Potatoes and Kielbasa

Here is one of my family's favorite recipes for a cold day when you really want a hearty meal. We simply call it Potatoes and Kielbasa.

Potatoes and Kielbasa

1 pkg polska kielbasa
3-5 potatoes depending on size
onion powder or onions
vegetable oil

1. Cut potatoes into small pieces and boil
2. Slice kielbasa 1/2 inch thick
3. Take boiled potatoes and add to skillet with some vegetable oil
4. Add onion powder or cooked onions to taste
5. Add kielbasa
6. Brown potatoes and kielbasa
7. Serve a warm tasty meal to your family

Holiday Safety Tips

Don't leave your holiday lights on when you leave the house or when you go to sleep. There is always the possibility of a fire so it's best just to turn them on when you can enjoy them.

Make it a holiday tradition to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. You'll keep your family safe and having lots of people around could make a boring task into a fun family tradition.

Make sure you regularly water your live tree. If there is a fire, a well watered tree will not burn as readily as a dry tree.

(An NFPA video comparing the two)

If you choose to have an artificial tree, make sure that it is labeled as fire resistant. 

Only light a fire in your fireplace if the chimney has been cleaned this year by a professional. The creosote that builds up in your chimney is highly combustible, especially in large quantities.

There is a lot of cooking going on during the holidays. Remember to wash your hands and cooking surfaces regularly. It is a good way to prevent the flu and food borne illness.

Stay safe and have a happy holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving

We hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving with the ones you love!

Preparing Your Car for the Winter

It's getting colder and we've already had two snows so far this fall. A few things to remember to check or keep in your car during the winter.

Make sure that:
1. Your tires are in good shape. Enough tread and no dry rot.
2. Your tires are inflated to the proper pressure.
3. You have windshield wiper fluid that is made for cold temperatures
4. Your windshield wiper blades are in good condition.
5. Your heat and defroster work.

In your car keep a:
1. Sleeping bag and/or emergency blankets.
2. Pair of warm socks, an extra pair of gloves, hats and snow pants.
3.Bag of sand
4. Flashing light or road flares
5. Box of granola bars or other shelf stable food
6. Heavy duty jumper cables (they work better and faster than thin ones).
7. Pair of snow boots (whether they are on your feet or in your trunk).

Keep your gas tank full. Go out there and have a good fall/winter knowing that you're prepared in case you get stuck in a snow storm.

Scheduling Items on Your Policy

Certain categories of possessions have a limited amount of coverage on your policy if you do not schedule them. For example on our policies there is a $1,500 limit on jewelry. If you would like to extend that coverage, you would need to get your jewelry appraised and bring us the appraisal. With that information we would be able to cover the loss for the amount of the appraisal as long as you have enough personal property coverage.

This allows you to have specific items fully covered in case of perils or theft. Other commonly scheduled items include: watches, precious and semi-precious stones, gems, and furs and guns.

Mom's Pot Roast Recipe

Winter is starting to creep in and we've already had one snow storm this year. Which means it's pot roast season again! I thought I would share my Mom's delicious recipe for pot roast. It's prefect for those cold days.

Ingredients
3 to 5 pound chuck roast

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/3 cup sherry

2 onions, cut into quarters

2 tsp basil

1 bay leaf

water or beef broth

olive oil

Directions

1) In 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil over high heat, sear roast on both sides until browned, about 1 minute per side.

2) Place the roast in a casserole dish with a cover that fits tightly, add garlic, sherry, basil and bay leaf. Add water or beef broth or a combination of the two until the roast is just covered.

3) Cover and cook at 325 degrees for about 4 hours. The roast is ready when it's fall apart tender.

Remove the roast from the dish and strain the liquid. Use as gravy or au jus sauce.

Building a House? Builder's Risk

Insurance for a house that is being built is called Builder's Risk Insurance. Coverage gradually increases as the home is being built.

What does it protect?
The structure being built, materials, fixtures, equipment being used to build the building

Why do I need this?
The same reason you want insurance on your home and car. You want to reduce your risk.

Why can't I just get a homeowner policy?
Homeowner policies do not cover building projects; they cover fully built homes.

Jess's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies

As a change of pace today we thought we might share Jess's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe. She adapted it from the Nestle Toll House recipe and it is a favorite around the office.

Ingredients:
     2 1/4c all-purpose flour
       1tsp baking soda
       1tsp salt
       1c (2 sticks) butter
       3/4c packed brown sugar
       3/4c raw cane sugar
       1tsp vanilla extract
        2 large eggs
        2c (12oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375° F
• Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl
• Melt butter
• Beat butter, brown sugar, raw cane sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until creamy
• Add eggs on at a time mixing after each addition
• Gradually beat in flour mixture
• Mix in chocolate chips
• Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet.
• Cook at 375° F for 8-11 minutes
• Remove from oven and place on cooling rack
• Enjoy

Traveling? Protect Your Home

There are a few easy things you can do to protect your home while you are travelling.

Stop your mail: Contact your local post office and ask them to hold your mail as of a certain date. You can restart it as soon as you get home. This stops mail from piling up in your mailbox alerting unsavory characters of your absence.

Use timers: You can buy timers that will turn on your electronics at a certain time and turn them off later. A lamp can be set to turn on around sunset and a TV can be set to turn on during the day or at might. People are less likely to notice your absence if electronics and lights are turning on and off in the house than if it is dark and motionless inside.

Ask a neighbor: Before you leave you can ask a trusted neighbor to watch out for your house and make sure nothing suspicious is going on while you're away. If you're not that close with your neighbors, you can always ask a friend to drive by and check on it.

Put the can away: Making sure not to leave you trash can at the curb while you're gone is a good practice. The trash may need to go, but leaving a trash can at the end of your driveway for a week is a dead giveaway that you aren't home. If you really need your trash disposed of you can take it to the dump before your trip or ask a neighbor to put it out and take it in.

Alarm: Having an alarm system in your home is a great asset and can give you piece of mind while on your trip.

Insurance: Last, but definitely not least. Make sure your home has insurance coverage. Many policies cover theft and vandalism.

Prepare Your Home for Winter This Fall

         We've been having a few warm days here and there, but I think its safe to say that fall is upon us. That means its time to do a bit of maintenance on the house before it gets too cold and snowy. I know I'd rather work in a sweatshirt than a big overcoat. Here are a few things you can do to make sure that you protect your property and stay warm and dry during the winter:

• Seal the cracks: Fill in cracks in your driveway now. This will keep your snow shovel sliding smoothly and extend the life of your driveway.

• Declutter your gutter: Clean all the leaf, stick and other debris out of the gutters. It will keep the water (snow melt) running away from your house instead of into it.

• Make sure its tip top: Inspect your roof to make sure that no shingles or metal sheeting is pulled up or missing. If it is, make sure to fix it as soon as possible. 

• Protect your pots: Put any terracotta pots you have inside. Freezing temperatures and water absorption can crack them.

• Replace that filter: Replace the filter on your furnace. The furnace will keep you warmer and it won't have to work so hard.

• Time for a change: Test and replace batteries in your smoke alarms. 

• Fireside checkup:  Check your fireplace for soot and creosote build up and inspect your wood heater before you used them this winter.

• Check for drafts: If you find cracks around your windows, seal them with caulk to prevent drafts and keep you toasty warm in the winter.

Emergency Preparedness Part 2

Create an emergency preparedness kit:

• Three gallons of water for each person (one gallon per day)
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First Aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Infant formula and diapers, if you have an infant
•  Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

Clothing and Bedding:

If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies to account for growing children and other family changes. One complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person, including:

• A jacket or coat
• Long pants
• A long sleeve shirt
• Sturdy shoes
• A hat and gloves
• A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person

Family Supply List (continued)

Below are some other items for your family to consider adding to its supply kit. Some of these items, especially those marked with a * can be dangerous, so please have an adult collect these supplies.

• Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book or a print out of the information on www.ready.gov
• Rain gear
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
• Cash or traveler's checks, change
• Paper towels
• Fire Extinguisher
• Tent
• Compass
• Matches in a waterproof container*
• Signal flare*
• Paper, pencil
• Personal hygiene items including feminine supplies
• Disinfectant*
• Household chlorine bleach* - You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to treat water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
• Medicine dropper
• Important Family Documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container

Make a family disaster plan:

•         Where will you meet if a disaster occurs?
•         Who will be responsible for getting the emergency kit?
•          What can you do to protect your property when warned about a disaster?

Tell your friends about it:

•          Encourage them to create a an emergency preparedness kit and a disaster plan
•          Offer to help them.You can have fun with friends and family while making sure that they'll be ready in case of an emergency

Information is courtesy of ready.gov

National Preparedness Month

September in National Preparedness Month

What can you do to prepare yourself?

 "Washington County Tennessee Citizens Will Be Able To Attend A Class To Educate Them About Disaster Preparedness For Hazards That May Impact Their Area. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office Is Hosting A Community Emergency Response Team, Or Cert Class. The Classes Will Be Held Each Tuesday And Thursday At The Sheriff’s Office Beginning On October 7th From Six P.M. To Nine P.M. To Sign Up For The Class, Call 423-788-1414." -Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation

Here is the link to an extensive preparedness guide from the Washington County-Johnson City Emergency Management Agency.

We will be posting more content on preparedness next week.

Open House

Come by our Mountain City office and say hello on September 9th . We'll be serving hotdogs and a few other goodies from 12-4 and would love to have you come by. Our address is 383 South Shady St. Mountain City, TN.

Protect Yourself From Floods

Protection

Source: SFGATE

• Avoid building on a flood plain unless you elevate and reinforce your home

• Think about installing "check valves" to prevent water from backing up into the drains of your home

• Create and emergency kit and a family flood plan

Why Purchase Flood Insurance

• More the 1/5 of flood claims come from outside mapped high-risk flood areas             

• Most homeowner insurance policies do not cover flooding due to excess rain or bodies of water

• Federal Disaster Assistance is only available if the President declares a disaster

• Flood Insurance is available at any time as long as you have a current policy

How To Obtain Flood Insurance

• Flood Insurance is provided through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

• There are certified agents around the country

• Follow this link to find one in your area: Find a Flood Insurance Agent

What To Do After A Flood 

• Check for structural damage to your home before entering

• Contact your service providers if you suspect any damage to your water, sewer, gas or electric lines

• Boil water for drinking purposes unless the water supply has declared safe

• Take pictures of all damage to your items and structures

• Create a list of damaged or missing items

• Move all wet items that could hold water from your home to prevent mold from growing. Mold can appear between 24 to 48 hours of flood.

• Make sure to leave wet items outside your home because your insurance adjuster will want to see the damage and take pieces of the damaged items

• Call your insurance agent with the name of your insurance company (some agents may write for multiple companies), your policy number, and a phone number or email address where you can be reached

Source: National Flood Insurance Program

What is a mutual insurance company?

East Tennessee Mutual Insurance is of course a mutual insurance company, but what does that mean?

     East Tennessee Mutual Insurance Company was founded in 1896 by a group of farmers who wanted to protect their farms and their homes. Our original name was Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Sullivan County. As a Mutual Company, we are owned by our policy holders, not shareholders which allows us to focus solely on our customers' needs. When you call, a person, not a machine, will answer the phone. We are constantly working to make sure that we are serving our policyholders quickly and efficiently. If you have an issue, we can usually resolve it in a few minutes or at worst, the same day we receive your call. Our company motto is "a personal touch" with "peace of mind."

     Until 2003, our primary focus of coverage was to Farms and Dwellings. Since then, we have expanded our coverage to include full Homeowner's Policies, Dwellings, Mobile Homes, Doublewides, and Rental homes while still offering the coverage to the Farms (Barns, Farm equipment, Livestock and Hay/Grain). Our mission is to be able to offer our policyholders a policy that fits their needs and is affordable.

     We have two locations: one in Blountville, TN and another in Mountain City, TN. We have 10 counties in East Tennessee that we currently write in. We have implemented a few new payment options: In person with cash, check, or credit card; mail in payments; monthly automatic drafts from a bank account; and online (Credit card or Bank draft) www.easttnmutualins.com.

     For 118 years, we have and will continue to grow and adjust to the changing needs of our policyholders. We base our decisions on what is best for our policyholders. Our company still stands by the core values of our original founders by being honest and being a company you can trust and rely on.

Why You Need Home Insurance?

Mortgaged Homes:                                                  

http://usfinancepost.com

If you have a mortgage on your home, you need homeowners insurance as a condition of that loan. This is the way the lender protects the investment that it has in your property. If you were to suffer a catastrophic loss of the home, the lender could recoup the value of the loan from an insurance claim. In this case, you have no choice about seeking out and later renewing your homeowners insurance. If you fail to renew, the mortgage holder will be notified and will likely instate its own policy which can be more expensive than a policy you obtain on the open market.

Catastrophic Loss:                                                         

http://www.pbs.org

If you own your home outright and choose to go without homeowners insurance you are running the risk of suffering the risk of losing what is probably your biggest financial asset. If your home is destroyed, you will have to deal with the consequences of the complete loss of an asset that is probably worth thousands of dollars.

Liability:                                                                        

http://www.gaebler.com

If someone slips and falls or injures themselves in another way on your property, you might be liable for expensive medical bills and the cost of a lawsuit. Homeowners policies cover most if not all of the costs accrued due to medical bills and court costs in liability cases. If you have no insurance, you could potentially be liable for millions of dollars in medical bills and damages.

Financial Consequences:                                                 

Icanhascheezeburger.com

If you drop your homeowners coverage and later decide that you want coverage again from another company, you might find it difficult. Insurers tend to be suspicious of homeowners who drop their coverage. They may refuse to insure you or if you are offered a policy it may be at a significantly higher premium than what you were previously paying because companies will view you as a higher risk. If you drop your homeowners coverage you are not protecting your assets. This can be a red flag to credit card companies and it can negatively effect your credit score.

Protect Your Home After a Storm

.     

How to Protect Your Home After a Storm

Stay Calm

Take a deep breath. It will all be okay.

Document Damage

Take photos of the damage to your home.

Secure your property

Put a tarp over roof damage to prevent further damage.
Board up broken windows to protect the home's interior from the elements.
Turn off water to broken pipes.

Contact your agent

Call us and let us know what is going on so that we can inspect the property and get the claims process started.

Remove Hazards

Cut up any trees that have fallen on your property.
Clean up broken glass from windows.
Clean up excess water from broken pipes.

What Can You Do to Protect your home from Wind

Our area is susceptible to straight line winds which is " any wind generated by a thunderstorm that is not associated with rotation. If winds flowing out from a thunderstorm exceed 58 mph, the storm is
considered severe." (NOAA) There are a few things you can do to help prevent damage to your home during strong winds.

Strap it Down
Hurricane straps connecting your roof to the walls of your home at each rafter can keep the roof on even in very high winds, such as straight line winds. Generally it is easiest to add hurricane straps when you are replacing the roof, but they can also be added by a professional if it will be many years before you replace your roof. Make sure that each level of the home is connected to the rest of it by using straps at each level. Hurricane straps generally cost less that $2 each!
Damage done by straight line winds:

Source:National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office of Louisville, KY
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=photoalbum_thunderstorms_2009

A man that we know had a barn built on his property. He assumed the builder would use hurricane straps, but did not ask. A few months later he had strong winds in his area. The roof blew off his new barn. If the builder had used hurricane straps, he would not have had to file a claim to replace the roof.

Open Out
Doors that open to the outside instead of the inside can also make a huge difference. It is much easier for strong winds to push a door in if it opens to the inside. All that is holding it is a few pieces of metal. Once the door opens, the house is depressurized the wind can cause structural damage.

Put Them Inside or Fasten Them Down
Secure objects that can be blown by the wind. If picked up by the wind, everyday objects have the potential to become missiles. Objects such as canopies and trampolines also have the potential to fly into a neighbor's yard or even your house.

Keep Them Trimmed
Prune trees to keep them away from your home and car. Branches can cause significant damage in strong winds.

Fire Safety

Prevention and Tips in Case of a Fire 

Have at Least One Working Smoke Detector

• Make sure to test it every month. Ideally you would have a smoke detector in every room

Have a Fire Extinguisher

• Having fire extinguishers in the garage and the kitchen can help you halt a fire in its tracks. 

In the Kitchen

• Use baking soda or a fire extinguisher to put out grease fires. Never use flour or water! They can make the fire spread. 
• For small, stove top fires you can place a lid on the pan, turn the heat off and wait for the fire to suffocate.
• If you have a fire in the oven keep the oven door shut and turn off the heat. This will also suffocate the fire.

In the Garage

• Oily rags can spontaneously combust. Make sure to not to leave them in a pile and to wash them right away

If You Can't Control the Fire

Get everyone out of the house and call 911!

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Storms: What to do

We've been getting a lot of rain lately so we figured it was time for some storm preparation tips. 

Prepare your home

There are simple things you can do to minimize the impact of storms on your home and surrounding property, as shown in the following emergency planning checklist:

General home maintenance

• Check your roof regularly to make sure it’s in good condition
• Keep gutters, downspout and drains clear
• Remove tree branches that are close to your house
• Fix any corrosion, loose fittings and rotting or termite-affected timber
• Secure loose items around your property

General home safety preparations

• Ensure your home, contents and car insurance is adequate and current
• Identify the safest room in which to shelter during a storm
• Learn how to safely turn off your power, water and gas
• Keep water containers, a camping stove and fuel safely on-hand

If you live in a flood-prone area

• Store poisons and garden chemicals well above ground level
• Identify indoor items you’ll need to raise or empty if flood threatens
• Relocate power points well above previous flood levels

If you live in a storm or cyclone-prone area

• Get a professional builder to assess the structural integrity of your house
• Fit shutters or metal screens to your windows for added protection

IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP:

Do not use portable generators in enclosed spaces. They produce carbon monoxide – a colourless and odourless gas that can cause incapacitation or death.

Source: http://www.stormwise.com.au/step/prepare-your-home

Welcome

Welcome to the East Tennessee Mutual Insurance Blog! We are a small mutual company based in Blountville, TN and we've been around since 1896. Our company insures homes, doublewides, farms, farm equipment, mobile homes, rental property, renter's personal property, liability and auto.
We plan to use our blog to give you tips and information on improving your home to decrease the cost of insurance and maintaining your home. If you have any suggestions on topics we should cover or any questions feel free to let us know.