4th of July Safety

• Secure pets who are afraid of fireworks inside.
• Don't allow children to light fireworks. 
• Never place your body in the path of a firework.
• Don't allow young children t play with sparklers. They burn at around 2,000 degrees
• Do not aim fireworks at other people.
• Make sure the area where you light fireworks is free of dry grass, shrubs, trees, buildings and vehicles.
• Once a firework is done burning, pour water on it.

As you grill this holiday remember to:

• Never leave your grill unattended.
• Keep it clean of grease and fat buildup to prevent grease fires.
• Make sure gas connection is tight.
• Keep charcoal starter fluid away from children.

Lightning Safety Awareness Week

This week is Lightning Safety Awareness Week. We wanted to share a few tips with you to keep you safe.

By Mark Coldren, via Wikimedia Commons

In the house:

• Stay away from windows and doors
• Do not lay on concrete walls or floors
• Do not shower or bathe until at least 30 minutes have passed since the last rumble of thunder

Outside (there is no safe place outside):

• Move inside as soon as you hear thunder or see lightning
• Stay away from elevated areas
• Avoid isolated trees
• Do not lay down on the ground
• Do not stay in a body of water (lake, river, ect.)
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity

Summer Car Trip Tips

Sunscreen:
     You can still get burnt when you put your arm out the window. Using "broad spectrum" sunscreen      will protect you from UVA and UVB rays. Don't forget to reapply.

Sunglasses:
     Protect your eyes from UV rays while on the road.


Pet Safety:
     In order to keep your furry family members safe, animals should either be transported in pet                carriers or protected by a safety harness. The 2013 Harness Crashworthiness Study gives good            suggestions on the best harness for your dog.

Bring water and snacks:
     Pack lot of water to keep everyone hydrated during your journey and snack to satisfy cravings            while on the road.

Pack activity books and toys:
     To keep kids occupied pack a secret bag of toys, games and books to surprise them with                      throughout the trip. If you forget to pack extra games, you can always count on classic car trip            games to keep the whole car entertained.

     Audiobooks can also keep the whole family riveted during your journey and they are free to rent        at the library.

First Aid Kit:
     A first aid kit is always handy to have while travelling. You never know when you may                        accidentally cut your finger.

Car Prep:
     Make sure that your tires are properly inflated. There is normally a sticker on the inside of your         door that indicates the proper pressure.

     Make sure that your spare tire is properly inflated, sometimes they are underinflated. If you do            have to change your tire, it will make driving easier and safer.

     Make sure that all of your car's fluids are full. This will help to protect your vehicle.

Positive attitude:
     A positive attitude and a cool head in hot weather make congested highways safer and more pleasant places to be.

Home tips for Vacationing!

Well, it is that time of year again. Summer fun and Vacations are upon us! While we are gone on our wondrous adventures, it is always in the back of our mind….”how are things at home”, “what will I find when I get back”. Here are some simple tips to help ease your mind while you are away:

1.  Don’t post your vacation on Social Media before or during your trip. This sends out a big signal to EVERYONE that you are not home. I know it is hard, but wait until you return to post those awesome memories for everyone to see.
   
2. Have a Security System? If you do, make sure that it is set. It wouldn’t hurt to have a close family member or friend with a key to your home and access codes, just in case something comes up while you are gone. If you don’t, make sure to talk to your neighbors so they can be on the lookout for anything strange or out of the ordinary.  
   
3. Take photos of your personal property. This is a simple step that can save you a lot of time in the event of a loss (also shows proof of property). With technology today it is as simple as taking photos with your phone or digital camera. I would suggest downloading the pictures to a USB drive and having a friend hang on to it while you are gone. Or, you can go to an online site like www.knowyourstuff.org and sign up online to keep a Home inventory. Or, you can even get a Home Inventory App for your phone.                                                                            
4. Keep your jewelry, special documentation, guns, etc. in a home safe. If it is a small lock box or safe, make sure that it is secured to the home in some way (may want to secure to the floor etc).
   
5. If you are going to be gone for a longer trip, you might want to turn off your water (unless you have sprinklers set up on a timer. This will help in case there happens to be a malfunction to your washing machine or dishwasher hoses. (This step in more important in winter when pipes could freeze).
6.  For your personal property on you while you are away, I would suggest having copies of your credit cards and the company numbers in case your wallet is stolen. Review your homeowner’s Policy for theft coverages. Some policies will cover personal jewelry, etc. Make sure to have your agent’s information in case you need it.

Most of all… HAVE FUN! Enjoy your time off with your family and friends.

Know that we are here for you if you need anything. We hope you have safe travels!

Sincerely,

Barbie Lambert

Manager

East Tennessee Mutual Insurance Company

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