Shield Insurance Agency Blog

Welcome to the Shield Insurance Agency Blog. 

Here you will find a ton of articles on each of these topics: Auto Insurance, Boat/Watercraft Insurance, Business Insurance, Flood Insurance, Health Insurance, Home Insurance, Insurance, Life Insurance, Michigan Auto Insurance Reform, Recreational Insurance, Renters Insurance, RV Insurance, Things To Do At Home, Umbrella Insurance, and even a list of the Shield Agency Weekly Gift Card Winners,

If you have any suggestions for content, please drop us an email.

Stay Safe During a Tornado: Essential Tips for Seeking Shelter

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Shield Insurance Blog | Seeking Shelter | Start A Quote Today

Seeking Shelter: Tornadoes are some of the most devastating storms anyone can witness – and they’re also a reminder that a disaster can strike quickly, with little warning. What makes these storms extremely dangerous is that they are in a concentrated area, and although they appear to move slowly, tornadoes can have wind speeds up to 100 mph or more. Even if you’re not in the path of the tornado, you still have the chance to get hit with flying debris, which can cause serious injury or death.

It’s hard not to worry about the safety of my own family and consider what I would do if my house is in the path of a tornado. But I counter that fear by telling myself I don’t live in tornado alley, so it can’t happen where I live.

Wrong.

Tornadoes can happen anywhere in the U.S. at any time of the year. According to the National Weather Service, 46 different states experienced a tornado in 2012 with property and crop damage of an estimated $1.6 billion. OK, but the greatest threat for tornadoes is in Tornado Alley and I don’t live there.

Well, where exactly is Tornado Alley? It typically includes the plains states from South Dakota down through central Texas. But did you know that as of last year, researchers at CoreLogic Storm Prediction Center have questioned the geography of Tornado Alley and suggest expanding its footprint? According to their data, only one tornado alley state —Kansas — fell in the top five states for tornado occurrences from 1980 to 2009. The others in the top five were Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Based on that frequency and the severity of the storms, here’s an article from USA Today that illustrates CoreLogic’s suggested “new tornado alley.”

While the new tornado alley doesn’t encompass my home in Michigan, this graphic from the National Weather Service does. It maps the EF5/F5 tornadoes in this country since 1950. See number eight, that tornado’s path was about fifteen miles from my house. Just ask the resilient people of Moore, OK if a tornado can strike the same place twice.

What’s your plan should a tornado strike quickly? Take some time to become “Red Cross Ready” for disasters. Preparing now could be the difference when you only have seconds to respond. For me, I would go to the basement. While it’s completely below ground, it has a few basement windows to get away from. My tornado plan now includes taking shelter in this small bathroom.

We do have plans to do some work on our basement eventually, so I will definitely make it a priority to have a safe place to hide. Where will you take shelter? I can’t reiterate how important it is for you to know where you will go should disaster strike. Your safety is important to us.

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What To Do When Driving In A Work Zone

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Shield Insurance Blog | Driving In A Work Zone |

What To Do When Driving In A Work Zone

Once I see that the cars are slowing down, I always get frustrated, and then I see that the cars are merging to one lane (way too late) and all that makes me think is, ugh…it must be road construction. I’m sure some of you have the same feelings and after researching this topic I feel very guilty. Not only are work zones good, because that means that our roads are being improved upon and made safer, but it also provides jobs to our economy.

So, why do I get so frustrated when I come upon a work zone? Impatience probably. Or maybe it’s that person who sped by everyone and at the last minute and wants to merge in front of me, I’m sure you know the one. But, I do understand the importance of driving safely and being aware while I am in the work zone. Fines and tickets are usually double or triple, depending on your state, and very expensive. And, an even more important reason is that people are working in this area. I can’t imagine what it would be like to go to work every day on the road, where people are impatiently speeding by you. That’s why this week is Work Zone Awareness Week. To remind drivers, like me, to be aware and careful at these “places of business.”

The Department of Transportation offers 10 tips that should help with your awareness while driving through that oh-so-common work zone:

  1. Expect the unexpected. (Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes changed and people working very close to the road).
  2. Slow Down. (Speeding is the major causes of work zone crashes)
  3. Don’t tailgate. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you. (The most common crash in a highway work zone is the rear end collision.)
  4. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and construction workers.
  5. Pay attention to the signs. Enough said.
  6. Obey road crew workers.
  7. Stay alert and minimize distractions.
  8. Keep up with the traffic flow. (Don’t drive right up to the lane closure and then try to barge in.)
  9. Schedule enough time to drive safely and check for traffic information before you began your journey.
  10. Be patient and stay calm. (Work zones aren’t there to personally inconvenience you.)

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Autonomous Cars?

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A self-driving car, also known as an autonomous car, driverless car, or robotic car, is a vehicle that is capable of sensing its environment and moving safely with little or no human input.

What do you think, will autonomous cars affect the insurance industry?

From what I understand, the manufacturers of the vehicles are planning to have their own insurance plans. But, many variables are still in the process of being determined. Such as, many tracking sensors will need to be placed in vehicles so they will be able to determine whether a human or autonomous vehicle is at fault. The northern states weather conditions still need to be tweaked, because no matter what…you can’t control “Old Man Winter”!!


Can you believe that as many as 94% of all accidents are preventable and only happen because of human error! WOW.. That’s hard to fathom! Saving human lives is the ultimate goal, and I really do believe that this is going to help our future generations. 🙂


They are saying that insurance premiums will become much lower because accidents will become rarer. Autonomous vehicles will be on the roads with our regular vehicles, then they will eventually take over all roadways. Can you imagine sitting in a car, reading, eating, napping? This could become a new norm in our future. The future is coming and autonomous cars are right around the corner!!

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What to Do in a Car Accident or Breakdown

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For when things go wrong on the road.

4 MINUTE READ

Compliments of Shield Agency and AAA Insurance Companies

Nathan Hackett

Don’t wait until a car accident or breakdown happens to figure out the steps you need to take. Prepare for it ahead of time with the help of these checklists for what to do in a car accident or breakdown:

Download and print this page to put in your glove box as a handy reminder in case you need it down the road (and we hope you never do).Get It Now

What to do in a car accident or breakdown: before it happens

  • Put a copy of your proof of insurance (plus a pen and paper) in your glove box.
  • Add your insurance company’s phone number and your policy number to your phone. (If you have insurance through AAA, download the AAA Mobile app for free and log in. Your policy details are on the app.)
  • Make note of your preferred repair shop should your vehicle need to be towed. If you need recommendations for trustworthy shops, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilitiesnear you.
  • Keep an emergency kit with first-aid and roadside visibility items (e.g., flashlight, flares) in your car.

What to do in a car accident: after it happens

1. Check for injuries: Take a few slow, deep breaths to calm yourself and assess your own condition. If you’re able, check on others involved in the collision to determine if anyone is hurt. If you or they need medical attention, call 911.

2. Remain at the scene: If no one is injured and your vehicle is drivable, turn on the hazard lights and safely move it to an emergency lane or parking area. If it can’t be moved, turn on the hazard lights and go to a spot safely away from moving traffic until emergency services arrive.

3. Exchange information: Take photos of the location, people involved and damaged vehicles, and exchange information with all parties, including witnesses. Write down or use your phone’s camera to collect everyone’s information: name; address/email; driver’s license number; insurance carrier and policy number; vehicle make, model, and year; license plate number; VIN.

4. File a police report: If the police don’t come to the scene, file an accident report at a local police station or your insurance agency a day or two later. It will be important if injuries from the crash (such as whiplash) don’t appear for several days and you or another party needs to file a liability claim.

5. Notify your insurance carrier: The sooner you make your insurance company aware of the crash, the sooner it can start the claim process.

6. Get your vehicle repaired: The choice of where to get the repairs done is yours, and you can ask your insurance company for body shop recommendations. Plus, we can help with that at one of our AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities—simply find the one closest to you.

What to do in a breakdown: after it happens

Locations, traffic patterns, and vehicle problems vary—so the following are general suggestions, not rigid rules:

1. Safely pull off the road.

2. Alert other motorists so they avoid you (turn on hazard lights, open hood, etc.).

3. Make a written or mental note of your vehicle’s location.

4. Identify the problem or anything unusual (sounds, smells, etc.).

5. Call for roadside assistance and, if needed, contact your insurance company. (You can reach AAA via the AAA Mobile app or by calling the number on your membership card.)

6. If it’s safe to do so, remain with your vehicle until the service technician arrives.

Have a Trusted Partner on the Road

Get the protection you need from a brand you trust. Contact your local AAA agent to learn more about auto insurance through AAA.

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Insurance for Summer RVs

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Insurance for Summer RVs

With the great Michigan summer here, everyone is getting ready to get their trailers, fifth wheels, and RV out on the road. Many times these items are added to an auto policy. While the price is cheap, it leaves you with many missed opportunities for proper coverage.

Did you know that when these items are insured under an auto policy the liability coverage only applies while your trailer is attached to your vehicle? Once you park on your campsite and detach your trailer, you no longer have any liability coverage. If an accident happens you would need to file a claim against your homeowner’s insurance instead of a claim on trailer policy. Homeowners claims are rated harder than a claim on a trailer policy

Another missed coverage is with personal property. Many times when a trailer is insured under an auto policy there is no coverage for personal property, just physical damage to the trailer if you have that coverage. If someone broke into your trailer and everything was stolen, there would be no coverage for your personal property. Again you would need to file a claim on your homeowner’s policy and that deductible would apply

While insuring your travel trailer or fifth wheel on its policy may cost more, the benefits of having better and proper coverage outweigh the price. One of the main reasons for having insurance is to make sure your property is covered. Who wants to pay for insurance and when it comes time to file a claim find out the claim isn’t covered. If you have a travel trailer or fifth wheel make sure to discuss with your agent how and when you use your trailer to make sure you are properly covered.

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Spring Home Maintenance is Here

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Shield Insurance Blog | Home Maintenance | Home Insurance

Spring Home Maintenance is Here

Spring is here! After a very long and hard Michigan winter, we are excited to see green grass, buds on the trees, and spring flowers. As you can well imagine, there have been many claims over the winter months and recent spring storms.

Did you know that there may be some causes of a loss that may not be covered by your home insurance? I started thinking, “when was the last time I read my insurance policy?” Have you read yours? Did you know that if your roof is in need of repair (wear and tear), a water or wind loss may not be covered?

As a homeowner, we have certain responsibilities to maintain the property that we insure for claims to be paid. A good rule of thumb is that home insurance is not a maintenance policy, but a catastrophe policy.

Now that warmer weather is here and the snow is melted away, I encourage you to look carefully at your roof or have someone look at it for you. Is the flashing done correctly and sealed? Are the gutters and fascia secured properly?

Situations can vary, but the bottom line is if a property is not well maintained it can make a claim process very difficult and frustrating. When in doubt regarding specific coverage we recommend contacting your claims department via phone, email, or sometimes “click-to-chat”. Insurance companies will be happy to discuss potential claims and coverage issues, regardless of the situation.

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Are School Supplies Covered by Insurance?

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Homeowners Insurance may cover some of the cost of school supplies

In those lazy days of summer, it’s easy to forget about the school supplies needed for that quickly approaching fall season. Some of you may be busy buying school supplies, and school clothes, and getting ready to send kids off to college while squeezing in one last trip to the beach or pool.

School supplies are not cheap these days.

Have you checked with your home or renters insurance to see if that TI-85 scientific calculator is covered? What about the new Apple Mac Book, Ipad, or smartphone you just invested in? What about the vanload of stuff your college student is taking with them to their dorm?

Most insurance policies offer limited coverage for electronic items unless a special endorsement is purchased or they are specifically listed. Some policies offer a portion of your home’s property coverage for the things your college student is taking with them.

Check with your insurance agent to see if you are properly covered so you can send your kids off to school with this peace of mind. Have a great school year!

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Halloween Driving Tips

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At a glance: Help protect trick-or-treaters by following these driving safety tips on Halloween, or on the night your community hosts Halloween activities. Be especially careful between 4 and 8 p.m., when most severe vehicle/young pedestrian collisions happen.

Drive slowly, and don’t pass stopped vehicles. The driver might be dropping off children.

Park your mobile phone. Avoid distractions by waiting until you’ve stopped to call, text, or surf. Get more mobile phone safety tips.

Watch for children darting into the street. Kids can cross the street anywhere, and most young pedestrian deaths happen at spots other than intersections.

Yield to young pedestrians. Children might not stop, either because they don’t see your vehicle approaching or don’t know how to safely cross the street.

Communicate with other drivers. Always use your turn signals. And if you have to pull over to drop off or pick up your kids, turn on your hazard lights.

And, to keep your own trick-or-treaters safe:
Teach them how to safely cross streets. They should look both ways and cross only at corners and crosswalks.

Consider indoor community Halloween programs for younger kids. Some communities also offer to help you inspect your kids’ treats to make sure they’re safe to eat.

Brighten them up. Give them flashlights and glow sticks, and/or use reflective tape on their costumes, so drivers can see them.

BROUGHT to you by PROGRESSIVE

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Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment

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Shield Insurance Blog | Affordable Care Act | Health Insurance

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollment

OK, so maybe this entry isn’t so much as a blog as it is me just unloading my brain…. and with open enrollment starting tomorrow, it’s about all I can think about (sorry Dawn… I’ll get working on that ‘honey-do list soon!!).

Affordable Care Act: Being able to choose new health insurance plans as early as tomorrow, just makes me think of how much of a disaster it was last year. We are all just hoping like heck that the site works better this year!!! PLEASE!!! We are being told that it’s much more streamlined and shorter than last year’s. We’ll soon see! We did sign someone up yesterday and were told that it would be on the new platform, but it didn’t appear to be very different at all. hmmm…

Last year, buying a plan on the Marketplace was not a very fun event. But we did our best to help folks as best as possible! We’re here to do that again this year and are acquiring quite a bit of expertise, so we feel confident that we can help!

This year, the Blue Cross and Priority rates are closer! They still appear to have a lower price overall. And if you’re eligible for a subsidy, don’t forget that you MUST sign up on the Marketplace, meaning that you can’t purchase a plan from United Health Care, for example, since they are not “playing” ON the Marketplace this year in the counties that we work within Michigan.

Our office is doing the actual process of signing everyone up on the website. She can whip through those pages pretty proficiently now! And she knows many of the stopper/pitfall answers to some of the quirkier questions asked so make sure you call us to get signed up!

FYI, ACA means the Affordable Care Act and it applies to all Americans. Some plans are grandfathered and do not need to comply. I don’t dare claim to know ALL there is about this, but it’s interesting to note that some companies are ditching all pre-ACA plans now and some are going on until at least the end of 2017. that goes for Group AND Individual. Oh, and when I say “individual”, I just mean non-group… so that means that it’s not offered through an employer. The individual does not mean ‘just one person’… it can… but it means ‘families’ too.

Have a great day! Andy

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Here Comes Winter Again

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As of December 21 – the official first day of winter – approaches, we all know what is likely to come with it. Snow! We live in a state shaped like a mitten, stands to reason that we will get snow. We have already had a dose of winter weather, heavy snow, and even some snow days! Are you prepared? We know from experiences last winter that snow can build up quickly and be really heavy. The excessive weight from snow and ice can lead to structural stress and damage to roofs and walls, even collapse. Please take precautions to reduce the amount of snow on your roof. Especially flat roofs. Just like snow build-up, a snow and rain cycle can lead to ice dams. Below are a few steps that you can take to help prevent ice dams from forming, brought to you by Fremont Insurance:

  • Keep gutters and down spouts clear of debris, snow and ice, so melting roof snow can flow
  • Keep snow on your roof to a minimum. Roof rakes let you stand on the ground to safely pull the snow off the roof.
  • Evaluate attic insulation and ventilation. Good airflow is essential to a cool dry attic.

Stay warm. Stay safe. Enjoy and be awed by the amazing weather changes we experience in this great state!

Merry Christmas & Blessed New Year!

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