Stemming the Tide With Flood Insurance

Many people think that in the event of any natural disaster, their homeowner's policy will come to the rescue and make things like new again. However, in the case of flooding, this isn't the case. Flood damage is specifically excluded from homeowner's policies. So, what will flood insurance cover, and who should purchase it?

Flood insurance covers damage to a building, including the foundation, posts, pilings, piers, or other support systems for elevated buildings. It covers any direct physical losses caused by a flood or from flood-related erosion. Flood insurance also covers damage caused by mudslides. It originated in 1968 with the development of the National Flood Insurance Program. Communities participating in the NFIP have created stricter zoning and building measures to control floods; you must live in a participating community to purchase flood insurance.

Floods are four times more likely to occur than fire; any homeowner in a high hazard flood area should consider purchasing flood insurance. There are about 10 million households in high hazard areas, and only about 25% of these are covered by flood insurance. Even those who live in low hazard areas may be at risk, as 35% of all claims each year come from outside the high risk areas. The insurance will also cost less for those in the lower hazard areas.

Since flood insurance is backed by the federal government, you can count on your claim being paid in the event of a flood loss. It is not necessary for a Federal disaster to be declared by the President.

Bad Food Ruins Good Days

With the holiday eating season commencing, people are focused on oven-roasted turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and a whole assortment of possible desserts. It is also an important time to be aware of the dangers of food-borne illnesses, and their causes and symptoms. Some of the types of food poisoning include Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, Listeria, and Botulism. These range in severity (with some of the worst having particularly scary symptoms, as in the case of Botulism, which can cause blurred vision, slurred speech, and difficulty breathing), but most of them have some basic symptoms in common. These would include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and fever. The time between consumption of contaminated food and the appearance of symptoms, known as the incubation period, can vary from hours to days.

Clearly, no one wants a big, icky batch of bacteria ruining all the holiday fun. So what are some things that can be done to prevent food-borne illness? Here's a few tips:
1. Shop safely: Keep raw meat, fish and poultry in separate bags from other foods. Don't dilly dally after loading goods in the vehicle; come straight home and refrigerate promptly.
2. Safe preparation: Wash your hands! Do it before food preparation, and by all means do it after using the bathroom. Any utensils that come into contact with raw meat should be washed in hot, soapy water (bleach solution is also helpful), and caution must be exercised to avoid cross-contamination (for example, slicing up a loaf of bread with the same knife just used to chop up the chicken-a big no-no).
3. Safe cooking and temperature maintenance: Reheat leftovers to at least 165 F. Hot foods should be kept at 140 F or above, and cold foods at 40 F or below. Make sure the fridge is set at 40 F or below. Follow the instructions on food packaging for safe handling and storage. Food should not be left out for more than two hours, and for those hot summer picnics when the temperature is over 90 F, no more than one hour.

And of course, the old adage "when in doubt, throw it out" bears remembering. If not completely confident in that morsel of food, discard it, no matter how tantalizing it may be. Need convincing? Just review the symptoms of the various illnesses listed above; they are sure-fire appetite killers.

Plentiful Flu Vaccinations Make a Less Sickly Season

The supply of influenza vaccine is at a record high this season, with over 103 million doses distributed throughout the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year, flu infects between 5 and 20 percent of the population, and is attributed to about 36,000 American deaths in an average year. Most victims are elderly, but it also kills children who were previously in good health.

Previous years have been plagued with problems of shortages and distribution issues. But as fears of a flu pandemic arose, demand and production increased. The recommendations for who should receive a vaccine have widened, and the shot is recommended for virtually everyone, not just the very young or old. To complicate matters, new batches of vaccine must be made every year, to keep up with the newest mutated strain of the infection that is expected to be most prevalent in a coming season.

It is very highly recommended for certain individuals to be vaccinated. These include those 50 and older, those with chronic lung and heart disease, or with weakend immune systems due to cancer or HIV/AIDS. Anyone with chronic health problems should be vaccinated. It is not true that the vaccine can cause the flu virus, although some people may experience a low-grade fever for a day or two after the shot.

A bout with influenza can be expected to bring fever, chills, sore muscles, and cough. The vaccine usually results in protection from the virus in about two weeks after it is administered.

Sniffing Out The Smoke

Smoke alarms are ordinary and usually unobtrusive devices that many people already have in their homes or apartments. Everyone knows their life-saving potential, but it is very easy to overlook the maintenance and care of smoke detectors. After all, they aren't very exciting, and nobody really thinks his or her home is going to be the one to catch fire. However, knowing and implementing a few pieces of information about the alarms could be a real lifesaver.

Smoke alarms should be placed in every level of the home, basement included. Since many fires start in the wee hours of the night, an alarm should be installed near the sleeping area for the fastest possible waking. They may be obtained from any hardware or general merchandise store. Some fire departments will provide them at no charge. For basic battery-operated smoke alarms, all that is needed for installation is a screwdriver. Some models can simply stick to the ceiling.

To keep the device in working order, the battery should be changed at least once a year. Check the manufacturer's instructions. It is helpful to choose a holiday or special date and do it each year at that time. Many people use Daylight Savings Time for this small chore, and do it along with changing the clocks. Most units have a life span of 8-10 years, and the entire unit should be replaced after this length of time. Writing the purchase date of the detector on it in marker is a good way to remember.

There are two types of smoke detectors: ionization, which can detect a flaming, fast-moving fire more quickly, and photoelectric, which is better for smoldering, smoky fires. It is best to have both types in the home; some models provide dual coverage.

Some final bits of advice: test your alarms once each month with the test button, and when installing, keep in mind the path of steam from the bathroom and the kitchen. This will prevent those false alarms that can cause people to yank the battery out of an alarm in aggravation.