State Farm® is using technology to help homeowners better prepare and recover from the devastating impact of wildfires. These new tech tools - a sensor, an app, and your smartphone - places the power of preparation in the palm of consumers’ hands. Currently, 4.5 million U.S. homes are identified as being at high risk of wildfire. This makes the technology and wildfire preparation tools even more critical.

Ting

Ting is a plug-in device and smartphone app produced by Whisker Labs, a company specializing in fire safety using advanced technology to monitor electrical systems in the home and on the electrical utility grid.

The device is the size of a plug-in night light and can offer protection from electrical fires. Once plugged into a home electrical outlet, Ting is on the lookout for unique signals that are indicative of an electrical problem that could lead to a home fire. These signals can originate from loose connections, damaged wires or faulty devices and appliances, or from faults on the grid. If Ting detects anything unusual, it sends a notification to the customer’s mobile phone while also notifying the Whisker Labs’ monitoring center.

Electrical fires are responsible for originating 13% of all U.S. home fires, with an annual cost of $1.3 billion (National Fire Protection Association 2019 Survey). That’s an alarming statistic. While Ting can help detect electrical fire hazards in the home, it can also help detect wildfire ignition risks from the grid. The device can detect signals from malfunctions or fluctuations on the grid that indicate the risk of a fault or larger arcing event. A common example is electrical transformers that are typically installed outside the home to reduce the high-voltage supply from the grid into the low-voltage needed for a residence. When transformers work well, we don’t notice them. It’s a different story when they begin to experience issues and fail to operate correctly, or simply fail outright (Ting). These faults can cause safety issues, fire hazards, and damage to devices inside your home or produce sparks that could trigger a wildfire and potentially put other structures at risk.

Last summer, Whisker Labs helped launch a significant distribution program in partnership with State Farm. Eligible State Farm customers in Arizona, California, and Texas received Ting for free by simply enrolling online. In May, Whisker Labs announced 40,000 Ting devices had been distributed. Expansion to more customers in more states is planned in 2021.

IBHS Wildfire Ready App

Living in the era of apps, it is logical that the second new tool in a homeowners’ wildfire mitigation toolbox comes in app form. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is one of the leading sources in the science of catastrophes. Leveraging their latest research, the goal of their new Wildfire Ready Virtual app is to help homeowners prepare their homes for a wildfire. The app uses augmented reality so that once you point your smartphone at your home, you can “see” the weak points. It also walks you through specific do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, including remodeling tips to make your home more fire resistant.

State Farm participated in the development of this app that you can download and try for yourself anytime (download for Apple or Android phones). Motivated to do even more? Check these extra wildfire protection tips in the IBHS Wildfire Ready Guide.

Home inventory

Unfortunately, there will be instances where despite preparation efforts, a wildfire may destroy your home. Recovering from such a devastating event is difficult but technology can help. This is where the third tech tool, your smartphone, takes center stage. A home inventory can show visual proof of what was in your home before it was damaged or destroyed. To this effect, the storytelling capabilities of today’s smartphones are a great ally.

A simple way to do a home inventory is to walk through each room of your home, taking pictures and videos of everything in it. Don’t forget to also step outside and take images of the structure and everything around it.

Let me introduce you to Mary. In this video she tells us the story of losing her home to a wildfire in Santa Barbara. No one better than her and her agent, Irene, to give us a home inventory 101.

So switch on these tech tools and take your wildfire safety to a whole new level.

Although lightning is weather-related, and not a preventable event, opportunities exist for claim mitigation. Damage is generally caused by power surges carried by electrical wiring, TV cable, or phone lines serving the home or business and usually involve one or more electronic items. Use surge or current protection devices and appropriate grounding systems as most claims are surge or power related.

In 2016 there were 38 lightning deaths in the United States, compared with 26 in 2015 and 2014. From 2006 to 2016, on average, about 31 people died each year from lightning strikes in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Florida had the most lightning deaths in 2016 with nine, followed by four in Louisiana and New York, according to statistics from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Mississippi reported three deaths, and Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina and Texas had two lightning deaths. Arizona, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin each reported one death.

• Number of lightning-related homeowners insurance claims up in 2016, but severity down.
• Top 10 states for the number of lightning strikes: FL, TX, GA, LA, NC, CA, AL, IL, AR, VA.

See the Insurance Information Institute (III) Lightning Awareness Week press release for State Farm lightning claims statistics by year and state. 

Interesting Lightning Facts, Tips and Resources from Leading Organizations

The National Weather Service (NOAA/NWS)

• Taking shelter under trees is dangerous. Recent studies of lightning victims showed several highly-vulnerable situations and activities. But the one that stood out was taking shelter under trees.

• National Weather Service lightning safety media resources.

• Visit the NOAA website to learn how to stay safe and get insight into the science of lightning. You'll find animated books about lightning, safety tips for all kinds of situations, games for kids and resources for teachers. You'll learn about lightning victims and survivors. 

Insurance Information Institute (III)

• Lightning infographic

• Lightning facts with State Farm claim statistics

The Weather Channel

• Lightning temperature: up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit

• Number of times lightning hits the Earth per second: 100 (an estimated 8,640,000 times a day)

• Distance lightning can strike away from a thunderstorm: 5-10 miles

• 75% of U.S. lightning deaths occur in June, July, and August

• Lightning causes 30,000 house fires in U.S. per year

• Central Florida leads the nation in lightning strikes. Meteorologists have dubbed an area stretching from Tampa to Titusville as “Lightning Alley”. This is because several times a year abundant moisture in the atmosphere combines with high surface temperatures to produce strong sea breezes and violent summer storms.

Lightning Protection Institute

• Consumer Alert: The Dangers of Shoddy Lightning Protection System Installations

• 30% of U.S. businesses suffer damage from lightning storms.

• 85% of lightning victims are children and young men ages 10-35 engaged in recreation or work.

• 20% of lightning strike victims die and 70% of survivors suffer serious long-term effects.

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

• Lightning is an underrated danger and the second leading cause of storm-related deaths in the U.S., exceeded only by floods.

• Lightning can travel 90,000 miles per second.

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)

• A whole-house surge protector is the best starting point for reducing the risk of damage or a fire.

• Install additional protection for important or expensive electronic equipment. This should include localized surge protection for power cords to electronic equipment and any telephone and cable/satellite TV lines connecting to the equipment.

• Whole house surge protection will not protect you from a direct strike on your house. For added protection from a direct strike, you would need to add receptors on the roof and cables that would help direct the strike away from the interior of your house.

• IBHS: Lightning Storm Time Lapse

Underwriter Laboratories

• Lightning strikes the U.S. 25 million times a year on average. This causes an estimated $1 billion per year in structural damages in the United States alone. This does not include the large costs associated with loss of business, downtime and liability.

• Adding a lightning protection system to a building increases protection from physical damage and reduces the possibility of fire. Many insurers now require the installation of lightning protection systems. This is found in commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, historic landmarks and public venues.

Generac

• Severe weather storms can produce hail, wind gusts, heavy rain, and lightning. These can cause flash flooding, wind damage, downed trees and utility lines and widespread power outages. Be prepared!

As National Preparedness Month comes to a close, we are reminded that preparing for weather emergencies should be practiced daily throughout the year. Protecting your home and family from weather perils can change quickly with each new day and season bringing a unique weather forecast.

Storm preparation and knowing how to react to each type of storm is critical. Safeguarding ourselves in a hailstorm is quite different than reacting to a tornado. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency  (FEMA) offer safety tips for how to safely survive these unique storms.

During a Hailstorm

In an Automobile

• Stop driving.
• Find safety in a garage, under a highway overpass or under a service station awning
• Do NOT leave the vehicle until it stops hailing.
• Hail can break glass, so stay clear of car windows and cover your eyes or lie face down with your back to the windows. Small children should be shielded and eyes covered.

Indoors

• Stay inside until the hail stops.
• Stay away from windows.
• Account for all family members, building occupants, pets, etc.
• Do not go outside. Avoid the danger of electrocution from lightning, avoid using phones and electrical appliances during a severe storm.

Outside

• Seek shelter immediately. If you can’t find something to protect your entire body, find something to protect your head.

• Stay out of lowland areas that may suddenly fill with water.

During a Tornado

Indoors

• Go to a pre-designated area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level, closet, or interior hallway.

• Stay away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• Make sure to put on shoes.
• Do not open windows.

Outside

• Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If your vehicle is hit by flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park.
• Take cover in a stationary vehicle. Put the seat belt on and cover your head with your arms and a blanket, coat or other cushion if possible.
• Lie in an area noticeably lower than the level of the roadway and cover your head with your arms and a blanket, coat or other cushion if possible.
• Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.
• Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Leave vehicle immediately for safe shelter.
• Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

In a Manufactured Home or Office

• Get out immediately, go to a pre-determined building or storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

A hail research field study isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of romantic. Swapping candle lit dinners for life on the road chasing storms probably wouldn’t work for most couples. But Dr. Tanya Brown and Dr. Ian Giammanco are anything but conventional.

Dr. Tanya Brown is the lead research engineer and director of hail research for the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). She conducts a major field study on hailstorms with a team that includes lead research meteorologist Dr. Ian Giammanco.

In addition to their research, the pair also happens to be dating.

Giammanco and Brown met while attending graduate school at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, where they worked on several thunderstorm and hurricane field research projects. Since then, amid week-long beef jerky binges and of course the storms, Giammanco and Brown found some common ground.

The Research

IBHS develops safety research that can be translated into real world solutions, and the hail study is no exception. Giammanco and Brown seek to improve weather forecasts and influence the design of roofing products to be better prepared for hail damage.

Their hope is to leverage this study to decrease property losses caused by hail. The the work is being done in the central plain region of the United States. They study hail characteristics such as size, shape, density and hardness, so they can come as close as possible to Mother nature when they produce hailstones at the IBHS Research Center.

Love at First Hail

According to Brown, “We definitely did not have a love at first site kind of relationship. We had known each other for at least a year before we really ever had a conversation more than just saying hi while passing in the hallway.”

At the time they met, years before the hail field study had begun, they realized they both had a passion for field research.

It takes a special kind of love not only to be research partners, but also life partners. Brown explains, “I’d say our dedication to field work is what really ties us together.”

Bonded by a common goal that will eventually benefit the common good , their relationship is the perfect blend of uniqueness. “There’s not a lot of people out there that will basically give up their whole life for weeks or even months at a time to live in crummy hotels and eat fast food every meal of every day, not to mention braving the wind, hail, rain and storm surge, and actually enjoy doing it and get to do it with their significant other,” says Brown.

Benefits of the Study

The pair remains motivated; they believe in the good that this study will be able to produce. According to IBHS, as the population increases and the spacing between buildings decrease, there has been a significant uptick in damage due to hailstorms. In fact, from 1999 to 2011 hail was the number one cause of losses for Texas homeowners coming in at $10.4 billion according to The Texas Department of Insurance.

State Farm supports the work of Dr. Brown and Dr. Giammanco and believes in the good that can come from this kind of research. Besides studying hail, researchers also test hail resistant roofing material in the hopes of preventing damage. The field study also seeks to improve weather forecast models and hail detection.

Ups and Downs

But working with a loved one isn’t always easy, “we do disagree sometimes about the project, but ultimately we will arrive at what is best for the project, and that is a big reason that we’ve been so successful,” Giammanco says.

Ultimately their differences complement each other, Giammanco explains, “Tanya makes sure that I let things go when I need to so that I don’t obsess about things like a missed forecast or not enough data.”

Brown explains further, “We have worked together for so long that we really have a natural rhythm, and each take advantage of each other’s strengths. There are a lot of things I don’t have to worry about taking care of because I know he’s got my back and vice-versa. It makes us really efficient and successful.”

The most difficult part of their nomadic relationship is having them both away from home at the same time, “there’s no one there to check the mail, water and cut the grass, and most importantly, take care of my beagles,” Brown says.

But they know they are meant to be together. “Tanya is the only girl I know who would swim and wade through storm surge water to retrieve instrumentation during a field project, so she is the girl for me!” Giammanco says.

The Impact

With all the good Brown and Giammanco hoped would come out of their studying of severe weather, love was not what they expected, but they’re glad it did. Even still, they remain dedicated and focused on their work, Brown says, “We definitely push each other to achieve success and fill in each other’s gaps, which makes us well-suited to tackling such a complex issue such as hail. We’re definitely looking forward to continuing our research partnership both in the field and in the lab, and look forward to making a huge impact in the coming years.”

The more successful the study is the better educated homeowners, insurance companies, and roofing manufacturers can be. With this knowledge and combined power, hailstorm damage can hopefully fall significantly.

2013 IBHS Hail Field Project Highlights from IBHS on Vimeo.