Inventory your boat's contents

Boat owners look forward to this time all year long, being out on the water fishing, skiing, or the simple pleasures of a boat ride on a beautiful day. A boat can have just the basics for safety or be decked out with all the bells and whistles, and it's important to have an inventory record of any items you've added to your boat.

A boatowner's inventory record gives you a place to record all of your boat's equipment, the original cost and date purchased. That way if your boat is damaged or stolen, you'll be able to provide a complete list of your boat's contents to your insurance claim adjuster. Things like your boat cover, bilge pump, anchor, and cushions may seem minor right now, but they all add up and you may not be able to recall every item in the event of a loss.

If you're a boat owner and haven't made a list of your boat's contents, ask your insurance agent for a Boatowner's Inventory Record - they're free but invaluable at a time of loss.

Tornado Safety Tips

With last weekend's tornado damage in Northwest Ohio, we felt it was a good time to review tornado safety tips.

Tornadoes can occur at any time, but the normal tornado season is from March through August here in Northwest Ohio. The weather can change quickly and without warning, so preparing ahead of time can make a big difference when it comes to your family's safety.

Some quick tornado facts:

• The average tornado travels at 30 miles per hour, ranging from 0 to 70 miles per hour.
• Most tornadoes travel from the Southwest to the Northeast, but the path can be extremely erratic and change quickly.
• A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form
• A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted nearby - you should take cover immediately.

It's important to have a plan in the event a tornado is spotted in your area. Below are some tips for tornado safety:

• If your area is under a tornado watch, or if the sky turns dark, check local weather reports on the TV or radio frequently for updates so you are not caught off guard.

• Have a spot picked out in your home for everyone to gather in the event of a tornado warning. Go over why it's a good spot with your children so they will know what to do in the event of a warning when they're away from home as well.

• Avoid windows and choose a spot that will protect you from flying debris. Basements and storm shelters are a good location, as long as you're away from any windows.

• If you don't have a basement, the smallest room in your home (bathroom, closet) is the next best thing.

• Avoid the old advice to open an East window in your home. New findings show that opening a window actually increases the damage to your home from atmospheric pressure.

• If you're caught out in the open, find a ditch, ravine or low area if possible, lie face down and cover your head to protect against flying debris.

• If you're in your car, don't try to outrun a tornado, as it can change direction without warning. The best thing to do is stop your car and look for a sturdy building or low area to lie down in.

• If in a mobile home, it's best to leave and look for shelter in a sturdy building or low area.

• If in a building, seek shelter in the interior of the lowest floor; the stairwell area is best.

• Always have a flashlight and radio with working batteries. It will be invaluable during and even after the storm if it's dark outside and there's no electricity.

Lightning Safety Tips

Did you know that lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the area of rain activity? When a storm is approaching, you should immediately seek shelter inside an enclosed building. Here is a list of things to remember during a lightning storm:


Outdoors:
Avoid an open garage, car port, or covered patio.

If a building isn't available, a hard-topped vehicle offers good protection.

Never stand under a tree or tall object.

If caught out in the open, crouch down on the balls of your feet, keeping twice as far away from a tree as it is tall.

Avoid water, including puddles, the beach, small boats and metal objects such as golf clubs, bats, fishing rods and tools.

If operating a tractor or heavy construction equipment, especially if pulling metal equipment, turn it off and wait till the storm has passed.

Indoors:
Close windows and doors and stay away from them, along with any metal pipes.

Don't use the telephone.

Turn off the TV, VCR or computer, as well as any other electrical appliances.

Come to our open house

Our agent Jennie Dornbusch is excited to announce the grand opening of her new location on May 1st at 156 W Water St, Oak Harbor, Ohio. in the Liberty Tax building.  In celebration of her new location, Jennie is having an open house on Friday, May 7th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.

So if you're in the area, stop in for some tasty refreshments and visit with Jennie at her new office.

Online Service for Lost Pets

There's an online service called "FindToto.com," very much like an Amber Alert for stolen or lost pets. This service was started by a pet owner whose cat became lost and saw what a time-consuming and difficult undertaking it was to call all their neighbors and post fliers.


An advantage to this service is that you don't need to sign up for it ahead of time, but it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the site and bookmark it just in case. Then if you ever lose a pet, go to their site, sign up for the service, and within the hour they are alerting your neighbors to be on the lookout. It operates 7 days a week and the charge is based on how many neighbors you'd like them to call, ranging from $59.99 to $500 (for $59.99 they will call 250 neighbors).

We will keep a permanent link to this site here on our sidebar just in case you ever find yourself in need of their services. We can tell you that this service does exactly what it claims to do. In February, we received an alert on our answering machine that a dog was missing in the Genoa area. Checking back later, it showed the dog had been found and returned to her owner safely.