weather

Perhaps it's the shorter days and colder weather, but the winter doldrums are real. It's a proven fact that, for some people, this time of year can bring on feelings of depression, lethargy, and boredom. Still, communities around the globe have found ways – both wily and weird – to brighten the winter blues.
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Does your home need a new paint job or a quick refresh on the trim? Are the gutters overflowing with the remains of fall foliage? Or are larger issues demanding immediate attention, like doors and windows, the roof, or the foundation? Whether you thrive on weekends filled with do-it-yourself projects or hide at the mere suggestion, summer's long days and generally agreeable weather in New York offer the ideal opportunity to take on the range of home maintenance and improvement tasks to preserve value and functionality for years to come. Here are a few considerations for fixing up the exterior of your home in the months to come.
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As gentle spring breezes give way to summer's scorching temps, many without air conditioning in New York will struggle to keep their homes cool. But all is not lost in the absence of central air. There are many simple, tried-and-true measures you can take to bring comfort back to the summer months.
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It's a subject we hear a lot about these days in the news: Drought. According to drought.gov in March of 2022, over 58% of the lower 48 states are currently in a drought. With a collective global force greater than all other natural disasters in the past 40 years, droughts around the globe eventuate in as much deadly destruction as any other extreme weather event. Droughts can be declared in as few as 15 days and can last a week, a month, a year, or longer.
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Winter is almost over and trees are budding with the first signs that spring is in the air. A crocus pops its sweet purple plumes through the last ice crystals and we heave a collective sigh of relief that, with the winter chills, the myriad of mucus-producing viruses is finally leaving the building. And then, for many, that first fatal sneeze. Spring, in all her verdant glory, has ushered back in seasonal allergies and the snotty noses and congestion we hoped not to revisit until the fall. For many of us in New York, seasonal allergies aren't just a nuisance, they prevent outdoor recreation, socialization, yard maintenance, and a host of other activities that make summer, well, summer.
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You get to the end of your flight reservation and the page comes up: For a few extra dollars, would you like to purchase travel insurance for your trip? Or maybe you're planning that once in a lifetime trip, and an experienced agent has suggested you purchase a travel policy. So what should you do?
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Winter is coming, and with increased costs on gas, food, and just about everything else, it's no surprise that your energy bill might threaten to strain your budget this season, too. But there's actually a lot you can do to stay cozy and warm and reduce your energy consumption this winter. Here are some ways to save on heating.
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Extreme weather is becoming more and more common these days, but even run-of-the-mill heat, rain, or snow can ruin an event or make it very difficult to carry out certain business operations, like construction. And when you have put thousands of dollars into a multi-day festival, film shoot, wedding, outdoor sale, or any type of activity that can be negatively impacted by the weather, it can be devastating to have to cancel or postpone due to intense heat or a dangerous storm. Even worse, you might not be able to recoup your costs, unless you have weather insurance.
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As youngsters, the more serious-minded among us were vigilant about making the Scout motto "Be Prepared" a reality. Now with the latest round of fires, earthquakes and hurricanes, the old adage is more relevant than ever. Even in New York, we all have the potential to encounter the occasional unpredicted mishap. But few events can be as unpredictable, or devastating, as natural disasters: hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tsunamis, severe storms, tornadoes, and landslides, many of which we've been faced with lately.
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Pets often become more like family members, and in the case of dogs (and the occasional cat), we tend to take them wherever we go. But before you pack up Fido for a summer road trip, it's important to think about how to keep your beloved pet safe when temperatures are extreme.
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Heat-related illnesses are serious business. When left untreated, the symptoms of heat exhaustion can turn into heatstroke, which is life-threatening. During the prime summer months, this can be a big problem and one that can creep up on you, since the signs and symptoms of heatstroke can often look like something else. With normal summer temperatures slowly increasing around the globe, it's even more important to understand how heatstroke occurs and how you can prevent it.
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While the summer of COVID-19 continues, many Americans are looking for ways to get their recreation and vacation fixes without putting themselves at risk. Having a good old-fashioned day at the beach is a great option. Whether you're trying to minimize the risks of the virus or a jellyfish sting, make sure to follow these guidelines during your excursion to stay safe and protected.
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There are a variety of potentially serious and costly problems that can happen when you allow too much snow to pile up on your roof: water damage, leakage and in some extreme cases, collapse. If you're a homeowner who lives in a wintry climate, it's important to understand how snow and ice can impact your roof, preventative measures, and when to take action.
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Even if you're used to it, driving on ice and snow can be nerve-wracking even during clear skies. But when a storm rolls in, driving can get extremely scary, as well as dangerous. Whether you live in a climate that gets severe winter weather or are just traveling through one, here are some tips for safer driving in a storm:
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We've all got plans for the holidays and winter season: trips to take, winter activities to try, and the everyday to-do lists that don't stop just because the cold weather has arrived. But difficult conditions have a way of causing plans to go awry or causing damage that we just didn't expect. Here are some of the extra insurance protections you should consider purchasing this season, in case things don't go exactly the way you planned.
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When it's time to store your boat for the winter, sit down with a member of the marina's staff and discuss what you can expect to have done. Most marinas are prepared to service your boat efficiently, but you are responsible for seeing that all work is done. Ask that they call you when the winterizing is complete.
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Extreme heat can be fatal. Already this year, 29 children have died from being left in hot cars, and hundreds of adults die each year from heat stroke or other conditions that are made worse by the high temperatures. As unusually high temperatures become more common, it's important to be aware of the symptoms of heat-related illness, and how to prevent them from happening.
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Dear Valued Client:

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Happy spring! It's that time of year in New York when flowers, plants, and trees are blooming, the grass is green, requiring maintenance, and the air is fragrant with new life. It's also that time of year when millions of Americans are battling seasonal allergies. For some, spring is hopeful; for others, it's miserable.
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In regions with any kind of wintery weather, you probably know exactly how to prepare for and navigate the unique risks caused by snow, ice, and low temperatures. And since they can't change the thermostat or put on cold weather booties, your pets count on you to get them ready for the season, and to keep them safe through the cold winter months.
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A 5-Step Checklist for Financial Health in 2017

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Tips for Parents To Help Prevent Teen Car Crashes
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Some states mandate comprehensive liability, which covers bodily injury and property damage.

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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, designed to encourage all drivers and motorcyclists to share the road with each other. Increased awareness of motorcycle safety has helped improve the number of injuries and fatalities of motorcyclists.

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Spring is just around the corner in New York. With it will come melting ice and snow, rising waters, and an increased potential for serious water damage due to flooding. Most standard insurance policies do not cover flooding, and that includes business and commercial policies. So should you spend extra to protect your business from flooding? Here are some things you should consider.
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Just for fun, let's take a look at some of the weirdest insurance policies out there.
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After your home is damaged by wind, hail, or other natural elements, the storm isn't necessarily over; in fact, it might be just the beginning. Here's what you need to know about the storm-induced insurance process from diagnosing the damage to filing a claim and making repairs so that weathering your home's recovery is as painless as possible.

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When you think about water damaging your home, you imagine a hurricane, torrential rain, or other natural disasters. The truth is, that even water damage can also be caused when a household appliance fails and can be just as destructive as a catastrophe.
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For those of us in New York with a yard to take care of, by the end of summer, your outdoor living spaces are probably looking pretty sharp. You may have spent a lot of time and money on the outcome, but did you know that your homeowner's policy may value high quality plants, mature trees, and landscaping at just a fraction of what they are worth? Fortunately, there are things that you can do to protect your precious live assets. Here's more information:
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Although avalanche danger doesn't affect most of us on a day-to-day basis, there's something fascinating and terrifying about the possibility of being buried beneath a tidal wave of crashing snow. It's easy to think an avalanche won't happen to you, but it isn't impossible: just last year a massive slide was triggered in a neighborhood in Missoula, Montana, resulting in one fatality and severe damage to several homes.
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Calculating the cost of natural disasters and extreme weather events is a complex process that takes a myriad of factors into account, including insurance payouts, lost income, property damage, and lives lost. In most cases, the cost of damage caused by these events far exceeds insured losses. Read on to find out some of the most surprising and significant facts about weather and insurance in the United States and around the world.
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Flood insurance is a very important coverage to have when you live close to a body of water that has the potential to flow into your home. What a lot of people don't realize is that an overflowing body of water isn't the only way a home can flood. Flood damage can result from an sudden inundation of rising water flowing into your building.
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Now that spring is here, there are many things we can do for our home and car to recover from the harsh winter.
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Flood Insurance - Even if You Don't Think Flood is a Risk
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The Need for Flood Insurance
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Did you know that deaths resulting from Heart Attacks & Cardiac Arrest rise 22% or more in the weeks during and after a heavy snowfall?
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