Do You Know What's Covered?

         Do you know what your insurance policy does and does not cover? It may be a little confusing at first, but reading through your policy or talking to your agent about it can make a huge difference when you have to file a claim. You might even decide that your current insurance policy doesn't provide the coverage you would like and change companies or policies.

        Some people don't read their policy booklets until they have a claim to file. That's when they sometimes find out that things they assumed were covered by their insurance are not.

        As a certain other insurance company says, "know the gaps."

Rainy Day Carrot Cake Recipe

On rainy days there is nothing better than baking! I love the smell in a home when you have something delicious baking in the over, whether it is bread, cookies, or cakes.

Here is a recipe I used at Easter that was a big hit (though I think you can make this on any spring day). Since we have been trying to eat a little healthier, I modified a Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Recipe (because I think there is nothing better than a Betty Crocker Recipe, just saying). I made these into cupcakes, but here is the cake recipe.
Modified Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Recipe:

Cake:
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup shredded apple
½ cup Vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Cinnamon (or a dash more- I like it like that)
Dash of nutmeg
3 cups shredded carrots
1 cup chopped walnuts

Frosting:
1 8oz package 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
¼ cup butter, softened
2 to 3 teaspoons milk
4 cups powdered sugar

Directions
• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of one 13x9-inch pan or two 8-inch or 9-inch round pans with shortening; lightly flour. (I used cupcake pans with liners) In large bowl, beat granulated sugar and brown sugar, apple, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed about 30 seconds or until blended. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, vanilla and the salt; beat on low speed 1 minute. Stir in carrots and nuts. Pour into pan(s).

• Bake 13x9-inch pan 40 to 45 minutes, round pans 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (The Cupcakes only take about 20 minutes, I waited until they were brown on top and toothpick came out clean). Cool rectangle in pan on cooling rack. Cool rounds 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

• In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth and spreadable. Frost 13x9-inch cake or fill and frost round layers with frosting. Sprinkle nutmeg on frosted cake, if desired. (I cut the tip off a plastic baggie to apply the frosting on the cupcakes- then decorated with a candy carrot on top). Store in refrigerator.

This was a fun recipe and it turned out delicious. Even my picky 5 year old loved it.

Happy baking!
Barbie Lambert
Manager
East Tennessee Mutual Insurance Co

Spring Weather

Every year in the spring we can expect an increase in moderate to severe weather. While we cannot prevent all loss, we can make some preparations to reduce the severity off the loss. Here are some tips to help secure your property:

1. Check your roof. The number one loss during storms is related to roof damage. Shingle roofs: check condition of shingles (are they showing age, coming up at the edges, any other visible issues). Metal roofs: check the condition (is the roof old enough to need a sealant on it, is the areas around the screws showing rust or damage, are there any raised sections). If there is damage to the shingles or metal roofing it can cause leaking to the interior of the home. 
   
2. Check your gutters: If your gutters are full of debris, they may overflow, back up into the home, or collapse (this is a damage that most insurances do not cover). Make sure the downspouts are clear of dirt and debris and have room for water to drain. 
   
   
   
   
3. Check your trees: If there are trees near your home, inspect the top branches for any sign of dead limbs and check the bottom of the tree for any sign of decay. Remove any limbs that hang over or near your dwelling. Are there trees near the power lines entering the home? If so, make sure they are cut back away from the lines.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Check your outside personal property: Is your outdoor furniture secure? If you have a trampoline, is it properly installed and secured to the ground (follow manufacturer’s guidelines)? If you have any outdoor canopies, are they taken down before a storm or strong winds approach? 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5.  Lightning: While you cannot do much to prevent lightning damaging to the exterior of your home, you can do several things to protect your personal property. Electronics: make sure your computers, TVs, even your mobile devices are plugged into surge protectors or unplug during lightning storms. Outlets: make sure outlets are not overloaded (overloading outlets can be a fire hazard to begin with, but a surge from lightning could cause the outlet to heat too much or even spark). 
   
6. Water: Unless you have a flood policy, your insurance policy does not cover flooding to your home. However, you can take steps to prevent water entering your home: If your dwelling is by a creek, have sand bags ready (you can use them around the exterior of your home to keep water out of any window or door openings to your basement). Check to make sure your gutters are clear so rain water is not over pouring and causing excess water around the foundation of your dwelling (if water enters through the basement walls, it is generally not covered).
7. Power outages: A lot of power outages are due to trees falling on power lines. A back-up generator will help if the power is out for an extended period of time. For shorter amounts of time, make sure to leave freezers and refrigerators closed (this will help prevent food spoilage), turn off power switches to lights and HVAC units if possible (this will help prevent overloading your breaker box when power is restore).

It helps to be prepared! Items to have available before/when storms happen: bottled water, flash lights, candles, waterproof matches, nonperishable snack and food items, a battery operated radio, charged up cell phones, any medications you may need, and emergency numbers.

Spring is also a great time to replace batteries in smoke detectors and check dates on fire extinguishers in your home.

Lastly, know your policy and your coverages. Your agents are here to help you and to make sure you are adequately covered. If you do have a claim, it is important to stay calm and call your insurance company. We are here for you!

Be Safe!
Barbie Lambert
Manager
ETMIC