Chimney Safety

There’s nothing as serene as a warm, crackling fire on a cold, winter night. There’s also nothing more dangerous if your chimney is damaged.

Broken or cracked chimneys can let heat, smoke and toxic gasses, such as carbon monoxide, into your home. Your home could even catch fire. Chimney damage is often obvious, but sometimes it can be hidden. Use the following checklist, provided by Ready Virginia!, to help ensure that you can enjoy your fireplace and avoid problems—or even a disaster:

• Check to see if bricks have fallen or the chimney is leaning.
• Look for shiny areas on your exterior metal chimney pipe. This could mean the chimney has shifted—during the recent East Coast earthquake, for instance.
• Look for cracks at joints where the chimney connects to the firebox, at the roofline and in the attic.
• Check for debris that may have fallen into the fireplace.
• Use a screwdriver to check the mortar between the bricks or stones. If it crumbles when you pick at it, the chimney may be a hazard and probably needs work.
• When in doubt, consult a licensed engineer or contractor. For the name of an inspector, call your insurance or mortgage company.

Remember, disasters can happen even in the best of homes. That’s why every home should be equipped with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Here are a few tips:

• Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in sleeping areas and on every level of your home and away from air vents. Interconnected smoke alarms are best, because if one sounds, they all sound.
• Test smoke alarms monthly, and change alkaline batteries at least once a year. Use a familiar date, such as your birthday or when you change your clocks, as a reminder.
• Prepare and practice a fire escape route with everyone in your home, including children.

For more information, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms.

Flooding: How to Protect Your Family & Finances

In many areas, flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster—and it can happen here. Just one inch of water in your home or office can cost thousands of dollars in cleanup and replacement costs, including drywall, baseboards, floor coverings and furniture. You may think you’re covered, but many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flooding.

Here are several reasons to talk to an insurance agent now about flood insurance.

• There is usually a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins.
• Coverage is relatively inexpensive.
• Renters can buy flood insurance .for personal belongings or business inventory.
• Basement coverage includes cleanup expense and repair or replacement of items such as furnaces, water heaters, washers, dryers, air conditioners, freezers and pumps.
• You do not have to repay flood insurance benefits as you do with disaster-related assistance loans.
• You can receive payments for flood-related losses even if no disaster was declared.

Learn more about flood insurance at www.floodsmart.gov.

There are things you can do to prepare your home and family now for flash floods:

• Make a family emergency plan. Emergency preparedness is everyone’s responsibility. Write down your plan. Decide ahead of time where you will go if you have to leave and where family members will meet up. Identify an out-of-town emergency contact. 
• Get supplies for an emergency kit. Start with three days’ water and three days’ packaged and canned food. Add a battery-powered radio and extra batteries. Store in waterproof containers with wheels or that you can lift so you can take them with you. For details about preparing an emergency kit, visit www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/floods.html
• Stay informed about what could happen. During storm season, listen to local media for up-to-date reports on weather watches and warnings. Keep a battery-powered portable radio—with a NOAA weather band—handy in case the power goes out. Choose one.

Learn more about preparedness at www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/floods.html.