.

To make this annual ritual of May-June even more weird this year, June 1st begins Hurricane Season that won’t end until November 30th. As we have heard in past years, this season is expected to be more severe not only in the Gulf but in the Western Atlantic as well.

Yes, indeed. The predictions are out and most of us go about our business with the “It’s not going to happen to me” syndrome that comforts us with most predictions of bad news. But this year presents a huge potential problem with the Gulf oil spill.

Weather experts are working on what would happen to the oil if a major hurricane churns up the Gulf currently loaded with a relatively unknown amount of oil scattered for hundreds of miles.

As in years past, the property and casualty insurance industry, along with private and public safety organizations, reminds us to be prepared, and so many of us nod our heads in agreement, but then don't take the action necessary to be prepared. The failure to follow through is especially troublesome because weather situation is much bigger than most realize. When Hurricane Ike ripped through Texas, the damage it did across the mid-western U.S. was terrible with tornadoes, hail, high winds and flooding rain.

Just for the record, a weather alert radio is your safest line of defense when you are at home or at the office since broadcast radio, TV and cable are not usually on when the family is asleep, at school or at work.

A family should know what to do when an emergency arises, and they should know how to safely get out of the home and where to evacuate should the need arise. Dumb luck has far less to do with being safe than a well thought out plan that is rehearsed and clear in everyone’s mind.

May your Memorial Day Holiday be enjoyable and safe.

As someone who has owned 19 homes over the last 40 years, I know from experience that it's important to know about the cost and coverage of insurance and the cost of taxes sooner rather than later in the buying process.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, it is important to factor in the potential insurance costs of the home you are considering because that will affect the overall price of owning the house for the long term, not just at closing time.

"When people look at homes, they tend to focus on factors such as property taxes, neighborhoods, school districts and available recreational and cultural opportunities," said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. "But an often overlooked cost factor is the insurance implications of a specific house."

Often, new homeowners and even experienced ones will wait until right before closing on the home to order their insurance. Since there are several items that you should review, the importance of checking with your agent or company earlier in the process cannot be overstated.

When looking at prospective homes, here are a few questions to ask before signing a contract:

-- How far is the home from the fire department? Houses protected by a fire department with a strong rating usually cost less to insure.

-- What is the condition of the plumbing and electrical systems? Poorly maintained, unsafe and/or outdated systems can cost more to insure, not to mention repair.

-- Is the home vulnerable to wind damage? Find out if private insurance is available or a state-run insurance program. Is there a windstorm deductible, and how high is it? A home on or near the beach may be more costly to insure than one inland. There are other considerations including the potential for tornadoes and thunderstorms packing hail and straight-line winds.

-- Is the house at risk from flooding? Flood insurance is not provided under a standard homeowners insurance policy. However, it is available from the National Flood Insurance Program, which is serviced by private carriers and from a few specialty insurers and is backed by the federal government.

-- What about earthquake risk? Earthquake insurance requires an endorsement or a separate policy, but across the Southeast it will more likely be an endorsement to your homeowner's policy with specific limits. Georgia, for instance, typically is exposed to about two quakes a year on average according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

-- Is the house well built and well maintained? Homes built by reputable builders using disaster resistant materials and designed to meet current building codes are likely to better withstand natural disasters.

-- Another important consideration is your liability insurance. If you have pets, it is important to talk with your insurance agent or company about adequate liability coverage. If you are buying a vacation home, this is a property where you should consider other liability risks as well.

-- One last thing. Property and casualty insurance to repair or replace your home, should something unpleasant happen, is based on the cost of demolition and rebuilding by a builder or remodeler. The market price of a home, which includes the building(s) and land, is not directly related to the square footage cost or other calculation for bringing the property to its original condition. Ask your insurance agent or company about these issues.

A knowledgeable home inspector and your insurance agent can be helpful in answering these questions. The size, location, construction and overall condition of the house can affect the cost, choice and availability of home insurance," noted I.I.I.'s Salvatore.

To educate consumers about the insurance implications of buying a home, the I.I.I. has created the Homebuyers Insurance Checklist. It provides information on what do before buying a house, factors to consider when looking at homes and placing a bid, as well as tips to properly insure your new home. To view the information on the Web, go to http://www2.iii.org/video/buying-a-home.html.

In the early spring, law enforcement, emergency rescue agencies and insurers began our annual journey down the road of public awareness campaigns for severe weather season across much of the country and, most especially, in the South and Midwest.

Sadly, the most difficult area to deal with remains public awareness and the inherent belief that "bad things happen to other people, not to me."

Please note that Mother Nature has both a sense of humor, as seen in this generally beautiful weather, and a nasty streak as evidenced by the April tornadoes that smashed across many southern states.

So it won't happen to me? Let's review what's occurred just recently in global terms.

-- Devastating earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and other countries.

-- A volcanic eruption that brought air transportation to its knees in the northern hemisphere.v

-- Tornadoes, especially in Mississippi.

-- An oil platform explosion so strong the rig collapsed, 11 workers died and an oil slick formed in the Gulf of Mexico larger than the state of Rhode Island. It threatens fishing, wildlife and the vacation industry along the Gulf Coast among other potential disasters.

-- Let's not leave out unexpected industrial issues such as a fire at a chemical plant that sends up a toxic cloud over a large area. That happened in Georgia a few years ago causing numerous evacuations. Where does the feeling of "don't bother me with warnings and alerts" come from?

Good question. There were warnings when the Mississippi tornado approached, but not everyone has a weather alert radio or has their radio or TV on at all times. Earthquakes are, so far, not predictable.

Here's where it really gets to me.

Even when the National Hurricane Center warned residents of Texas that Hurricane Ike was approaching with high winds and a strong storm surge - ditto for Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast - remember how many people died because "riding out a hurricane is what we do."

Just a few days ago, a north Georgia county reported it would stop using its outdoor sirens except for specific tornado warnings because people complained that severe thunderstorm warnings coupled with a tornado watch were too "bothersome."

All these issues result in exposure for individuals regarding their homeowners insurance, renters insurance, auto and liability policies, just to mention a few.

For businesses, disasters involve business interruption insurance, potential relocation costs and/or rebuilding costs, loss of inventory coverage and more.

The airline industry just lost two to three billion dollars due to all the grounded planes from the volcano eruption not to mention what happened to the Iceland residents who live near the volcano. The Gulf oilrig was insured for $560 million by British Petroleum. It's now a mile deep.

Many of these disasters occur regularly. The only questions are when, where and what time? That is why advance preparedness is the first line of defense, not surprise and panic.

However, this is also the time of year that motorcycle thefts increase. Therefore, this is a cautionary tale.

Motorcycle thefts in 2009 continue their downward trend, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

A total of 56,093 motorcycles were reported stolen to law enforcement in 2009, down from 64,492 reported in 2008, a 13 percent drop.

The top five states with the most motorcycle theft activity in '09 were:

These five states accounted for 21,920 thefts, or 39 percent of the total.

Other nearby states include:

Between 2006 and 2009, the total number of reported motorcycle thefts in the U.S. was 253,037, according to the NICB study.

The top five makes stolen last year were:

While there has been a continuing decline in thefts of passenger vehicles and light trucks, the NICB also considers another possible factor contributing to the decline.

"There are fewer targets to steal in the first place," says the NICB. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle sales between 2008 and 2009 were down 40.8 percent.

Likewise, the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association reported a 47.4 percent decrease in motorcycle production in 2009 from 2008 figures. It appears that the economy has had a significant role in at least the recent decline in thefts.

From a recovery standpoint, here are some of the 2009 statistics:

According to Motorcycle Cruiser magazine, here are some of the best ways to prevent motorcycle theft:

It should be no surprise that the summer months of July (6,319); August (6,079); and June (5,672) saw the most theft activity while the fewest were recorded during the winter months of December (2,927); February (3,100); and January (3,570).

The good news is already in place. Great weather for rides. The bad news is don't take it for granted. Safety on the roadways is a must, and caution to keep your ride in your possession is critical.

For more information, go to https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/brochures to review the NICB library of valuable theft and fraud awareness information.