• Install surge protectors, including a whole-house surge protector if possible. Surge protectors can help protect appliances and electronic equipment from the surge of electricity caused by lightning strikes. 
• Add a lightning protection system: a lightning protection system, often including lightning rods and grounding systems, can divert lightning strikes away from the building, reducing the risk of fire or damage. 
• Unplug electronic devices during a storm and seeking shelter at the lowest point in your home if you are home during a storm.  

Lightning remains a costly and unpredictable threat for homeowners. Lightning strikes can cause extensive damage to electrical systems, appliances, and even structural issues. The damage underscores the critical need for homeowners to be aware of the risks, invest in protective measures, and stay prepared, especially in high-risk regions where lightning strikes are most frequent and damaging. 

After a lightning storm, homeowners are encouraged to look for these common signs of lightning damage: 

• Charring — a lightning-strike site is often charred by lightning's intense heat. If you believe your home was struck by lightning, consider inspecting the property for burnt patches and charring. 
• Damaged electrical switches — similarly, the power surges sometimes caused by lightning can lead to burnt electrical switches. 
• Roof and wall damage — lightning can damage a roof or wall to the point of causing holes or reducing a home’s structural integrity. 
• Report lightning damage/claim to insurance as soon as possible to begin repair and recovery process. 

Consider taking extra precautions to prep your home if you live in a top lightning state. The Top 10 states for lightning claims according to Triple-I’s national industry average based on State Farm claims data are:

1. Florida 
2. Texas 
3. California 
4. Georgia 
5. North Carolina 
6. Louisiana 
7. Alabama 
8. New York 
9. Pennsylvania 
10. Illinois 
 

“Mission Leaders like State Farm are vital to our work, helping drive innovation across our organization, providing capacity to respond immediately in times of crisis," said Cliff Holtz, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “I am grateful for their support, which safeguards our ability to care for those in need when the unthinkable happens."

State Farm has a long history of providing grants to non-profits after disaster strikes a community. This new approach to pre-fund grants before disaster strikes aims to help provide streamlined and immediate support of disaster relief efforts. The goal of pre-funding is to support non-profit preparedness, relief and recovery efforts for communities and families impacted by disasters big and small – including hurricanes, floods, home fires and countless other crises – as efficiently and timely as possible. 

“Being a good neighbor is at the heart of the State Farm mission,” said Apsara Sorensen, State Farm Corporate Responsibility Assistant Vice President. “State Farm is committed to helping individuals and families manage the risks of everyday life and recover from the unexpected. We extend this commitment to the neighborhoods we serve by providing resources and collaborating with nonprofit organizations with a history of disaster response, providing immediate relief and vital necessities during times of need.”

"This proactive support ensures that Midwest Food Bank is ready to respond swiftly when natural disasters strike. Thanks to their commitment, we can bring hope and help to those in need, demonstrating the power of partnership in action," said Lisa Martin, CFO of Midwest Food Bank.

According to Ethan Forhetz, Convoy of Hope VP of Public Engagement, "This grant ensures that Convoy disaster response teams will stand ready to deliver hope to those whose lives have been turned upside down.” 

A natural phenomenon, lightning can cause extensive damage to ecosystems, property, and sometimes lead to death. Knowing and managing the risks associated with lightning can help protect your family and property.

Lightning Safety Tips:

If lightning is common in your area, familiarize yourself with ways to reduce risk before and during a lightning storm. For example:

• Go indoors at the first sign of a storm.
• Avoid touching electronics or anything with a cord, such as your hair dryer.
• Stay away from water sources, including pipes, sinks and showers.
• Do not stand or lean on concrete structures. Metal bars inside the concrete can conduct electricity.
• Seek shelter in a hard-top vehicle if you're stuck outside. Also avoid sitting inside convertible cars, golf carts and motorcycles.
• If swimming or boating when lightning is present, get out of the water and onto dry land.
• Do not touch metal surfaces, such as a sliding door.
• Avoid touching anything served by gas lines, such as water heaters, ovens, furnaces and fireplaces.
• If you're outside and shelter isn't available, crouch down at least 100 feet from tall objects, tuck your head in and cover your ears.
• If someone has been struck by lightning, call 911 or your local ambulance service immediately. If you are qualified, give the person first aid. Lightning victims are safe to touch and need medical attention right away.

Invest in lightning protection

Your best bet for stopping lightning damage in its tracks may be a lightning protection system tailored specifically to your home's architecture. Such a system creates a pathway for lightning bolts, guiding them safely into the ground.

Install lightning surge protection devices

Lightning strikes on or near a power line or utility service are a frequent cause of power surges. Point-of-use surge protection devices (SPDs), combined with a good grounding system, should protect your electronic and electrical appliances from most electrical surges. An SPD does not suppress or arrest a surge; it actually diverts the surge to the ground.

Service entrance SPDs provide protection for your entire electrical system and are usually installed at the electrical panel(s) or at the base of the service meter. These devices help prevent the entrance of overvoltages, which can cause a fire. Surge protection devices are typically installed in conjunction with a lightning protection system.

Lightning Insurance

While there isn't a policy for lightning alone, your homeowners, condo, or renters’ policy can help get you get you back on your feet if lightning does strike. You can also contact your insurance agent if you have coverage questions about damage due to lightning.

Projects on a budget

May is National Wildfire Preparedness Month and State Farm is here to help homeowners with simple projects that can be done on a budget over a weekend to help mitigate loss from a wildfire.

1. Create a 5-foot non-combustible barrier between your home and any vegetation on your property.
   1. Trim overhanging trees, branches and other foliage.
   2. Remove vines from house walls.
   3. Pick up debris in your yard. Anything flammable should be removed like pine needles, pine cones and more.
2. Remove leaves, pine needles and other debris from your gutters.
3. Cover vents and openings with wire mesh to prevent embers from entering the home.
4. Install ember and fire-resistant soffit vents.
5. Treat wooden fencing with fire retardant or consider replacing with metal fencing.
6. Replace mulch landscaping with rock.
7. Talk to your local fire department about wildfire prep advice they may have for your specific area.
8. Create a home inventory. A home inventory can expedite insurance claims process after theft, damage or loss. The easiest way to do a home inventory is using technology to create a digital copy:
   1. Take pictures. Capture important individual items as well as entire rooms, closets or drawers. Label your photos with what's pictured, where you bought it, the make or model and the serial number. Don’t forget the garage and even your possessions outside.
   2. Take video. Walk through your house or apartment recording and describing the contents. For example, you might describe the contents of a kitchen cabinet: "Poppies on Blue by Lenox, service for 12 that includes a dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, cup and saucer, purchased in 2015."
   3. Use an app. There are many mobile app options that can help you create and store a room-by-room record of your belongings.
9. Talk to your State Farm agent. We recommend meeting with your agent at least annually to help you make sure you have adequate coverage for your individual needs.

While you can’t always prevent wildfires, these tips can help assess your risk and identify ways to help protect your home and property from a wildfire.

Since 2020, State Farm® has worked with Whisker Labs and invested in bringing this innovative home safety offering to customers to help identify potential hazards that could lead to electrical fires in the home. With a predictive tool like Ting, customers gain some control and can help protect what matters most to them – their loved ones and their homes.

How does Ting work?

Download the app, plug in the Ting and connect via Bluetooth. Now Ting is ready to monitor your home’s electricity. The primary root causes of electrical fires – micro-arcs and sparks – happen in faulty wires and appliances, devices or loose connections and usually develop over weeks and months. Ting is designed to provide advanced warnings to help address these hazards prior to an electrical fire starting.

Free offer from State Farm

State Farm is offering Ting and three years of service at no cost to eligible customers to help prevent fires before they occur. To be eligible, you must have an active State Farm non-tenant homeowners policy, a smartphone and home Wi-Fi. Learn more at statefarm.com® (This offer is currently not available in AK, DE, NC, SD and WY).

In addition to the sensor and monitoring, if Ting identifies a fire hazard that requires professional repair, Whisker Labs provides up to $1,000 toward the labor repair costs to mitigate the electrical fire hazard. This makes it that much easier to act and help protect your family and property from electrical fire hazards.

“Ting has furthered a proactive approach to insurance,” says Chris Schell, SVP of Property and Casualty at State Farm. “It helps us meet customers where they are – in their homes – to help them protect their families and property. It also shows how committed State Farm is to innovation and evolution so we can explore new ways of providing the products and services customers want and need.”

Electrical hazards

Ting monitors the entire home for hazardous electrical arcing – including bad wiring, damaged appliances or devices, and faulty light fixtures. It also monitors for dangerous power originating from the homeowner’s electric utility service, as this can cause a fire in the home and other safety hazards. Ting alerts users of these fire risks along with important events through a smartphone app.

“Ting has identified and mitigated fire hazards in nearly 7,000 U.S. homes to date,” says Bob Marshal, CEO of Whisker Labs. “Like State Farm, we’re passionate about keeping families safe. Many times every day, Ting Fire Safety Team experts alert a homeowner to a hidden fire hazard, many of which stem from defective devices and appliances, in addition to home wiring and outlets. Preventing fires is simply better for everyone.”

So, as you look around your house and turn on the lights, plug in your laptop, make your coffee and use electricity in any number of ways, you could also have Ting to help monitor for potential electrical fires. 

Together, State Farm and Whisker Labs are helping more customers in more ways than ever before.

Go to statefarm.com for more information about enrolling in Ting or talk to a State Farm agent today. 

About Whisker Labs

At Whisker Labs, we help protect families, property, homes, and communities by preventing fires and providing incredible visibility into the health of the electric utility grid. Our breakthrough technology, Ting, delivers intelligent detection, localization, and mitigation of potential fire hazards before they can start a fire from a single DIY plug-in sensor. While on the job looking for home electrical fire hazards from faulty wiring, devices, or appliances, Ting also monitors the quality of power delivered to homes by the electric utility. Poor power quality can induce fires, damage appliances, and create electrocution risks inside a home. And across the broader community, the network of Ting sensors also provides expert grid monitoring in real-time, helping grid operators identify and locate incipient faults, which, left unaddressed, can escalate and serve as an ignition source for devastating wildfires in prone communities.

Up to 100 participants from across the country are eligible to receive $500 awards to complete a planned wildfire risk reduction project on the event day, Saturday, May 7, 2022. To be considered for a project funding award, participants must submit an application by Monday, February 28, 2022. Apply for an award.

The national campaign, which began in 2014, provides an opportunity for groups and individuals who live in wildfire-prone areas to come together on a single day to complete projects that can help make their homes and communities safer from wildfire. Research shows risks can be lessened when residents invest time in preparing their homes and landscaping to reduce the damage caused by embers during a wildfire. Projects undertaken on Preparedness Day, which can range from a short time commitment up to an entire day, can include:

• Raking and removing pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of three to five feet of a home’s foundation, continuing up to a 30-foot distance around the home, as time permits, and disposing of collected debris in appropriate trash receptacles.
• Clearing roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris, and pine needles that could catch embers.
• Collecting downed tree limbs and broken branches and taking them to a disposal site.
• Screening or boxing-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.

 “Major wildfire incidents resulting in thousands of destroyed homes continue to occur annually in the U.S. and are quickly becoming the dominant type of fire that causes catastrophic multiple deaths and structure loss,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “Homeowners need to understand they have a role to play and that they can take action in reducing wildfire risk. Preparedness Day 2022 gives people the chance to not only make a difference in safety on event day but all through the year as well.”

According to the latest NFPA “Fire Safety in the United States since 1980, Through the Lens of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem” report, one million homes were within the perimeter of human-caused wildland/urban interface (WUI) fires from 1992 – 2015, and more than 60 million homes were threatened by such incidents in the same 24-year period. Data from annual reports from NFPA of catastrophic multiple death fires state that a total of 248 people have died in WUI fires from 1988 through 2018.

For more information about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, how to apply for funding awards, project ideas, and free resources to download, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

On April 26, while Mike was away with the Fire Department to help others, his own home was in the path of an approaching wildfire. The Flag Fire, fueled by dense timber and dry flashy fuels, tore through the Hualapai Mountains toward Mike’s home. As ember showers and spot fires erupted ahead of the fire front, which advanced to within 450 feet his property, thanks to a new service provided by State Farm®, his property was saved from wildfire.

On April 1, a complimentary Wildfire Response service was added to all non-tenant homeowners policies in Arizona at no cost to State Farm customers (this service was also added in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington).

Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc., the largest wildfire protection service provider, has been providing firefighting services in 20 states and has monitored over 58,000 wildfires since 2013. 

During an active wildfire, if Wildfire Defense determines a home insured by State Farm is at risk, they will deploy a team that will take proactive counter-measures to protect a policyholder’s property.

This team will determine appropriate suppression and mitigation methods that may include:

• Installing temporary sprinkler systems
• Monitoring and extinguishing hotspots
• Removal of combustible materials from around the house (like pine needles, wood furniture, dry brush)
• Covering vents, and closing of doors and windows to keep sparks and embers out

“When we arrived on scene,” Wildfire Defense CEO David Torgerson said, “we noticed several fire risks on the property. A lot of vegetation and timber as well as combustible materials near the home.

“Windy conditions contributed to the spread of the fire and put the home in immediate danger. Our resources were able to suppress the flames and hotspots 25-50 feet from the home and we cold-trailed the property to ensure all residual heat was fully extinguished.”

“We are so grateful for this added benefit on our State Farm policy,” Mike Britt said. “I was gone with the fire department and they arrived on scene to make sure my home and property were protected.”

The Wildfire Defense service is not meant to replace existing wildfire preparation efforts. State Farm encourages customers to always be prepared for the possibility of a catastrophe. Customers living in wildfire- prone areas are encouraged to take appropriate steps to reduce the chance of fire damage, including creating defensible space and reducing flammable vegetation near structures.

Time to prepare is now

Recent wildfire statistics show that proactive mitigation efforts prior to a fire event are critical before evacuation warnings or orders are issued by authorities.

This is why, even with this new benefit in place, State Farm encourages residents to be proactive, to adopt mitigation measures for their properties, and to always be prepared for the possibility of an emergency or catastrophe.

As the weather becomes hot and dry, here are easy and inexpensive ways to create a defensible space around your property:

• Remove dead shrubs, dried grass, fallen branches and dried leaves within 5 feet (and as much as 100 feet) around your property.
• Keep your roof and gutters clear of debris, such as leaves or pine needles, and remove overhanging branches.
• Keep grass and weeds mowed.
• Fill five feet around the base of the structure(s) with fire resistant plants or materials, such as gravel.

Preparedness Day encourages people and organizations to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks, and it provides a platform to share information and offer guidance to residents as they make changes to improve the survival of their homes and neighborhoods.  Thanks to support from State Farm, 150 grant recipients across 24 states will receive project funding awards of $500 each to support their wildfire mitigation activities on Preparedness Day. See the list of winners.

Over the past decade, the U.S. has witnessed a steady rise in wildfire activity. Experts predict this trend will continue. Despite the $2 to $3 billion per year to support wild land fire suppression efforts, the number of homes lost in wildfires per year has increased by more than 160 percent.

Wildfire risk exists in all 50 states. There is still time to make homes and communities safer from wildfire. NFPA and State Farm encourage people to get involved by planning a project and participating on May 1. Take the first step with the help of the free NFPA Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Toolkit. NFPA suggests a three-stage process to reduce wildfire fuel and fashion a buffer around property. To create defensible space and reduce your risk:

• Raking and removing pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of 3 to 5 feet of a home’s foundation. As time permits, continue up to a 30-foot distance around the home. Dispose of collected debris in appropriate trash receptacles.
• Cleaning pine needles from roof and gutters and paying attention to maintaining the home ignition zone.
• Getting out your measuring tape and seeing how close wood piles are located to the home. If closer than 30 feet, they need to be relocated and moved at least 30’ away from structures.
• Sweeping porches and decks clearing them of leaves and pine needles. Raking under decks, porches, sheds and play structures.
• Removing items stored under decks and porches and relocating them to a storage shed, garage, or basement. Gasoline cans and portable propane tanks should never be stored indoors and should be located away from the home.
• Posting and sharing Facebook and Twitter messages with tips and best practices with others in your community. (See sample posts from NFPA here.)

State Farm also recommends policyholders:

• Review your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in the event of a wildfire
• Create a home inventory to assist in the claims process
• Create a disaster preparedness plan that includes your pets and animals

For more resources and information about national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day including videos and tip sheets, visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

Arson dogs are trained to work with a human handler and find evidence at fire scenes. The dogs are searching for accelerants such as gas, oil or fuel used to start fires. State Farm is the only company in North America that provides funding for the training of arson dog teams.

The State Farm Arson Dog Program is available to fire departments and law enforcement agencies across the United States. Since its beginning in 1993, the program has placed more than 425 dogs in 46 states, three Canadian provinces and the District of Columbia.

Arson is one of the most difficult crimes to solve, as the evidence literally burns up. Insurance fraud causes billions of dollars in damage each year. In fact, many police and fire departments are seeing an increase in suspicious fires because of business closures, financial challenges and social disruption.

"Fire investigators should have every tool possible to combat this deadly crime," said Heather Paul, State Farm Arson Dog Program Coordinator. “These dogs help fire investigators to do their job. Arson dog teams can quickly locate evidence of accelerants such as gasoline or fuel used to start a fire.”

Meeting and training with a new best friend

All of the dogs are Labrador retrievers and come from animal rescues or disability assistance programs. The dogs are trained months before they meet their human handler and must work for every meal. When the dog smells fuel, they sit down and point with their nose. Their “reward” is a handful of dog food and praise. They can locate accelerants quickly, even if it is buried under debris.

Canine handlers are police detectives or fire investigators. The training class is four weeks long and the handlers know it will be intense. Over the four weeks, the handler and dog will repeat training drills multiple times a day. Food reward dogs only eat from the hand of their handler so these training drills will be repeated multiple times a day for the life until the dog retires.

Following a month of classes and drills, the arson dog teams are tested and certified by the Maine State Police. Once certified, the teams travel back to their communities to begin investigating fires. The dogs live in the home of their handler and they retire in the home of their handler. For the men and women training in the program, working with a dog is a career highlight.

Congratulations to the newly certified teams in Class No. 52!

1. Fire Chief Billy Dillon & K-9 Piper - Howe Springs Fire Rescue (Florence, SC)
2. Special Agent Michael Kuban & K-9 Phantom - Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)
3. Special Agent Kenny Arnold & K-9 Gunny - Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)
4. Special Agent Jeff Pride and K-9 PJ - Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)
5. Captain Stephanie Schofield & K-9 Jennifer - Rawlins Fire Department (Rawlins, WY)
6. Fire Inspector John Neeb & K-9 Mika - West Fargo Fire Department (West Fargo, ND)
7. Fire Investigator Thomas Cantola & K-9 Maya - Girard Fire Department (Girard, OH)
8. Fire Investigator Brian Acors & K-9 Erny - Richmond Fire Department (Richmond, VA)
9. Arson Investigator Darren Jurado & K-9 Brownie - Compton Fire Department (Compton, CA)
10. Fire Investigator Lee Maness & K-9 Vinny - Cobb County Fire and EMS (Marietta, GA)
11. Detective Michael Douglas K-9 Ruthie - State of Florida, Division of Investigative & Forensic Services (Tampa, FL)
12. Detective Cody McIntyre & K-9 Rico - State of Florida, Division of Investigative & Forensic Services (Tallahassee, FL)
13. Firefighter Brent Autry & K-9 Tony - Milan Fire Department (Milan, TN)
14. Assistant Fire Chief Jim Kanavy & K-9 Mikey - Scott County Fire Department (Georgetown, KY)

Arson Dog Calendar

Each of this year's class of K-9 crime-fighters is featured on one of the calendar pages below. Click to download.

In the News:

• West Fargo Pioneer: Fire corner: Welcoming Mika to the team (09/30/20)

Let’s explain.

Dave is a life-long resident of Pequannock Township, New Jersey.

“It’s the kind of small town where everybody knows everybody else,” Dave said. “People look out for each other here.”

Among the many friends he’s made over the years are Gayle and George Douglas and their five children.

“Gayle’s brother was my best friend growing up. I feel like I’ve been a part of that family my whole life,” he explained.

The youngest member of the Douglas family is Colby, a 21-year-old man with Down syndrome. Colby contracted COVID-19 and was admitted to the hospital on April 2. He’d stay for the next 135 days. From the moment he was admitted, Colby’s situation was precarious. He spent the first 70 days on a ventilator. When he finally regained a bit of strength, doctors performed a tracheotomy. Then, slowly but surely, Colby started to heal.

Dave kept up with Colby’s situation, checking in on him and the family often. Dave had also recently been hospitalized with COVID.

“I was only in for three days and I was begging to come home,” Dave recalled. “I can’t imagine what he was going through in there.”

When Dave learned Colby was able to come home, he was overjoyed. He also got an idea.

“Him coming home after all this time was a big deal,” Dave said. “So I figured, ‘Why not try and do something special?'”

Everybody Loves a Parade

In addition to being a claims specialist, Dave’s also a member of the Town Council. When he found out Colby would be coming home on August 13, he made a few calls.

“One thing led to another and the next thing you know, we had quite a thing going,” Dave said.

The “thing” Dave got going was nothing less than a full-blown parade, complete with police car escorts, ambulances, limousines, and fire trucks flashing their lights. And, a crowd of close to 2,000 well-wishers lined the streets to welcome Colby home.

Local TV covered it, and Colby’s story went nation-wide via a TODAY Show interview.

“It was really a great day for the town and for Colby and his family,” Dave said.

That Dave orchestrated such a tremendous outpouring of generosity wasn’t surprising to those who know him.

“That’s pretty much the kind of guy he is,” said his manager, Roger Stites. “He’s always showing that Good Neighbor attitude in everything he does.”

Dave credits State Farm for supporting employees’ charitable efforts. And, he is particularly grateful for the way the company deals with employees impacted by COVID.

When he got out of the hospital, he was out of commission for about 15 days. He was then placed on paid administrative leave while he recuperated. A gesture Dave appreciated greatly.

“State Farm didn’t have to do that, but they did,” Dave said. “That’s the kind of place this is.”

The Kind of Place This Is

State Farm is “the kind of place” where helping others - being a Good Neighbor - is important. It’s recognized and rewarded.

“Here at State Farm we encourage our employees to carry the Good Neighbor Spirit out into their communities as part of our 100 for Good initiative. Dave and his work in the community, and with this parade, is a great example of how employees use that benefit to contribute and make a difference,” said Senior Vice President Annette Martinez. “We could not be prouder.”

Dave has recorded 100 Acts of Good. That earned him an extra paid day to volunteer. Not surprisingly, Dave used that extra day to volunteer at Colby’s parade.

Join the conversation on Yammer!

Already through July 7, there have been 26,321 fires in the United States*. Though they have burned more than 1.5 million acres and are above last year’s pace, the numbers are lower than the 10-year average.

There's still time to get your property more wildfire-ready. And, it can be completed over the course of a weekend, leaving you time for your summertime pool parties or backyard BBQs.

Wildfire risk exists in all 50 states. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests a three-stage process to reduce wildfire fuel and fashion a buffer around property. To create defensible space and reduce your risk:

• remove dead vegetation
• trim tree branches overhanging your roof, and
• remove combustible materials around structures.

“Preparing our communities for wildfire is more critical today than ever before,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “NFPA and State Farm work closely together on this yearly campaign in a continued effort to raise awareness and educate homeowners that they have the power to save their homes and communities before a wildfire ignites, and we have the resources and information to help.”

* according to the National Interagency Fire Center

Break your property into three zones.

Zone 1: the five feet closest to your home or business

• It requires the most careful selection and management of plants and materials. Maintaining this zone reduces the chance fire will ignite near your building and lead to a direct flame contact exposure

Zone 2: runs from five to 30 feet from your home or to the property line

• Maintaining plants in this zone helps prevent fire from climbing into the top portion of trees or shrubs. It stops fire from burning directly to your home.
• Wind-blown embers can still ignite individual islands of plants in this zone. It makes plant selection and maintenance in Zone 1 and plant spacing in Zone 2 critical. NFIP suggests removing dead materials and lower tree branches.

Zone 3: the remaining space of the property

• Maintain vegetation and be mindful of the spacing. This will reduce the energy of a wildfire, slowing its advance on your building. Proper spacing of trees and brush should force any fire in the tops of the trees, brush or shrubs to fall to the ground.

And don't forget...

• Maintain your decks. Remove debris and vegetation from on top of your deck, and do not store wood on or underneath it. Store combustibles, like patio umbrellas and furniture, inside.
• Don’t neglect rain gutters. Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves and porches. This prevents embers from igniting your home.
• Assess your wildfire risks and review your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in the event of a wildfire.
• Create a home inventory to assist in the claims process if wildfire does strike.

Resources:

• Wildfire Preparation Infographic
• www.nfpa.org
• Firewise
• Creating a Home Inventory

Visit Simple Insights for more articles and tips to help you and your family prepare for and recover from wildfires.

There's still time to get your property more wildfire-ready. And, it can be completed over the course of a weekend, leaving you time for your summertime pool parties or backyard BBQs.

Wildfire risk exists in all 50 states. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests a three-stage process to reduce wildfire fuel and fashion a buffer around property. To create defensible space and reduce your risk:

• remove dead vegetation
• trim tree branches overhanging your roof, and
• remove combustible materials around structures.

“Preparing our communities for wildfire is more critical today than ever before,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “NFPA and State Farm work closely together on this yearly campaign in a continued effort to raise awareness and educate homeowners that they have the power to save their homes and communities before a wildfire ignites, and we have the resources and information to help.”

* according to the National Interagency Fire Center

Break your property into three zones.

Zone 1: the five feet closest to your home or business

• It requires the most careful selection and management of plants and materials. Maintaining this zone reduces the chance fire will ignite near your building and lead to a direct flame contact exposure

Zone 2: runs from five to 30 feet from your home or to the property line

• Maintaining plants in this zone helps prevent fire from climbing into the top portion of trees or shrubs. It stops fire from burning directly to your home.
• Wind-blown embers can still ignite individual islands of plants in this zone. It makes plant selection and maintenance in Zone 1 and plant spacing in Zone 2 critical. NFIP suggests removing dead materials and lower tree branches.

Zone 3: the remaining space of the property

• Maintain vegetation and be mindful of the spacing. This will reduce the energy of a wildfire, slowing its advance on your building. Proper spacing of trees and brush should force any fire in the tops of the trees, brush or shrubs to fall to the ground.

And don't forget...

• Maintain your decks. Remove debris and vegetation from on top of your deck, and do not store wood on or underneath it. Store combustibles, like patio umbrellas and furniture, inside.
• Don’t neglect rain gutters. Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves and porches. This prevents embers from igniting your home.
• Assess your wildfire risks and review your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in the event of a wildfire.
• Create a home inventory to assist in the claims process if wildfire does strike.

Resources:

• Wildfire Preparation Infographic
• www.nfpa.org
• Firewise
• Creating a Home Inventory
• What to Do After a House Fire

Visit Simple Insights for more articles and tips to help you and your family prepare for and recover from wildfires.

Aaron donated $1 million to the North Valley Community Foundation and challenged others to #Retweet4Good. State Farm Neighborhood of Good^® also donated $1 million. Countless others joined in. All told, $3 million was raised. 

Now, a year later, the Aaron Rodgers NorCal Fire Recovery Fund is actively making grants. The funds are supporting kids' programs, youth and high school sports, and transitional and permanent housing. 

Rodgers was recently a guest on the Pat McAfee show. McAfee complimented the work he and State Farm have done promoting wildfire relief.

“I just got all of the stats sent to me about what you and State Farm have been able to do for California Wildfire relief,” McAfee said. “Incredible work.”

“State Farm has been a great partner for a long time with some good commercials. With their Neighborhood of Good, they already do a ton of great stuff," Rodgers said. “Last year, I felt compelled to help out the area I grew up in, and they stepped up and donated $1 million alongside me.”

Rodgers talked about the impact the fires had on his hometown and surrounding communities, including Paradise.

“To have two bad fires in two years, it’s been tough on those fine folks,” Rodgers said. “But there have been a lot of great people helped by the donations of State Farm and some other amazing folks in the state and across the country. It’s been fun to see people come together.”

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When wildfires devastated California communities in 2018, Aaron Rodgers' hometown of Chico was among them. He teamed up with State Farm^® to help the area's long-term recovery.

Aaron donated $1 million to the North Valley Community Foundation and challenged others to #Retweet4Good. State Farm Neighborhood of Good^® also donated $1 million. Countless others joined in. All told, $3 million was raised. 

Now, a year later, the Aaron Rodgers NorCal Fire Recovery Fund is actively making grants. The funds are supporting kids' programs, youth and high school sports, and transitional and permanent housing. 

Rodgers was recently a guest on the Pat McAfee show. McAfee complimented the work he and State Farm have done promoting wildfire relief.

“I just got all of the stats sent to me about what you and State Farm have been able to do for California Wildfire relief,” McAfee said. “Incredible work.”

“State Farm has been a great partner for a long time with some good commercials. With their Neighborhood of Good, they already do a ton of great stuff," Rodgers said. “Last year, I felt compelled to help out the area I grew up in, and they stepped up and donated $1 million alongside me.”

Rodgers talked about the impact the fires had on his hometown and surrounding communities, including Paradise.

“To have two bad fires in two years, it’s been tough on those fine folks,” Rodgers said. “But there have been a lot of great people helped by the donations of State Farm and some other amazing folks in the state and across the country. It’s been fun to see people come together.”

A State Farm customer in Atlanta recently left a pan on the stove unattended, and it caught fire. They forgot the adage and attempted to put out the fire by throwing water on it. While nobody was hurt, the damage increased.

"The result was $9,000 in insured damages to the stove, cabinets, countertops and floor," said their agent Ken Anderson, of Alpharetta, Georgia. “You should never use water to try and put out a grease fire."

It could have been worse. The average State Farm cooking/grease fire claim in the U.S. was more than $48,000 in 2018.

Georgia is the top state for cooking fire losses. Anderson has seen at least two dozen cooking-related fire claims in his 38 years as an agent. Many were made worse when oil and water mixed.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires. One out of three home fires begins in the kitchen - more than any other place in the home. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of kitchen fires. NFPA data shows that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.

The oil and water pitfalls are not reserved to the kitchen. Last year, around Thanksgiving, one of Ken's customers attempted to fry a frozen turkey. In addition to not having thawed the bird, the customer had too much oil in the fryer. When he dropped the turkey in, the hot oil spilled over, leaving him with second degree burns and a damaged deck.

Among the advice Ken shares with customers?

“Make sure you have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers that are up to date,” he said. “And, keep a cooking or grease fire-approved fire extinguisher nearby when cooking or frying.”

It pays to follow the advice. In 2018, State Farm paid more than $118 million for nearly 2,500 cooking/grease fire homeowners* claims across the U.S.

*Note: excludes renters and condo unit claims.

Because many families and friends engage in cooking during the holidays, it is important to follow some basic safety tips:

• Always keep an eye on what you are cooking/frying. Never leave the cooking area unattended.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Keep a lid beside the pan when cooking. If a fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Never throw water on a grease fire.
• Keep a fire extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fires nearby. Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

Mouse over (or touch on mobile) the + on the interactive image below to see the safety tips.

A State Farm customer in Atlanta recently left a pan on the stove unattended, and it caught fire. They forgot the adage and attempted to put out the fire by throwing water on it. While nobody was hurt, the damage increased.

"The result was $9,000 in insured damages to the stove, cabinets, countertops and floor," said their agent Ken Anderson, of Alpharetta, Georgia. “You should never use water to try and put out a grease fire."

It could have been worse. The average State Farm cooking/grease fire claim in the U.S. was more than $48,000 in 2018.

Georgia is the top state for cooking fire losses. Anderson has seen at least two dozen cooking-related fire claims in his 38 years as an agent. Many were made worse when oil and water mixed.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires. One out of three home fires begins in the kitchen - more than any other place in the home. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of kitchen fires. NFPA data shows that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.

The oil and water pitfalls are not reserved to the kitchen. Last year, around Thanksgiving, one of Ken's customers attempted to fry a frozen turkey. In addition to not having thawed the bird, the customer had too much oil in the fryer. When he dropped the turkey in, the hot oil spilled over, leaving him with second degree burns and a damaged deck.

Among the advice Ken shares with customers?

“Make sure you have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers that are up to date,” he said. “And, keep a cooking or grease fire-approved fire extinguisher nearby when cooking or frying.”

It pays to follow the advice. In 2018, State Farm paid more than $118 million for nearly 2,500 cooking/grease fire homeowners* claims across the U.S.

*Note: excludes renters and condo unit claims.

Because many families and friends engage in cooking during the holidays, it is important to follow some basic safety tips:

• Always keep an eye on what you are cooking/frying. Never leave the cooking area unattended.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Keep a lid beside the pan when cooking. If a fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Never throw water on a grease fire.
• Keep a fire extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fires nearby. Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

Mouse over (or touch on mobile) the + on the interactive image below to see the safety tips.

As the nation’s largest homeowners’ insurer, State Farm is well aware of the severity and impact of arson on businesses and public safety. That is why State Farm funds the acquisition and training of accelerant detection canine teams. Commonly called arson dogs, more than 400 teams have been created since 1993. The teams conduct fire investigation in 45 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces and the District of Columbia. Outside of state or federal agencies, no other company in North America provides arson dog program funding.

An arson dog is one trained to detect and locate trace amounts of ignitable liquids. Things like gasoline, turpentine, and other flammable solvents are used to start fires. The use of arson dogs significantly aids law enforcement and fire investigation. Arson dogs save time and money by pinpointing sample collection locations.

Labrador retrievers are the arson dog breed of choice. Their curiosity, high energy, and tracking ability helps them quickly adapt to the training and socialization. Arson dogs are often “career change” or “second career” canines. They come from animal shelters, guide dog or disability programs and animal rescue organizations. Perhaps not suited for a companion or guide dog program, they did have needed skills for another job. In essence, these dogs have a second chance to serve their communities.

Being a dog's human handler is an enormous commitment. Even on days off or during vacations, they still have to train in order to feed their dog. Unlike a typical dog owner, these men and women can’t simply put down a bowl of food. Their canine partners are trained with food rewards. This means the handlers must run training drills multiple times daily to feed their dog and then document this training in detail.

For more information about the State Farm Arson Dog Program, visit www.arsondog.org.

Congratulations to the sixteen new K9 crime-fighting teams! Learn more about each of the teams below.

Captain Robby Simpson and K9 Sonny

Phoenix Fire Department (Phoenix, AZ)

Captain Robby Simpson is a fire investigator and medic with the Phoenix Fire Department. Captain Simpson spent 28 years on a fire truck before becoming a fire investigator and has always dreamed of working with an accelerant detection canine. This is his first canine partner and the fourth team trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program for the City of Phoenix. In fact, the first arson dog team for the Phoenix Fire Department was trained through the program 26 years ago in April 1993.

Investigator Jodie Grisdale and K9 Willow

Calgary Fire Department (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

Fire Investigator Jodie Grisdale has been with the Calgary Fire Department for 12 years. She has been a fire investigator for two years. When she joined the Inspection and Investigations department, her dream was to work with an arson dog. In April 2019, her dream came true and she is now certified with K9 Willow. While this is her first canine partner, it is the third team trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program for the City of Calgary.

Inspector Joseph Cox and K9 Camy

St. Lucie County Fire District (Port St. Lucie, FL)

Inspector Joe Cox is a Fire Investigator/Inspector with the St. Lucie County Fire District in southern Florida. He has worked for the Lucie County Fire District for 22 years and spent the past four years investigating for the St. Lucie County Fire Marshal's Office. Prior to entering the Fire Marshal's Office, Cox was a Firefighter and Paramedic. This is his first canine partner and the first for the department.

Investigator Matt Huffman and K9 Shay-Ley

Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office (Jacksonville, FL)

Investigator Matt Huffman has been a Detective/ Fire Investigator with the State of Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives Investigations Division for a little over two years. He is currently assigned to the Jacksonville office but covers numerous counties in northeast Florida. Investigator Huffman retired from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in 2016 after 25 years of service. This may be his first canine partner, but he joins five other certified teams with the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office that are trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program. Since 1998, 23 teams have been trained for the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office through the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

Investigator Bobby Joe Brown and K9 Sasha

Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)

Arson Investigator Bobby Joe Brown is with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. He began his fire service career in 1991 as a volunteer firefighter before being hired full-time in 1995. He was promoted to Fire Captain/Paramedic and continued that role until 2004 before becoming Fire Chief of the Beardstown department. In 2008 he left the department to become a fire investigator. This is his first canine partner. Bobby Joe and K9 Sasha join seven certified teams actively investigating fires for the State of Illinois who were trained through the State Farm Arson Dog program. Since 1993, 22 teams have been trained for the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office through the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

Special Agent Greg Vespa and K9 Ross 

Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)

Special Agent Greg Vespa is with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, covering the Greater Metro East area of Southern Illinois, more commonly known as the East St. Louis area.

Most of Greg’s career has been in Law Enforcement, with some volunteer fire service and full time paramedic service in there as well. He joined the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office in 2006 and during his time as a special agent, has worked three other accelerant canines. K9 Ross is his fourth partner. Greg and K9 Ross join seven certified teams actively investigating fires for the State of Illinois who were trained through the State Farm Arson Dog program. Since 1993, 22 teams have been trained for the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office through the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

Search and Rescue Program Manager Lillian Hardy and K9 Misty

Indiana Department of Homeland Security (Indianapolis, IN)

Lillian Hardy has been involved in search and rescue since 1981. She started as a volunteer working with Civil Air Patrol in California and has served as a Los Angeles Chapter Disaster Assistance team member of American Red Cross; director and founding member of Illinois Search and Rescue, member of Midwest Search dogs in Indiana and has served as a regional representative for the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) and has worked as an EMT/Paramedic. Since 1993, Lillian has been a certified master canine trainer through National K9 training center and since June 2004, Lillian has been the Search and Rescue Program Manager for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. This is her first accelerant detection canine partner and she will have the entire state of Indiana as her territory.

Operator Ryan Percle and K9 Dakota 

New Orleans Fire Department (New Orleans, LA)

Operator Ryan Percle is a fire truck engineer with the New Orleans Fire Department and has been with the department for 21 years. While this is his first arson canine partner, his dog is a veteran. Ryan and his family took in K9 Dakota after her previous handler was unable to continue the program several years ago. K9 Dakota was trained through the State Farm Arson Dog program in 2015 and then again in 2019.

Captain Justin Shea and K9 Linus

Prince George’s County Fire/EMS (Lanham, MD)

Captain Justin Shea is with the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department and has been a member of the department for 14 years. He spent the first seven years of his career riding a fire truck and ambulance before joining the Fire Marshal’s Office, where he has investigated fires for the past seven years. This is his first canine partner and they will investigate fires east of Washington, DC.

Lieutenant Craig Matthews and K9 Sowell 

Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (Marriottsville, MD)

Lt. Craig Matthews has been with Howard County Fire and Rescue for 18 years. This is his first canine partner and the fourth team for Howard County trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program. Lt. Matthews and K9 Sowell are replacing the current canine team in Howard County, Lt. Carlton Saunders and K9 Jet., who will retire at the end of 2019. Their investigation territory includes Columbia and Baltimore City in Maryland.

Investigator Solomon Rosman and K9 Reeves

New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office (Concord, NH)

Investigator Sol Rosman is with the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office and has a lengthy career as an EMT, paramedic, police officer, firefighter, and fire investigator. Rosman began his career as a first responder while at college when he became an EMT. He spent several years as an EMT before moving to New Hampshire and becoming a paramedic. He also became a part-time police officer and worked for a few small towns before attending the police academy. Prior to joining the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office three and a half years ago, Rosman was a firefighter and paramedic for eight years. This is his first canine partner and the 9th canine team for NH SFMO. In fact, the NH SFMO has been in the program since the very first training class in February 1993.

Detective Michael Burns and K9 Dodger 

City of Pittsburgh Police Department (Pittsburgh, PA)

Detective Mike Burns has been an officer with the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police since 1993. He was assigned to the Fire Investigation Unit in 2000 and has been with the department Bomb Squad for the last 12 years. This is his first canine partner and they will be investigating fire scenes in and around the city of Pittsburgh.

Arson Investigator Peter Sword and K9 Wizard 

Providence Fire Department (Providence, RI)

Arson Investigator Peter Sword is with the City of Providence Fire Department in Rhode Island. He has been a member of the department for 27 years, spending most of that time on engine companies with a two year stint on rescue in between. He transferred to the fire investigation unit five years ago before being promoted to Arson Investigator. This will be his first canine partner and he will replace the retired team of Sean Reddy and K9 Tyler, also trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

Lieutenant John Perry and K9 Sam 

Burton Fire District (Beaufort, SC)

Lt. John Perry is a fifth-generation firefighter who has worked as both a volunteer and career firefighter in his 30-year career. He is currently assigned as a Lieutenant on the busiest engine company in the Burton Fire District. Lt. Perry has spent the last 15 as a fire investigator and the past four years as a handler for Arson K9 Abby, who retired in April 2019. K9 Sam will replace K9 Abby investigating fires in the Bluffton, Beaufort, and Hilton Head areas in South Carolina.

Investigator Ashley Bowen and K9 Liberty 

South Padre Island Fire Department (South Padre Island, TX)

Investigator Ashley Bowen has been in the fire service for seven years, and with the South Padre Island Fire Department for four years. She has been a fire investigator for a little over a year now and was recently promoted to fire inspector. This is her first canine partner and the first for the department. Ashley and Liberty have a very large territory of more than 15 counties in southern Texas, extending from Brownsville to Corpus Christi.

Assistant Fire Marshal Chris Persons and K9 Pyper 

Hampton Fire Marshal’s Office (Hampton, VA)

Assistant Fire Marshal Chris Persons is with the Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue located in Virginia. He began his career in the fire service as a volunteer prior to becoming a career firefighter. He has been a firefighter for the past six years and this is his first canine partner. Chris and K9 Pyper have big shoes to fill. They are replacing Jesse Gomes and K9 Taylor, who have been investigating fires in the Hampton/Newport News area in Virginia since completing their training in the State Farm Arson Dog Program in 2008. This is also the 4^th team trained for the Hampton Fire Department through the program. The first team was trained in 1998.

On the evening of June 9, 2015, veterinarian, Kenneth Kimbrough, wrapped up his last appointment, said goodbye to his staff, and went home.

“It was business as usual, until the fire department called. Kimbrough Animal Hospital was in flames.”

The doctor and his wife arrived on the scene to find their clinic fully engulfed.

“My biggest fear - the animals inside,” said Kimbrough. “I ran to the kennel. People were shouting, ‘It’s dangerous, don’t go in!’ But I couldn’t stop. I began taking animals out. Started administering CPR on the lawn. I had to get their lungs full of something besides smoke. I had to turn it around.”

Thirty-eight animals perished that night. Only two boxers survived. Officials deemed Kimbrough Animal Hospital a total loss.

“I shared this devastating reality with my clients and the community,” said Kimbrough. “It’s numbing.”

Rebuilding from the ashes

The next day Kimbrough called his State Farm Agent, Dave Powell.

“When I began working with Dr. Kimbrough in 2000, I looked him in the eye and said, ‘On your worst day, I’m going to be there for you.’ That day had arrived,” said Powell.

Together, the pair surveyed the scene, met with the claim specialist and reviewed his policy. While the cause of the fire was never determined, officials suspected it may have started electrically, in a back office.

“As a small business owner, it’s imperative to get back up and running,” Powell explained. “Dr. Kimbrough’s coverage included business interruption which meant State Farm would reimburse his loss of income, and also provides coverage to keep his team employed during the period of restoration. His policy also covered building contents, which allowed him to buy new equipment.”

With the help of State Farm, Kimbrough Animal Hospital began to recover. The old hospital was leveled and the rebuild began. With construction underway, Kimbrough converted his nearby pet grooming facility into a mini animal hospital. Portable buildings were moved onto the grounds so staff could help more people.

“Thank goodness for small business insurance, which made it possible,” said Kimbrough. “Dave, my agent, was with me every step of the way.”

A new chapter

In March 2017, the NEW Kimbrough Animal Hospital opened its doors.

“Our former building was 4,400 square feet. Our new facility is 12,000 square feet,” said Kimbrough. “This allows us to serve customers, provide daycare and grooming, and help more pets. We also have a Fear Free certified doctor on staff, which allows us better serve the physical and emotional wellbeing of animals.”

More than two years later, the clinic is back in action. And while Kimbrough says the memories of that fateful June night will never fade, he’s grateful for the support of his friends, neighbors and the Texas community.

“Thank goodness I could do this. With Dave as my State Farm agent, I had the right coverage, my needs were met and I was guided through the process. Kimbrough Animal Hospital got a second chance.”

“I consider it an honor to be a servant leader for our small business clientele,” said Powell. “Staying in touch to ensure the coverage they have continues to meet their evolving needs ensures people are secure. Helping, it’s what we do.”

In 2017, State Farm paid more than $130 million for nearly 2,700 cooking/grease fire homeowners* claims across the U.S.

*Note: excludes renters and condo unit claims.

Because many families and friends gather in the kitchen during the holidays, it is important to follow some cooking safety tips to keep your kitchen free of fire risks and hazards.

Here are some easy cooking safety reminders from NFPA and a Recipe4Safety card you can download for your own kitchen.

What you should know about home cooking safety

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food.
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.

If you have a cooking fire

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.
• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
• Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

 Safety considerations for cooking with oil

• Always stay in the kitchen when frying on the stovetop.
• Keep an eye on what you fry. If you see wisps of smoke or the oil smells, immediately turn off the burner and/or carefully remove the pan from the burner. Smoke is a danger sign that the oil is too hot.
• Heat the oil slowly to the temperature you need for frying or sautéing.
• Add food gently to the pot or pan so the oil does not splatter.
• Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time. Never throw water on the fire.
• If the fire does not go out or you don’t feel comfortable sliding a lid over the pan, get everyone out of your home. Call the fire department from outside.

Mouse over the dots on the interactive image below to see the safety tips.

Additional Resources:

• Cooking Fire Safety Video
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Resources-Cooking Fires
• Turkey Fryer Safety

Residents for nearly 30 years, they raised their family in this small city. Now, like so many others, they are rebuilding.

A Warm and Windy Night

Ed and Carol woke up around 1:30 a.m. to the strong smell of smoke and large ash flakes falling like snow. They were prepared and put their emergency evacuation plan into action; leaving just twenty minutes later.

The destruction of their primary home and their four other properties was complete. Their unrecognizable neighborhood and region left thousands of other victims with similar, sometimes worse, fates.

The couple feel fortunate they prepared for a possible emergency evacuation. They grabbed almost all their photo albums, important memorabilia, family heirlooms, and critical documents. They even got their cherished bicycles and Carol's prized handmade quilts. Saving these items from the wrath of the fire provided some comfort and allowed them to proceed with their recovery.

Critical Communication

One of the first things they did was call their State Farm Agent. That initial conversation put them at ease. State Farm had people and resources in place to help them recover.

Educating customers about their insurance coverages and the claims process is a key part of a claim specialist's role. From the beginning, Ed says every conversation with a claim specialist begins with a review of their available insurance coverages.

"Every one of these people told us not to worry," said Ed. "Everyone reviewed with us what our coverage was. This is the first thing that would happen,” he explained. "The bedside manner was very good."

We Are in this Together

The contents inventory process is the part of the claim where customers will document damaged and destroyed personal possessions and replace them. The process can be time consuming and may lead to a great deal of questions.

"We always felt we could call and ask," said Carol. "Every time we called, there was an answer."

Understanding this process and working with the claim specialists helped make their recovery smooth. Nevertheless, it was still an anxiety-filled time. There are many other aspects to an insurance claim besides the inventory process. The couple said trusting the experts reduced the stress and panic that is natural in this type of situation.

Compassion Builds Strength and Hope

Often after a tragedy, communities pull together and people show extraordinary compassion towards one another - and so it was in this situation.

During one of their many conversations with a claim specialist Carol mentioned a book she lost in the fire. It was a rare book about a homesteader from Carol’s hometown.

A couple weeks later, Carol received a package in the mail. Her claim specialist found a copy of the book. Touched by the gesture, Carol said the claim specialist "was so thoughtful. She went above and beyond."

Simple acts of kindness and generosity go a long way. Ed and Carol regularly invite people to their home to share a meal and are available to their friends and neighbors who need help.

The couple has not let the rebuilding process get in the way of enjoying life. Involvement in their church, helping others, and staying connected to friends and family keeps them focused on what is important.

An Important Lesson

Compassion for others and trust in the experts anchors their recovery. Ed and Carol are resilient and have a positive outlook. However, there is one thing they wished they'd done to better prepare.

Their agent had regularly invited them to an insurance and financial review, but Ed and Carol say they never made it a priority.

"If I could go back in time, I would listen to Christine (State Farm Agent) when she would leave those messages on the phone encouraging us to come in and review our policies,” Ed shares. “We ignored those. When you make a mistake, there is a consequence."

You can take all the necessary precautions for life’s scariest moments but without proper insurance coverage, you may not fully recover from a tragedy like a wildfire. Making an insurance and financial review a regular habit can be a critical part of any disaster preparedness plan.

In a moment of levity, Carol shares exactly what her response will be the next time they get a review call from their agent, "Do you have time this afternoon?"

Trees are the lungs of the earth. Without them, we couldn’t survive. And our trees-our earth-are at risk. Trees improve our air quality by removing pollution from the atmosphere and giving us clean, fresh air to breathe.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, more than half of all Americans depend on forest watersheds for drinking water.

The Blaze of Wildfires

Sadly, forest fires and infestation can take away many benefits trees provide to human and environmental health.

As many as 90 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans, according to the U.S. Department of Interior. Some human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended, the burning of debris, negligently discarded cigarettes and intentional acts of arson. The remaining 10 percent are started by lightning or lava.

Nebraska’s One Million Acre Forest

When you think of Nebraska, football and corn may come to mind. But trees should too. In 2006 and 2012, 50,000 trees were burned in forest fires caused by lightning in the Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands. Burning the Bald Eagle’s and other animal’s habitats. A combined 86,000 acres were burned according to the Arbor Day Foundation. The damage was so bad natural regeneration is not possible, leaving reforestation in human hands.

The Future of Trees

The US Forest Service strives to replicate the natural diversity of trees through its plantings in forests nationwide. Like humans, trees need air to breathe and sunshine, water, and food to grow. Trees fight to stay alive just like humans do. Trees will adapt to change, but forests need to be replanted in order for the adaptation to occur.

The Celebration of Arbor Day

Arbor Day originated 144 years ago by Nebraska pioneer J. Sterling Morton. It is an annual observance celebrating the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care.

Whether trees provide a backyard swing for your children or a nesting place for diverse habitat, the future of trees is in jeopardy. Without aggressive replanting efforts there will be no seed source to reestablish this unique ecosystem. Replanting trees today will benefit generations to come.

State Farm® is doing their part. The insurance company, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, sponsored the replanting of 30,000 trees over the last 3 years.

“Our forests are part of the long and important legacy of the people and the land of our country,” said Matt Harris, Arbor Day Foundation chief executive. “Thanks to State Farm’s commitment, thousands of trees will be planted to help clean the air, protect water resources, and restore habitat and beauty to forests that have suffered devastation.”

Harris hopes others follow in State Farm’s footsteps. Take a stand with our trees. If interested in supporting the Arbor Day Foundation, donate today and share this story about the importance of trees with family and friends.

Special thanks and photo credit to: Arbor Day Foundation; Bessey Nursery; Dan Morrow; Brad Brandt; US Forest Service; Cydney Janssen; Chris Fankhauser; Diane Clark, Jessica Espinoza, and Moni Hourt from Crawford Clipper; State Farm agents Randy Bauer and Bob Alcorn

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a reminder that there are many steps communities can take to be prepared for wildfire and an opportunity for residents to participate in wildfire safety activities. There is still time to prepare to take action with regard to wildfire safety and NFPA and State Farm encourage people to get involved by planning a project and participating on May 5. Print a free list of project ideas.

Recent wildfire events make the need for Preparedness Day more important than ever before. Last October, more than 40 people lost their lives in a rash of Northern California wildfires that burned more than 245,000 acres. In December, wildfires near Los Angeles forced more than 230,000 people to evacuate their homes. Several other states that experienced large fires in 2017, including Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Utah, have put the U.S. on pace to exceed the average acreage burned annually over the past 10 years.

"Since NFPA and State Farm first partnered together on Preparedness Day, the number of projects has grown tremendously. We are pleased to provide 150 communities with $500 each to fund their wildfire risk reduction activities on May 5," said Vickie Hodges, P&C underwriting analyst, State Farm. "For State Farm, the largest home insurer in the U.S., it is important to us to take a leadership role in helping homeowners stay safe and better protect their property."

For more information about national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day including resources, videos, and tip sheets, and to see the list of winning projects and their locations, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.

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Dedication

The department responds to calls nearly every day. Birthdays, anniversaries and vacations have all been missed, but those celebrating understand. “It takes dedication,” Rosewood Heights Fire Chief Tim Bunt says of his team. “Regardless if it has been a hard day in the factory, or if they are at a family event, they’ll answer the call.”

Chief Bunt has been on the force for three decades. When a volunteer joins, he makes it a family affair. Chief Bunt discusses their commitment with the husbands, wives and children of those signing up. They complete a minimum of 50 hours of initial training. Annual training requirements help firefighters serve a lifetime. The volunteers range from age 19 to the chief’s own 89-year-old father. They all understand the sacrifice.

Assistance after the Emergency

The firefighters and their chief are well known in this small southern Illinois town. It’s not necessarily because of the volume of calls, but rather for their commitment to the community.

It doesn't end with the call response. The firefighters revisit the families who have called on them for help. They've moved furniture, supplied food, or simply stopped in to say hello.

“It’s something we’ve always done,” Chief Bunt says of the extra effort. "It makes us feel better.”

Life Changing Calls Sometimes Come Full Circle

Whether a firefighter has served a day or decade, each can likely share a story that has changed someone’s life – maybe even their own. One of the most frightening calls of Chief Bunt’s career came across the radio almost two decades ago. It was an infant choking. Bunt says the adrenaline always kicks in with emergency call. However, when a child is involved, even more so. Bunt saved that child’s life. He vividly recalled those memories when a new recruit recently came to sign up as a volunteer. He was that baby Bunt had saved 18 years earlier.

Firefighter Dayna Hilton kneeled down so she could hear five-year-old Angelica’s story. With eyes as round as saucers, the little girl recalled waking up to thick smoke pouring into her bedroom from a fire that was quickly engulfing her home. Angelica pushed the covers off and dropped to the floor, crawling low – just like Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog taught her at school.

As she wiggled across the floor, the five-year-old ran right into her father’s legs. The man was stumbling through the house, disoriented by the smoke and dangerous fumes. Five-year-old Angelica did not panic. She urged her father to get down on the floor with her and to crawl like Sparkles. Together, side by side, they safely escaped…

Helping those who need it most

Angelica learned fire safety training from a woman named Dayna Hilton, a second generation firefighter and certified Public Life Safety Educator. Hilton is the Executive Director of the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation (KKFSF). She and her team of Dalmatian dogs (Molly, Tango and Sparkles) are recognized around the world as leading fire safety educators.

“Our message has been shared with more than one million children,” said Hilton. “For 15 years we’ve used innovative teaching and technology to share our safety message – and now, that includes Skype and social networking.”

Ten years ago, more than 50% of all child fire deaths occurred to those aged four and younger (usfa.fema.gov).

This tragic statistic distressed Hilton and inspired her to establish KKFSF, a non-profit dedicated to teaching fire safety to children. What makes the foundation distinctive is the use of Dalmatian dogs to help deliver fire safety messages to students.

“From the beginning, my primary goal was to reduce fire deaths and injuries among those most at risk -- children,” Hilton said. “Children are attracted to dogs, and using Sparkles, Tango, and Molly as part of our presentation helps them remember what they have learned.”

Hilton calls this attraction, “the power of the paw.” In other words, the dogs’ furry, friendly demeanor keeps children engaged, which in turn, helps them absorb the information they’ve been given.

Innovative Fire Safety Programming

Molly the Fire Safety Dog’s Skype program, Learning about Fire Safety is Fun enables children to learn basic fire safety knowledge. The interactive 30-minute program is free to schools and other organizations throughout the world thanks to a grant from State Farm. The program features the Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog activity book, a safety demonstration by one of the Fire Safety Dogs that teaches skills such as crawling low under smoke, and other activities to engage the students.

According to Hilton, if you were to add the virtual miles the Fire Safety Dogs have traveled, it would equal the distance to the moon and back.

Lives Impacted Forever

Thanks to the fire safety training from Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles, Angelica is now a teenager. When fire broke out at her home on that fateful night…she and her family made it out just in time.

Firefighters on scene reported as soon as the two were whisked away to safety, the home “flashed over” – a term used to describe a home totally engulfed in flames.

These success stories continue to drive Hilton forward. To date, she is aware of eight children and four adults whose lives have been saved because of the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation efforts.

“Our vision is to make the world a safer place, one fire safety presentation at a time,” Hilton says.

And that is worth it all.

Skype with Molly for free!

Thanks to a grant from State Farm, schools and organizations can Skype with Firefighter Dayna and Molly the Fire Safety Dog at no cost. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, click HERE.

To learn more about the work of Molly the Fire Safety Dog and the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation, click HERE. Participating schools and organizations receive links to a free, downloadable copy of the Molly’s Fire Safety Skype Program Coloring eBook and bonus materials.

"The flames were outrunning the smoke. If someone wanted to know what the gates of hell look like, I think this is pretty close," said Bob Pratt, as he reflected on the two year anniversary of the Valley Fire. Bob and his wife Kathy are survivors.

The Valley Fire struck Lake County, California on September 12, 2015. The fierce wind-driven firestorm had an insatiable appetite for destruction. Residents had little time to react. According to Cal Fire, the Valley Fire consumed 76,067 acres, destroyed 1,958 structures and damaged 93 more.

Individuals, families and the community at-large were changed forever once the wildfire made its indelible mark. Two years later, the wildfire’s scars are still visible. Though progress has been made, it seems the whole county is under construction.

The Pratts live in the small town of Cobb, California, north of the Napa Valley wine country. The destruction of their home was complete. They lost their home, photo albums, and cherished possessions but they survived.

As with any wildfire, the damage sustained by individual homes varied. Some homes were completely destroyed. Others were left untouched and many more homes suffered a range of damage somewhere in between. No matter the final fate of a home, the evacuation process during the Valley Fire was traumatic for those impacted.

Tom and Linda Moran live in a beautiful home in Hidden Valley Lake with panoramic views. They watched the wildfire from their patio as it moved from across the valley. It traveled along the hilltop ridges and suddenly the flames were licking at nearby property lines.

"It was panic,” said Tom. “We had five minutes to get out. It was incredible.” Linda explained they “drove out with flames on both sides of the road. It was surreal.” The Moran home survived the fire with a relatively small amount of damage.

The way a community pulls together in times of need is impressive. The people of Lake County are no different. The Moran and Pratt families received tremendous support from their friends and broader community, including complete strangers. The people of Lake County have suffered together, are recovering together and have learned a lot in the process.

Lessons Learned

When asked about what they learned in all this, Bob Pratt didn’t hesitate. “Make sure whoever your insurance company is, that they do what they say they'll do the way they say they'll do it and that you can rely on them,” Bob, a State Farm policyholder, shared. “Because if everything goes,” he continued, “that is where you start. So, make sure you have an insurance company that understands your needs and that you are covered.”

With two little dogs to care for, Bob’s wife Kathy chimed in to remind us that it is important not to forget your pets and their needs. Indeed, pets are members of the family. In your emergency kit, pack dog food and treats, medication and favorite toys. This will give your pet a sense of stability in a stressful situation.

Some other tips the Moran and Pratt families shared are:

• Create defensible space on your property (grass down, trees trimmed, natural fire breaks). It is a key step for the safety of your home and firefighters.
• Have a bag with key items prepared. Create an A, B, and C list to organize your priorities. Depending on the amount of time you have to evacuate, work your way down your lists.
• Take digital photos of your home and personal possessions. Keep the digital photos off site or on the cloud. Also, use a scanner to digitize your printed photos albums.
• Hold on to receipts you accumulate during evacuation and recovery. They are very important in claims process.
• When it comes to filing a homeowner’s insurance claim, the relationship you have with your agent and claim representative matters. Communication is a key to resolving any claim.

Once Lived, Never Forgotten

Not every hardship and wound resulting from the wildfire will find closure but, a lot can be fixed, rebuilt and renewed with fresh optimism for the future. As Bob searched for personal items in the ashes of his home, he did find the melted remnants of his gold wedding ring. It was right where he thought it would be.

He has since set the gold into the handle of his walking stick and moves about his daily business with confidence. Bob carries a reminder of the wildfire with him everywhere he goes. That isn’t unusual for those that experience such a life altering event. The wildfire experience becomes a part of you; you never look at your home and community the same way.

When duty calls, they respond. When faced with danger, they act. When emergency strikes, they come running.

And they always arrive…on four legs.

They’re working dogs. From police, to military, to search and rescue – their mission is to serve and protect others. While the situations and responsibilities differ, each pooch has the same purpose: Help those in need.

But what happens when these courageous canines need help? Tracy Spader of the K9 Defender Fund found an answer.

“I started the K9 Defender Fund in 2013 out of admiration and respect for the work done by military, police, search/rescue and fire dogs,” said Spader. “These K9’s and their handlers put their lives on the line each day and need to be protected if something goes wrong.”

As the mother of an Air Force Captain, Spader has a deep passion for working dog teams. She’s even opened her home to two military dogs, Buddy and Jig. “It’s a privilege to support the K9’s who work tirelessly to protect us,” said Spader. “No matter the circumstances, no matter the injuries, they’re determined to get up every day and do it again.”

A Kit Fit for a K9

That’s why, four years ago, Spader created the Buddy Bag. With the help of two veterinarians (one of whom spent time with the military), the bag contains supplies specially selected to meet the needs of injured animals.

What’s the cost for a first responder who wants to buy a bag?

Zero dollars.

“Many departments like police and military have experienced budget setbacks. So, the organization donates Buddy Bags to working dog teams in need,” said Spader. “When we provide the bags, I require every handler to give me a verbal ‘YES.’ That means they will work with their veterinarian so they know how to properly use the items found in the Buddy Bag.”

To date, more than 600 Buddy Bags have been donated to first responders in 43 states and areas where the US military is active. While Spader hasn’t heard from every department – she knows the bags are making a difference.

“In Kentucky, an officer and his K9 partner were assisting with an arrest. While stopping the suspect, the dog was injured. Luckily the officer had a Buddy Bag and was able to give aid to his partner at the scene. The dog has made a full recovery and is now back to work. Since that incident, the police department is committed to promoting the use of Buddy Bags,” said Spader.

State Farm is a financial supporter of Buddy Bag program and its commitment to assist emergency personnel. At a recent State Farm Arson Dog training, teams not only detected the presence of accelerants like lighter fluid and gasoline at fire scenes, they also learned how to use the Buddy Bags.

“Many animals in this line of work risk being burned through the course of an explosion, fire or accident,” said Spader. “Rescuers are taught how to administer oxygen, how to perform first-aid for injuries, administer lifesaving drugs and how to use other Buddy Bag supplies.”

So what’s next for Buddy Bags?

“We’re staying busy,” said Spader. “We want to keep supporting K9 units by providing adequate supplies. We’re continuing to fundraise and educate. After all, I’ve seen the difference these furry spirits can make in a person’s life. We need to ensure while keeping others safe, they stay safe.”

To learn more about the K9 Defender Fund or to donate, click here.

State Farm has once again joined with the United States Fire Administration for National Arson Awareness Week to raise awareness about reducing the risk of arson fires.

It’s impossible to prevent all arson crimes, but creating an environment that reduces the risk of damage and injury is important. Homeowners, business owners, and community leaders can help reduce the risk of arson through security measures and public education.

External and Internal Safety

• Illuminate building exteriors and entrances – arsonists fear light.
• Clear things like shrubbery that block the view of the home or building.
• Clean up – remove anything that could fuel a fire for an arsonist.
• Install smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system.
• Keep doors and windows locked when the building is unattended.
• Establish an arson watch program in your local neighborhood and community.

State Farm Arson Dog Program

Since 1993, State Farm has funded the acquisition and training of accelerant detection canine teams, commonly called arson dogs. The State Farm Arson Dog Program has placed more than 380 arson dogs in communities across North America. 

An arson dog team can quickly search a fire scene for evidence of arson. This saves time and money for tax payers and increases the likelihood that the arsonist will be caught and prosecuted. As of May 2017, there are 96 active and certified teams trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program in North America. This includes 12 new teams certified in April 2017. 

Hover over the interactive image below for details on these newest investigative teams:​

• Fire Chief Ricky Flowers & K9 Cato - Darlington County Fire District (Hartsville, SC)
• Fire Marshal Pat Weaver & K9 Izzy - Picayune Fire Department (Picayune, MS)
• Fire Investigator John Wauchek & K9 Mikey - Rutherford County Fire Rescue (Murfreesboro, TN)
• Arson Investigator Shane Arndt & K9 Mazy - Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office (Springfield, IL)
• Fire Investigator Scott Wilson & K9 Bandel - DC Fire and EMS (Washington, D.C.)
• Deputy Jerry Riggins & K9 Marvel - Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Department (Chatham, VA)
• Fire Investigator Dan Roberts & K9 Gibson - Council Bluffs Fire Department (Council Bluffs, IA)
• Arson Investigator Ryan Press & K9 Jenna - San Antonio Fire Department (San Antonio, TX)
• Lieutenant Brandon Ferrell & K9 Pearl - Conroe Fire Department (Conroe, TX)
• Firefighter Shane Weltikol & K9 Webbster - Mandan Fire Department (Mandan, ND)
• Patrolman Brian Gilmore & K9 Elou - Upper Chichester Township Police Department (Boothwyn, PA)
• Assistant Fire Marshal Jim Pasley & K9 Izzo - Columbia Fire Department (Columbia, MO)

Three Church Fires in One Evening

A church should be a safe and peaceful place. The theme for 2017 National Arson Awareness is “Preventing Arson Fires in Houses of Worship”. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that from 2007 – 2011, the average for structure fires at religious properties (church, mosque, synagogue, temple or chapel) was 1,600 fires and $105 million in direct property damage. Recent analysis by the Pew Research Center indicates that 51% of these fires were determined to be arson.

December 2, 2014, will go down in history as one of the most devastating for Felton, Delaware. It was around 2:00 a.m. when firefighters from the Felton and Frederica Volunteer Fire Companies were called to a fire at the Healing Hands Christian Church. Firefighters were already battling the blaze when they received word that a second church, Manship Chapel, was on fire four miles away. Within hours, a third fire was reported at the nearby Law Mennonite Church. For the members of the three churches, the fires left them heartbroken and scared.

Arson was suspected in all three church fires, but it would take more than suspicion to bring the criminal(s) to justice. Arson is a very difficult crime to solve because the evidence burns up. For fire investigators, having every tool available is critical when arson is suspected. Deputy Fire Marshal John Galaska with the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office had the powerful nose of his partner, K9 Tanya, to help with the investigation. As an accelerant detection, or “arson dog” team, their job is to help find evidence that a fire was intentionally started.

Deputy Marshal Galaska and K9 Tanya worked with state and federal law enforcement agencies to collect evidence. Their hard work led to the arrest of two local men. Both men confessed to breaking into the churches following a night of heavy drinking. They pled guilty to second degree arson, third degree burglary, and second degree conspiracy. For Galaska and K9 Tanya, it was another investigation resulting in an arsonist behind bars. It also allowed the community and the congregations to begin healing.

Wife Brande works for State Farm Agent Ann Price in Duluth, GA. Her customer interactions help families find solutions that protect what’s important to them.

Husband Tommy is a Deputy with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department in the DUI, Drug, and Veteran’s Treatment Courts. He protects the public by helping people better themselves rather than re-offend. His job is not without risks and Brande recognizes that.

“When people are angry about being in jail they have nothing but time to think of ways to hurt him,” she said. “There have been a couple of instances where I wanted him to change jobs."

To help provide peace of mind to first responder families like the Maloys, State Farm teamed up with the home security company Canary to launch Protect the Protectors. The program donates Canary devices to first responders so they can watch activity in their homes through a smartphone.

“We want to acknowledge first responders for the work they do and dangers they face,” said John Carter, head of communication for Canary. “There’s a person behind the badge and they have families.”

Brande proudly joined 29 State Farm Agents at a September event where home monitoring devices were provided to Gwinnett County sheriff deputies.

“As the wife of a law enforcement officer, I have a heightened awareness of the high risks police face on the job. The donation of the Canary devices was gracious and falls in line with our (State Farm) focus on helping life go right.”

Tommy also praised the program.

“Being able to check my phone and see my home and family while I am at work is great,” he said. “The kids may not like it, but I do.”

Extending the Protection

During the very first Protect the Protectors event in December 2015, 400 home monitoring devices were donated to Allentown, PA first responders. Protect the Protectors has since donated more than 5,000 home monitoring devices to police and fire departments.

State Farm employee Josh Boyd volunteered to help distribute devices to more than 300 Irving, TX police officers. It was a special honor for Josh, his dad, Larry, served the citizens of Irving for 12 years as police chief before retiring in 2016.

“At one point my dad stopped being a police officer because my mom was too scared,” Josh said. “But he went back because that’s what he’s passionate about. Officers face risk every day and I am pleased the company I work for has chosen to appreciate them.”

Learn more

To learn more about a Canary special offer for State Farm customers, visit the State Farm Home Protection & Automation website. Homeowners and renters may qualify for the Local Burglar Alarm discount level under the State Farm Home Alert Protection Discount. No documentation of installation is required. Availability and terms of discounts vary by state. Contact a State Farm agent for details.

Mouse over the Here to Help and Pet Evacuation images for interactive links and more info.

There is crime-fighting hero protecting the citizens of Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. His name is Judge and his super nose helps find evidence at fire scenes.

Arson K9 Judge is a 7-year-old, yellow Labrador retriever. He has been in service since early 2011. His handler and partner, Allentown Fire Chief Lee Laubach, met Judge for the first time in the spring of 2011. That's when they first began training together through the State Farm Arson Dog Program. They have been investigating fires for the Allentown Fire Department ever since. In 2016, the duo were recognized as the Arson Dog of the Year during the annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards™.

Paws for a Cause in Wayland, MI raised him to be a disability assistance dog. At a year old, it became apparent that Judge’s enthusiastic work drive and personality wasn’t a service dog fit. However, he did have a strong prey drive – the desire to chase and find things. This made him ideal for accelerant detection. He went to Maine to train for a career change.

As an arson dog, Judge is thrives in three major areas: investigation, deterrent, and education. As an investigator, Judge has worked over 275 fire scenes. The evidence he found has led to multiple criminal arrests and civil penalties for fraud cases.

As a deterrent, the numbers speak for themselves. Arson fires have dropped 53% since began service in Allentown. Media reports of his assignment led to quick closure of a recent case. Juveniles who set a house fire returned to the scene of the crime. When they saw Judge, they confessed and turned themselves in to detectives. They knew it was just a matter of time before they were caught.

As an educator, Judge has done nearly 540 fire safety programs. Crime watch groups, specialty dog shows, elementary and high school programs are among the audiences for his demonstrations. Chief Laubach gets calls from parents letting him know their children remind them to change the smoke alarm batteries – because “Judge said so!” The Allentown Fire Department even also has a pilot program where Judge helps convey safety messages to autistic children. He has been instrumental in making the entire Lehigh Valley and neighboring communities more aware of fire and life safety.

Intentionally set fire losses cost billions of dollars in property and hundreds of lives annually. State Farm helps combat arson fraud and assists law enforcement investigations through its Arson Dog Program. Since 1993, 370 dogs and their partners have gone through the program. An “arsonist’s worst nightmare”, they work in 44 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces.

State Farm has also been a sponsor of the American Humane and the Hero Dog Awards since 2012. The annual event recognizes and celebrates the contributions and bravery of canines. Eight amazing dogs took home top honors in their individual categories. Named as the overall 2016 American Hero Dog of the Year was an English Mastiff named Hooch. He overcame horrific abuse and disfigurement and became an inspiration for autistic, abused, and special needs children. All of the heroic canines and their human partners joined celebrity guests in Beverly Hills, CA, this past September. The emotional awards ceremony aired October 28 on the Hallmark Channel.

2016 American Humane Hero Dog Awards Category Winners

Emerging Hero Dog category and 2016 American Hero Dog of the Year

• Hooch (Tehachapi, CA)

Arson Dog category (sponsored by State Farm)

• Judge (Allentown, PA)

Guide/Hearing Dog category

• Hook (Sacramento, CA)

Law Enforcement Dog category

• K-9 Edo (Los Angeles, CA)

Military Dog category

• Layka (Galena, KS)

Search and Rescue Dog category

• Kobuk (York, ME)

Service Dog category

• Gander (Great Lakes, IL)

Therapy Dog category

• Mango (Las Cruces, NM)

For firefighter David Seidl and his new partner, their good days result in lives saved and criminals behind bars. Safe transportation is a necessity for them to fulfill their important community safety role. In fact, adequate transportation for his new partner was one of David’s first concerns. His partner, Patty, is loyal, eager, has an outgoing personality. She also has the most important nose in the fire department.

K9 Patty is an accelerant detection canine, commonly referred to as an arson dog. She is the Beaver Falls Fire Department’s not-so-secret weapon. David and K9 Patty search through burnt debris while investigating fire scenes throughout western Pennsylvania. They look for the presence of accelerants (i.e. gasoline or fuel) which may indicate an arson fire. This evidence is critical in determining how a fire was started and ultimately bringing the arsonist to justice.

Trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program in April 2015, David and K9 Patty made an immediate impact in their community. Beginning in late August of the same year, abandoned homes in Beaver Falls and neighboring White Township were being burned to the ground. Over the course of a month, at least 11 abandoned homes or other buildings were torched. K9 Patty did her job. She found evidence of accelerants at several of the fire scenes, indicating that the fires might be the work of a serial arsonist.

Because of her work, community fear turned to relief on September 29, 2015. Officers noticed a suspicious individual at an abandoned home that had just been set on fire. Apprehended at the scene, detectives had K9 Patty sniff his clothing for possible evidence. The canine hero alerted to accelerant on his shoes. Based on her alert and other information gathered at the scene, the suspect was arrested and charged with arson

K9 Patty was definitely showing her skills and value to the community. However, there was still a big problem. K9 Patty needed safe and comfortable transport to fire investigations.

Surrounding communities and counties called in the team to investigate fire scenes because of their early success. The City of Beaver Falls didn’t have a car or truck with a dog cage or a heat alarm system for K9 Patty.

Once again, State Farm was there to help. State Farm agents Brian Wozniak, Bethanie DeLuca, and Eddie Isabella attended a community event where K9 Patty demonstrated her skills. They also learned of her need for safe transport. The Beaver Falls-based agents reached out to State Farm Public Affairs Community Specialist Dwayne Redd, and the search was on for a respectable “K9 mobile.”

State Farm associates up and down the East Coast were alerted to the need for a salvage vehicle to donate to the fire department. Claims Salvage Monitors Steven Wisotsky and Bob Jena located a 2013 Ford Taurus in a Long Island auction yard. It had been part of a recovered theft case. Steven and Bob began networking to raise money for upgrades to the Taurus through the Recycled Rides program.

“There were many issues with creating a police or fire vehicle from the civilian version of the Ford Taurus,” Steven said. “Special mounts for the dog cage had to be custom made and welded to the interior. There were issues with the civilian version of the front console verses the police interceptor package. Headlamps and tail lights needed retrofitting to accept emergency lighting. There were endless challenges but we found ways to make it all work.”

After several months of hard work, the team had the vehicle and parts, but still needed donations to modify the car for maximum safety. Steven called State Farm Agent Stephanie Sgroi in Port Jefferson Station, NY and she became involved in the project too.

“I’ve worked with Steven for a couple of years on similar donations,” Stephanie said. “When he asked me to help, it was a no brainer. I hooked him up with the local fire chief and a customer who handles fire equipment for municipalities.”

“Donations started pouring in,” Steven says, “more than we could have hoped for. We had enough to install the dog safety cage to protect the dog from injury resulting from a crash or roll over. We also installed a heat alarm system which has temperature sensors that open the windows and set off alarms when the temperature escalates. We even installed equipment that the fire department needed, but didn’t have a budget for - a light bar, siren, front and rear strobe lights, ghost lettering, and a two-way radio.”

For State Farm Agent Brian Wozniak, it was a special moment when the vehicle was finally completed and put into service.

“It was great to see everyone come together,” Brian said. “New York agents and businesses donated even though they’ll never see the Pennsylvania team in action. We wouldn’t have been able to fund the vehicle by holding raffles and spaghetti dinners. It’s pretty special, and I’m proud State Farm was a part of it.”

Beaver County Commissioner Sandy Egley summed up the donation event perfectly. “Beaver County doesn’t have very many good days, but this was a very good day.”

The following businesses donated either monetarily or in-kind. 

• Pennsylvania Donors: Beaver County collision Center, Brady’s Run Veterinary, Glick Fire Equipment, Hutch Homes, Jims Visionary Auto + Best Buy Motors, MSA Mine Safety Equipment, Oram’s Doughnuts, McElwain Brothers Body Shop, Novak Auto Wrecking, Zignature Pet Foods and several local State Farm Agents
• New York Donors:  Proliner Rescue, Scotsman Collision, A Plus Auto Salvage, Code 3 Emergency Lighting, LIABRA Long Island Auto Body Repairman’s Association, Charity Cars Inc, Relay Communications, Act 2 Towing, State Wide Auto Detailing, A+D Auto Repair, Lange Technical Forensic Specialists, Suffolk County Police Department, Mt. Sinai Fire Department, Sunken Meadow Auto Body, Insurance Auto Auctions, LT Auto Glass Installed the windshield, North and Sons Emergency Lettering, Ultimate Window Tinting, and State Farm Agent Stephanie Sgroi

It was a cold March day in Owasco, New York but Lynn Smith’s heart was warm with love. Like most grandparents, there is nothing more special than spending time with her grandchildren.

Her daughter Kelly came up for the weekend from New York City with her girls, Olivia, four, and baby Mila, 10 months. Lynn’s son, Stephen, who lives nearby, came with his three girls. It was a packed house.

Lynn turned on the portable heater in the back bedroom where baby Mila would sleep since it was so cold outside. Everyone went to bed exhausted after a long day of driving and playing.

At 2:00 a.m. Kelly woke up to baby Mila crying. She went into the back bedroom, scooped up Mila, and brought her into bed. Both fell back to sleep.

At 5:30 a.m. Lynn was half awake when she heard the hallway smoke detector. She initially thought the battery was low but at the same time the ADT smoke alarm was going off. It got louder and louder.

Lynn jumped out of bed and ran to the room with the portable heater. There was a chemical smell in the air. Lynn’s daughter Kelly woke up too. At first she wasn’t worried but then her mom came bursting into the bedroom.

Kelly ran into the room where baby Mila had been sleeping and saw the portable heater was on fire. The flames were already a foot high.

Kelly had Mila in her arms and ran into the room where her daughter Olivia was sleeping. She woke up Olivia, grabbed her hand, and made it out of the front door. Kelly’s eyes were stinging from the smoke but the family was out of the house safely.

Nearly 800 miles away, ADT Dispatcher Amanda Willoughby started her 4 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. shift at ADT’s Knoxville, TN monitoring center. Her job requires her to be calm and ready to assist customers should a monitor go off.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. she received an alarm notification from the ADT system at the home of Lynn Smith. She immediately contacted the fire department to report an emergency.

At the same time Kelly was calling 911 to report the fire, Lynn received an incoming call.

“This is Amanda with ADT security. Is everything okay there?”

Amanda asked if everybody was out of the house and informed Lynn the fire department would arrive shortly. Within minutes, Owasco Fire Department trucks and ambulances were on scene. Thanks to the quick response, the fire only had time to scorch the bedroom carpet and blacken the walls in half the house.

Being Thankful

“We could have slept through it. The smoke could have killed us,” shared Lynn.

State Farm Agent Ray Haynes was also thankful too. As an insurance agent, he knows how devastating a fire can be for a homeowner and was very relieved his customer Lynn and her family were safe.

On April 22, 2016, six weeks after the fire, ADT held an event at Smith's home. ADT presented the company's highest honor, the LifeSaver Award, to Willoughby and the technicians who installed the home's alarm system. The company flew Willoughby in from Knoxville, TN so she could not only accept the award, but also meet Lynn Smith personally.

ADT and State Farm representatives presented $10,000 to the Owasco Fire Department for its efforts that day. Fire Chief Chris Morabito said the grant will fund the purchase of an air compressor to fill firefighters' bottles before they enter dangerous environments like the one at the Smith home.

"Every two and a half hours, someone in America dies in a house fire," Morabito said at the event. "Smoke detectors are a definite need in every house. If you can hook it up to a center like ADT that makes it even better because you know you're getting somebody to call you back and make sure everything is good."

To learn more about an ADT special offer for State Farm customers, visit the ADT Home Security website or State Farm Home Protection & Automation. Homeowners and renters may qualify for the Home Alert Protection Discount. Contact your State Farm agent for details.

Check out the ADT blog about Lynn’s story.

Bloomington, IL (May 2, 2016) — The National Interagency Fire Center reported 68,151 wildfires in the United States last year, scorching more than 10 million acres of land. A staggering 86%, more than 59,000 wildfires, were caused by people, whether intentional or as a result of human negligence. As the largest property and casualty insurer in the country, State Farm is actively working with organizations like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to educate the general public about arson, provide law enforcement with tools necessary to investigate crime, and help communities prepare for wildfires. Prevent Wildfire Arson – Spread the Facts Not the Fire is the theme for 2016 Arson Awareness Week (May 1-7, 2016).

When battling a wildfire, firefighters must utilize a variety of resources at different stages of the fire to ensure the fire is out and the threat is eliminated. Fighting arson is no different and State Farm is committed to helping to provide the necessary resources so that communities are educated and prepared for a fire.

Providing Education and Grants to Help Communities Prepare for Wildfire

For the third year, State Farm is sponsoring National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (May 7, 2016) with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) by providing $500 grants to 125 projects that reduce wildfire risk, advance general wildfire preparedness, and minimize post-fire impact. The 2016 National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Recipients are individuals and groups of all ages from 36 states.

Top 5 states for wildfires in 2015

1. Texas - 9,272 wildland fires that burned 184,418 acres
2. California - 8,745 wildland fires that burned 893,362 acres
3. North Carolina - 3,828 wildland fires that burned 15,220 acres
4. Alabama - 3,198 wildland fires that burned 47,380 acres
5. Missouri - 3,161 wildland fires that burned 29,893 acres

Training the Best Noses to Sniff Out Arson

As the nation's largest homeowner insurer, State Farm is well aware of the severity and impact of arson on businesses and public safety. To help law enforcement and fire investigators find evidence of arson and serve as a deterrent for future arsonists, State Farm began funding the acquisition and training of accelerant detection canine teams in 1993. Since that time, the State Farm Arson Dog Program has placed more than 360 teams in communities across the United States and Canada. Because canines have a superior ability to discriminate among scents, an accelerant detection canine can investigate a fire efficiently, providing invaluable assistance to investigators when it comes to locating potential evidence of arson.

Donating Vehicles to Police and Fire Departments for Arson Investigations

Many fire departments lack the necessary vehicles to efficiently and effectively investigate fires. This proves to be particularly difficult when departments are in rural jurisdictions. State Farm works with the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program to donate vehicles to police and fire departments so arson investigators can safely travel to fire scenes.

Recycled Rides is a community service program in which members of the National Auto Body Council collaborate to repair vehicles donated by insurance, rental car, salvage and auto auction companies to individuals and service organizations. Since 2007, over 1,000 vehicles have been donated by through the Recycled Rides program.

To raise awareness about the problem of arson and improve the ability of police and fire departments to investigate fires in rural and wild land areas, State Farm and Recycled Rides have already or will be donating vehicles to the following departments:

• New Bern Fire and Rescue in North Carolina for use by Fire Marshal Danny Hill and K9 Darby. Vehicle repairs and modifications were made by Caliber Collision in Raleigh, NC.
• Eastern Sierra Arson Task Force for use by Fire Investigator Jeff Schwing and K9 Remington throughout southeast California. Vehicle repairs and modifications were made by Caliber Collision in Fresno, CA.
• Ocala Fire Department in Florida for use by Roseanne Moreland and K9 Gracie. Vehicle repairs and modifications were made by Jenkins Collision Center in Ocala, FL.
• Maine Specialty Dogs for use by trainer Nicole Dyer to transport arson dogs to training. Vehicle repairs and modifications were made by Gerber Collision & Glass in Elkhart, IN.
• Beaver Falls Fire Department in Pennsylvania will receive a vehicle later this summer for use by Fire Investigator David Seidl and K9 Patty. Vehicle repairs and modifications are being made by Scotsman's Collision in Mt. Sinai, NY.
• State Farm grant for $9,850 to the Fire Investigative Strike Team of Fresno County (F.I.S.T.) to help purchase a vehicle for Fire Investigator Lee Wilding and K9 Tessa in central California.

The Geis family had been in their home only one month, when Michelle heard a knock on the door. Indianapolis firefighters were going door to door in their new neighborhood as part of their annual October smoke detector blitz.

Michelle and her husband Christopher were still unpacking when the firefighters told them they needed new, working smoke alarms. Michelle was thankful for the great service in their neighborhood but didn’t realized just how grateful she would be five months later.

In March 2015, Michelle was home alone with her three youngest children. She heard a beeping sound. She thought it was a truck backing up, but soon realized it was her new smoke alarm. Moments later, her son ran in and said the upstairs was on fire. Michelle got her three year old, two year old and one month old out of the house and called the fire department. The entire back of their home was destroyed.​

Later that summer, the Geis family thanked firefighters and State Farm volunteers who installed the alarm in their home months before.

Michelle spoke through tears to the volunteers and firefighters. Though their home was severely damaged, her children were unharmed.

During the same smoke detector blitz in October 2014, smoke alarms were installed in Johnie Mae Pannell’s home.

A few short months later, Johnie Mae was sleeping on her couch when the smoke alarm woke her up. She was able to get in her wheelchair and out of her home without any injuries. Firefighters said, due to the amount of smoke in the home, if Johnie Mae hadn’t gotten out when she did, the story could have had a different ending.

“As firefighters, we hope for the best”, said Captain Rita Reith with the Indianapolis Fire Department. “It’s hard on us to see people lose it all. But to know these smoke alarms saved lives - that is the best outcome.”

For 15 years, the Indianapolis Fire Department and State Farm have worked together on fire safety education. Every October, the fire department focuses on one neighborhood to promote awareness.

Through the years, more than 30,000 smoke alarms have been distributed and are in the homes of local residents. The exact number of families and children who have benefited from the program is unknown. But the city has seen a dramatic 75 percent decrease in the number of child fatalities since the program began.

“Unfortunately, these smoke detector blitzes can’t happen in every neighborhood”, said Reith. “Keep your family safe. Check your smoke detectors, replace batteries and get a new smoke alarm every ten years. If you need help contact your local fire station.”

As a rural Kansas town deals with a tragedy, K-9 Tana and her handler, Kansas State Fire Marshal Chief Investigator Rose Rozmiarek, try to determine fact from fiction after a fatal home fire. Follow the story of K-9 Tana and other accelerant detection dogs from their training in Maine to careers and years of service in their communities as Arson Dogs.

LINK TO STORY

When nature takes a walk on the wild side, we realize how prepared we really are – or aren’t. Three families share their stories as well as what they’ve learned as they’ve recovered from their disastrous weather encounters.

Jack McDonald had been settled in his little corner of Ellensburg, Washington, for 17 years with his wife, their horses, their dogs and “the coolest gang of cats you ever saw,” he says. You might not think of the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest as at risk for wildfires, but they were on the edge of open range and had come close in the past. 

On August 13, 2012, his wife called. She could see the smoke and said, "We gotta get out of here.” Twenty minutes later the horses were loaded in a trailer and their dogs were in her car. He could see the fire in the distance. “The winds were horrendous – 60 miles per hour across the ridge – but it looked like it might miss us,” he recalled.

McDonald put the cats in their double-wide mobile home and was giving his wife a hand with the horses when he heard that the fire was spreading – and had changed course. “I came back up to my ranch, and it was clear that my house was in danger. I was going to go get the cats, but the fire chief stopped me. The fire had already swept in.” 

The McDonalds’ home burned down to the crawlspace, leaving nothing but ash. “Glassware and cookware had melted into puddles,” Jack recalls. “We recovered nothing”

They began replacing their belongings as soon as they could. That’s when insult added to injury. “I bought the minimum amount [of insurance] I could get, trying to save money,” McDonald admits. They’re living in a smaller rental now. “We had to cut back on a lot of things, like buying used furniture. I don’t mind used furniture, that’s not the point. What makes me sick is thinking of what’s irreplaceable.”

What To Do:

Wildfires can’t be predicted the way hurricanes or blizzards can. David Miskus, a drought-monitoring meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says overall, we’re expecting more intense dry spells, more warm spells. The closer your home is to the range or the brush, the more at risk you are.

• Clear away brush. It's a fire hazard. Instead of watering to maintain lush green areas, make sure to remove brush.
• Gravel is your friend. Create a buffer zone between your home and potential fires with strategically placed gravel and other rock.
• Don’t light fires during a burning ban. Sounds obvious – and yet again and again, wildfires begin when someone does this.

Don Frank was sitting in his law office on the ninth floor of a building in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts. This particular day several years ago started out hot and sunny. But it was turning peculiar. The view out his window was Frank’s first clue.

“Way out over the Berkshires I saw this cloud,” Frank remembers. “It was moving quickly. My office mates turned on the radio. We heard there was a crazy tornado situation coming through Massachusetts, but somehow the idea of being affected by a tornado seemed implausible.”

After all, tornadoes happen in big-sky and prairie country, and in the South - not in New England!

“I could see what was now clearly a tornado forming. It was coming right over the river, which is a block and a half from my office,” Frank recalls. “I still wasn’t worried, because we all know tornadoes never affect people in Springfield. I thought it might knock down power lines, and if I end up stuck someplace, I’d rather it be home.’”

What Frank did next was the opposite of what you should do during a tornado warning. He got into his car. He even offered his office mate a ride. “As we drove out of the parking lot, we came into very, very high winds – but I was still pretty sure nothing bad would happen to me!”

But bad things happen to everyone, no matter where they live, right when they least expect it.

“The tornado went up and over my car,” Frank says. “In a second my car was completely engulfed in debris. My office mate sort of slid down in her seat. I shut my eyes, and at that moment I heard a giant kaboom! My back window pulled out with the pressure differential. Stuff was blowing into my car. As fast as the tornado hit – literally three seconds – it left.”

Frank saw a steel girder from a building lying across the street about 20 feet from his car. He counts himself incredibly fortunate – he was unhurt and was even able to repair his car. But something shifted for him that day. After he got home he tried to shrug off the events of the afternoon and met some friends for a bike ride.

“We were just rolling out on our bikes when that same freaky tornado-like wind blew,” he says. “I was obviously reliving the trauma. Suddenly, I had barely enough strength to bike home.” He no longer operates under the assumption that bad things couldn’t happen to him.

What To Do:

Tornadoes can happen almost anywhere – even in New England. Tornadoes are hard to predict, and there is often too little time to get out of their way. Here are some wise precautions you can take.

• Get a good storm door. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified certain storm doors that can withstand 250-mile-per-hour winds. If you live in Tornado Alley - from the Rockies to Appalachians -  install one of those.
• Strengthen your garage. A garage door can be especially vulnerable during high winds. If your garage is attached, that spells trouble for your whole house. A reinforced, windowless door is your best bet. You also can install vertical bracing that helps to reinforce the door.
• Secure your windows. If you’ve heard you should open windows during a tornado, you’ve heard wrong. Instead, investigate DIY systems that clip plywood to your windows – no nailing necessary.
• Consider installing a safe room. If you live in an area prone to tornadoes, this might be the best move you can make. It won’t protect your home but will protect you and your family – and that’s what’s truly irreplaceable.

Patrick and Tammy Stewart's cross country move was wrenching. "We were leaving our first home. We had bought as a fixer-upper and I literally painted every single inch of every single wall,” Tammy says. “It was our first house, and we loved it.” But career opportunities beckoned, so in January 2010 the Stewarts rented out their beloved east coast home and drove across country to California.

Almost two years later, when they were between tenants, Tammy noticed news reports predicting a particularly bad East Coast storm. The Stewarts had several 70 year old trees on their property and feared something could go awry.

Sure enough, the morning the storm made landfall, Tammy got an email from her old neighbor. Tammy recalls the subject line said, "It’s not too bad!” Attached was a photo of a tree that had fallen. The neig

hbor described it tipping in slow-motion, right into the house.

The Stewarts panicked. “We were 3,000 miles away, and this was an emergency," Tammy recalls. "What were we going to do? We had to get the tree off the house to prevent further damage..and new tenants were arriving in just two days! The first thing we did was call State Farm, then the tree guy.”

Acting quickly, the Stewarts’ agent assessed the damage. The tree was chopped up and hauled away. A contractor came out to make sure the house was structurally sound. Thankfully, it was. The Stewarts were lucky. Really lucky because, as Tammy admits, they didn’t really know what was insured.

“We got the insurance we were supposed to have as property owners. We didn’t know what was actually in our policy,” she says, “What was covered, what wasn’t. I didn’t even know what our deductible was!”

Tammy is glad the event forced her and Patrick to become more informed. That tends to be the case for a lot of people. “You get what you’re supposed to get with the thought that nothing will really happen," Tammy said. "It was eye-opening. We were so lucky we had no flooding, because I know now we weren’t covered for that.”

In the midst of the hassle, the Stewarts haven’t lost sight of the silver linings. “We had never exercised our policy,” she says. “With State Farm it went really smoothly - even with us in California. We were surprised too, given the damage back [on the East Coast], that our relatively small claim was handled so quickly.”

What To Do:

Hurricanes and strong storms pack a major punch. It’s important to be prepared. As with any dangerous storm or peril, listen to and react appropriately to evacuation and/or safety messages delivered by local weather and law enforcement authorities.

• Prepare for high winds. Add window protection and reinforce entry and garage doors. Pull all lawn furniture, planters and garbage cans inside. Anything not tied down is a potential projectile.
• Stock up. Make sure you’ve got batteries, flashlights, and enough water and nonperishable food to last a few days. Fill large containers with water for washing and flushing, and gas up your vehicles.
• Look into flood insurance. If you don’t live in a floodplain, chances are you’re not covered for flooding. Most flood insurance is provided by the National Flood Insurance Program, not covered under standard homeowners policies.