Vaughn Insurance Agency Co- Henderson KY

Frequently Asked Homeowners’ Question

2010-11-09T05:33:00.000-06:00

Q: I have just rented a storage unit in preparation for putting my house on the market. Are our possessions covered under our homeowners’ policy while in storage?

A: While moving, they would have up to 100% of their current Coverage C (Personal Property/Contents) at both locations under an HO-3 policy form. Some companies will limit this to 30 days during a move. But anything in the storage unit has the Coverage C limits.

Please refer to your specific policy for terms & conditions.

Do you have personal property/contents at a storage unit?

Deer Insurance?

2010-09-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

We here at GoVaughn.com Insurance see lots of deer claims starting now.

They can really cause some damage to your vehicles.

Remember that deer claims usually fall under comprehensive coverage (sometimes referred to as "other than collision coverage") which is a part of Full coverage insurance. If you don't hit the deer but run off the road to miss the deer, those claims fall under collision coverage which is many times a larger deductible.

Let us know if you have some questions about auto accidents involving deer.

Read the article in the Henderson KY Gleaner newspaper about Deer collisions occurring earlier this year.

IRS Tax-Exempt Status change

2010-09-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

An IRS deadline is fast approaching for Non-Profit / Charitable Organizations. If you are part of a organization, then you need to check to see if your group’s name is on the IRS - List of Organizations. Scroll down the page and you can pull up a list for each state. There is a simple step to complete the required 990N postcard online to keep your Non-Profit status.

A new law went into effect in 2006, which most groups knew nothing about. The IRS is granting a onetime filing to correct this. If the groups do not file before October 15^th, they will lose their tax exempt status and will have to pay tax on any income, plus anyone contributing to the group will not be able to claim a charitable tax donation.

Approximately two weeks left to get the word out and get these groups in compliance with the IRS. We want to make sure that this doesn’t slip past any of our valued clients nor their organizations. This can be big, so please pass along.

Has your non-profit complied with this IRS request?

Is My House in a Flood Zone?

2010-09-23T06:00:00.005-05:00

This is a very common question that is asked to us quite often here at GoVaughn.com Insurance.

We would recommend that you use the official site of the NFIP. That site is http://www.floodsmart.gov.

This site will give you a one-step flood risk profile and give you a estimated premium.

All homes are subject to possible flooding however some are in a "high risk" zones.

We offer Flood Insurance here at Insurance and highly recommend to everyone regardless if you are in a flood zone or not.

Please see contact us for more information or chat with us live now!

See other articles we here at GoVaughn.com Insurance have written about flood insurance.

Is your home in a Flood Zone?

Do you know distracted Driving? Take the quiz!

2010-09-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

How well did you score?

The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors Honors GoVaughn.com Insurance Owner, Norris Priest for 30 years of participation

2010-08-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) recently recognized Norris O. Priest, CIC of GoVaughn.com Insurance in Henderson KY with a certificate honoring his 30 years of faithful participation in the advanced insurance education.

Making CIC history by being among the first group of CIC’s to reach this 30 –year milestone, Norris O. Priest, CIC earned the designation through a series of examinations and has maintained his CIC designation by annual attendance at an approved CIC continuing education program.

“The professional dedication and commitment represented by Norris O. Priest sets the standard within the insurance industry,” said Dr. William Hold, President of the Society of CIC. “This 30-year accomplishment signifies a career of active involvement in advanced insurance education. Norris O. Priest, CIC emphasis on professional development positively reflects on the insurance profession as a whole.”

Norris Priest, CIC has been the sole owner of GoVaughn.com Insurance since 1974. GoVaughn.com Insurance has maintained a consistent name and location in downtown Henderson KY since 1917.

Norris at 76 years old works in the agency full time.

Norris along with his full time staff of seven licensed insurance agents work to provide insurance services to the tri-state area.

GoVaughn.com Insurance is licensed to sell insurance in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.

Ask an Insurance Question

2010-08-25T16:40:00.001-05:00

This video gives some answers to some common questions about insurance relating to college students, rental cars, updating your policy and more.

We here at GoVaughn.com Insurance answer these questions almost daily. Take a look at this informative video.

What INSURANCE question do you have today? Ask us!

Take the Auto Safety Test

2010-07-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Did you get it right?

Six Easy Steps to Filing a Homeowners Insurance Claim

2010-07-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Common Fireworks Insurance Question

2010-07-02T15:44:00.001-05:00

If my neighbor shoots off fireworks and they damage or catch my home on fire who's homeowners insurance is responsible?

Your homeowners insurance will pay. If the insurance company finds your neighbor negligent your homeowners insurance company will subrogate.

Subrogation is the substitution of one party for another. Insurance companies typically have rights of subrogation, so if the insurer pays the property owner for a loss, such as a house fire, and then discovers that loss was the fault of a third party, the insurance company may sue and recover from the third party.

Be safe this 4th of July Holiday.

Our office is closed till Tuesday, July 6 at 8 a.m. -we do have a licensed insurance agent on call 24/7 for any emergency related claims situation.

Come downtown Henderson KY this 4th of July and enjoy the fireworks at 9 p.m.

Health Insurance for Adult Children could face Gaps

2010-06-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

Despite Healthcare Law's Provision, Some Adult Children Could Face Coverage Gaps.

The New York Times (6/1/2010, D6, Andrews) reports, "Amid a flurry of publicity, dozens of the nation's insurers announced this spring that they would put into effect a popular provision of the new health law ahead of schedule.

Instead of dropping young adults from their parents' health plans when they graduated this spring, insurers said they could stay on." Yet, "when parents ask for details from their employers about how to keep their children on a family plan, many are learning that their employers have said 'no thank you' to their insurer's offer to make the change early." In fact, rather than "modifying health plans now, they plan to wait to provide the extended coverage until they are legally required to do so.

For many employers, that means January 2011. “As a result, some graduates could be facing coverage gaps.”

If you are in this situation, we here at GoVaughn.com Insurance can help you by providing a Short Term Medical H-policy to cover the gap.

Our Life & Health Insurance Agent Richard Hesley will be glad to assist you. You can contact him at 270.631.2122.

Online Health Insurance Application at www.govaughn.com/health

Are Central Station Reporting Alarm System a good investment?

2010-05-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for a discount on your Homeowners insurance, installing a Central Station Reporting Alarm system could be one. These discounts can vary between insurance companies.

The monthly service cost of a Central Station Reporting Alarm System usually runs around $20 per month / $240 annually. Usually the discount on the homeowners’ policy does not exceed the monthly service cost of the alarm system. You need to look at other reasons why a central station alarm might be advantageous for you.

1. Early Detection: We all know that early detection of a possible claim such as fire or burglary can often times lessen the damages.

2. Peace of Mind

Several insurance companies that write homeowners’ policies require homes valued over $400,000 have a central station alarm system.

Homeowner insurance companies offer discounts ranging from 5% to 10% for having a central station reporting alarm systems. If your home also has a complete sprinkler system, you can get up to a 23% reduction in premiums with some companies.

We recommend each homeowner consider installing a central station alarm system for fire and theft.

Building code in Henderson KY (any many parts of the US) require that all new construction residential homes have wired smoke alarms.

GoVaughn.com Insurance uses these companies for fire, burglary and surveillance systems:

We have had personal experience from both companies. If you choose to use them, please let us know about your experience with them.

Central Station Alarm vendors will furnish each new installation with proper documentations that we as insurance agents can use to apply the appropriate discount.

Security System: Choosing the Right Alarm System for Your Home. Is a document that one of our partner companies, GuideOne Insurance, produced.

What is your experience with a central station reporting alarm system for your home or business?

Fortune Magazine Top 500 – Five of our Partner Companies make the list.

2010-04-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Fortune magazine released its list of the top 500 companies in the United States based on year-end 2009 revenue/sales on Thursday, April 15, 2010.

GoVaughn.com Insurance partner companies are some of the best in the industry. We are proud to have five companies among the top 500 companies ranging from 11 to 418.

Being ranked as a FORTUNE 500 company is great recognition. It does not make them better or stronger. The strength and value of our companies comes from their well trained associates, their independent agents, like GoVaughn.com Insurance, their relationships with them, and most important, their valued clients.

We here at GoVaughn.com Insurance are glad to have company partners that are safe & secure to protect your most valuable assets!

The Rankings are:

Bershire Hathaway (Medical Protective) # 11 (we write professional medical liability insurance with them since 1997)
Liberty Mutual Insurance Group (Safeco, Ohio Casualty) # 71
Travelers # 98
Progressive Insurance Company # 161
Auto-Owners Insurance Company # 418

Is it important to you that your insurance company is a Fortune 500 company?

Renters insurance affordable, often overlooked

2010-04-16T12:10:00.000-05:00

You’ve rented a great place. We’ll make sure you don’t
rent trouble. Many people who rent a home or apartment
think that insurance is their landlord’s problem. Not so.

Chances are, you have thousands of dollars worth of
belongings that won’t be covered in the event of fire, theft
or water damage. That’s where GoVaughn.com Insurance and Safeco Insurance comes in.

Despite the fact that rented homes are more likely to be burglarized than owner-occupied properties, renters need property and liability insurance. Less than half of renters have a renters policy.

With the population of renters up thanks to the nationwide housing slump. Most renters don’t think about the value of their possessions until a fire or theft occurs, and many renters mistakenly believe that their personal property is covered by their landlord’s policy.

We here at GoVaughn.com Insurance can help renters with the risks they are exposed to:

Nearly nine out of 10 renters own one or more valuable electronic devices, such as computers, video cameras and home-theater systems
Half of all renters own pets, and these tenants face increased liability exposure, especially with dogs or exotic pets

Safeco’s Insurance one of our partner companies here at GoVaughn.com Insurance has a great product with exceptional value.

Safeco’s Full Value Contents^® protection offers full replacement-cost coverage of items stolen, without deduction for depreciation, up to the limits and deductibles the customer selects.
Safeco’s policy protects against property-damage claims
Renters may be eligible for discounts for having burglar alarms, and could also receive discounts if they have multiple policies with Safeco.
Additional coverages are available, including Personal Umbrella (with a qualifying Auto policy) for broader protection, as well as endorsements to schedule special possessions such as jewelry, art, antiques or collectibles.

If you need a quote on Renter’s Insurance complete as much as you can on this form or contact us!

Cyber Teen Safety – Are you aware of the dangers?

2010-04-13T05:00:00.000-05:00

I know we generally write about items of interest related to insurance, but we thought you might be interested to learn more about keeping your children, grandchildren, or even yourself safer while online.

There are ways to set up ‘Parental’ controls on your computer system with each person using the computer having a different login. The ‘Parent’ can then limit and/or monitor the activity of the other users. So if you want to block certain websites that you deem inappropriate, you would do that using your ‘Parental’ control settings.

We all would like to think that our children or grandchildren will make the correct decisions, but we have to understand that they are not adults, that they are not mature enough to always know what that correct decision should be. Most of us have taught our children to not talk to strangers. You would be surprised to find out that they don’t see adding someone they don’t know as a ‘friend’ on any of the social media websites, like FaceBook, MySpace, MyYearbook and many others, is the same as talking to a stranger. They will even carry on conversations with these people. Along with posting pictures of themselves and telling critical things like their age, where they live, or go to school.

There are ‘cyber’ bullies that can seriously damage your young person’s self esteem. There are also sexual predators out there posing as children that are looking to make a ‘connections’ with children. Without proper guidance, our children could be at risk.

Are you on a social media website? Do you allow everyone the ability to see your information and photos? Have you thought about your safety? Recently on Good Morning America they had some people on that had their homes broken into and items stolen all because they posted on their social media website that they were on vacation, one posted they were going to a concert and told when they were leaving and coming back home. The person that broke into that home was someone she had added as a ‘friend’ on FaceBook, but really didn’t know.

Resources: Talking to Kids & Teens, Good Morning America - Cyber Bullying, GMA - Parenting Resource Center

Are your monitoring your young person’s internet usage? If not, will you start now?

Do you have a social media website? Will you change what you post or allow to be viewed?

Got 5 minutes? Get a Auto Insurance Rate Quote

2010-04-06T05:30:00.000-05:00

We here at GoVaughn.com Insurance are proud to have an online service to give you a INSTANT quote on your auto insurance.

We can give you a live quote if you live in Kentucky or Indiana.

Give it a try! We promise you a rate within 5 minutes.

It’s easy and only 4 screens and get a quote with several different carriers: Progressive, Safeco, and Travelers.

Give it a try NOW!

Let us know about your experience using Online Consumer Rate quote powered by Vertafore!

Collector-Classic-Historic Car Insurance

2010-03-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

GoVaughn.com Insurance is the place for insuring one of your most prized processions-your collector car! We proudly represent Hagerty Insurance for our clients who need insurance for their collector cars.

Click the above button and be directed to Hagerty Insurance online real time quoting and issuance site.

We here at GoVaughn.com Insurance will be your agents and you will have the power and protection from Hagerty Insurance for your prized collector vehicle. How easy is that? Local service with a provider that is known globally for great insurance products for the classic/collector vehicles.

Hagerty Insurance, home of the 90 second online quote. Let us give you a quote now!

Tell us about your collector car.

SmartPhone App for Insurance

2010-03-12T05:15:00.000-06:00

Travelers Insurance has announced the launch of its first mobile app for iPhone and BlackBerry users. This new mobile tool will provide assistance for you should you have an accident. This will work for Travelers customers and also for non-customers.

The accident reporting tool is free to download and easy to use. This will guide you through the steps to take when you have an accident, and enables users to create and email an accident report, including guidance on what photos to take and what information to record. If you are a Travelers’ client, you can also start your auto claim process directly through this application.

Do you have a Smartphone?

The Golden Spouse

2010-02-16T05:07:00.000-06:00

Are you married? If so, do both of you work?

Are you banking all of the money your spouse is making? If you answer “No” to this question, then you must be using it for living expenses.

If your spouse becomes disabled and couldn’t work, what would that do to your standard of living? Would you still be able to pay all of your bills and maintain a comfortable lifestyle?

We can help. Let us review your needs and discuss a Disability Income policy to meet your needs. We can also review your life insurance needs to make sure you are adequately covered. Contact Richard Hesley today to set up a time when you can meet with him. You can also go to our secure website and request additional information.

If you are single or a single parent, this can be just as important an issue for you. Possibly more important.

Do you have a Disability Income policy?

Do you have your own Life Insurance policy? (not group through work)

Insurance for Dummies

2010-02-02T04:30:00.000-06:00

Are you intimidated by insurance?

Have no fear — this easy-to-understand guide explains everything you need to know, from getting the most coverage at the best price to dealing with adjusters, filing claims, and more.

Whether you're looking for personal or business insurance, you'll see how to avoid common pitfalls, lower your costs, and get what you deserve at claim time.

Get to know the basics — understand how to make good insurance decisions and reduce the chances of a financial loss in your life
Take your insurance on the road — manage your personal automobile risks, handle special situations, insure recreational vehicles, and deal with insurance adjusters
Understand homeowner's and renter's insurance — know what is and isn't covered by typical policies, common exclusions and pitfalls, and how to cover yourself against personal lawsuits
Buy the right umbrella policy — discover the advantages, and coordinate your policies to cover the gaps
Manage life, health, and disability risks — explore individual and group policies, understand Medicare basics, and evaluate long-term disability and long-term-care insurance

A great read for anyone buy insurance and can be purchased on Amazon!

We here at GoVaughn.com Insurance highly recommend this book. The book was written by Jack Hungelmann a Auto-Owners Insurance Company agent in Minnesota.

Think you are paying too much for auto insurance? Get a comparative rate quote live from us now!

What is your biggest insurance question?

What is considered “Vacant Land”?

2010-01-19T04:54:00.000-06:00

This question comes up occasionally. The importance of the answer is that ISO Homeowners’ policy forms include vacant land for liability automatically. So if you have a piece of ground, it may automatically have liability coverage without any extra expense and without you having to do anything. If the land is not considered vacant, then you will have to add the property location to your policy or take out a second policy to obtain coverage.

Few plots of ground would be considered vacant per the ISO definition, which is “any land on which there exist no man made structures”. Basically the land has to be as God made it. There can be no roads, fences, poles, structures, etc.

If you have vacant land and you think you have coverage, you need to discuss it with your agent to determine if you do.

Is this land vacant? From this vantage point, I would say yes. It appears to be as God intended with no manmade features.

Is this land vacant? This is the same property as above, but from a different angle. Look close and in the middle of the picture, you can see a telephone box & there is one fence post, which I assume is to protect the telephone box. Now this land is not “vacant” and would have to be listed as a location to be covered by your homeowners’ policy.

Court cases have upheld the insurance companies definition of “vacant land”.

Travelers Indemnity Co. v. Holman, 330 F.2d 142, 5th Cir. Tex. (1964), vacant land requires that the property be unoccupied, unused and “in its natural state.”

In De Lisa v. Amica Mutual Ins. Co., 59 A.D.2d 380, 399 N.Y.S.2d 909 (1977), a child was injured in an abandoned structure on land owned by the insured. The court ruled that vacant land meant that there was no structure or building on the land, so there was no coverage.

In O’ Connor v. Safeco Ins. Co., 352 So. 2d 1244, Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1st Dist. (1977), property was determined not to be vacant because a surfaced road went through it.

Court case information was obtained from www.iiaba.net.

Do you have vacant land?

Community Service

2010-01-05T04:54:00.000-06:00

Our agent, James Roll, serves as the secretary of Jerusalem Lodge No. 9. He is seen below presenting Henderson Community College Nursing Program student, Jessica Brown, with the second installment of $500 to complete her $1000 Scholarship awarded to her by Jerusalem Masonic Lodge No. 9 for her first year in the nursing program.

Jerusalem Lodge No. 9 is fortunate to have had members leave some money to the lodge upon their passing and their expressed wish was that the money be put into an interest bearing account with the interest used to provide scholarships to our local community college nursing program.

Over the years they have been able to help several students financially achieve their dreams of obtaining their nursing degree. With sound leadership and watch care over the fund, they hope to be able to assist many more in the years to come.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

2010-01-02T05:00:00.000-06:00

Each year, as winter approaches and cold weather sets in, there is a chance that your home or commercial building could sustain some damage that is associated with the cold temperatures.

One of the most frequent causes of damage in the winter is due to water, which can become a major concern as the thermometer dips below freezing. Low temperatures can cause your water pipes to freeze, and in some cases, burst.

The following precautions can help you safeguard your home or commercial building from frozen pipes.

*Wrap water pipes that are exposed to freezing temperatures and cold drafts and those located in unheated or non-insulated areas, with pipe insulation. Pipe insulation can be found in local hardware stores.

*During cold temperatures, leave open cabinet doors where water pipes and drains are present, which will allow the warmer air to circulate around the pipes.

*During extremely cold weather, turn faucets to a slow drip or trickle, which will reduce the chances of the pipe freezing.

*Consider installing an automatic detection system that can monitor the temperature of a specific pipe. If the temperature of the pipe drops below a pre-set temperature, the unit will automatically shut off the main water valve. This will not prevent the pipe from freezing, but it will protect the pipes from bursting.

*To determine the best system to install for your home or commercial building needs, contact a qualified plumber.

*If your home or commercial building will be unoccupied for an extended period during cold weather, set the thermostat at 50 degrees or above.

*If possible, have someone check your home or commercial building daily to ensure the heating system is working.

*Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home or commercial building.

*Heat the basement, and consider weather-sealing windows.

*Close all windows near water pipes, and cover or close open-air vents. (Freezing temperatures combined with wind drafts can cause pipes to freeze more frequently.)

*Disconnect all garden hoses, and install covers on all outside faucets.

If a Pipe Freezes

Contact a licensed plumbing contractor as soon as possible. A designated licensed plumbing contractor should be listed in your emergency contact information.

If a Pipe Bursts

*Shut off the water at the your home or commercial building's main water valve.

*Contact a licensed plumbing contractor as soon as possible. A designated licensed plumbing contractor should be listed in your emergency contact information.

Because you never know how cold temperatures can affect a home or office building, it's important to follow these recommended tips to prevent water damage from occurring due to frozen pipes.

We stand ready to assist in any claim situation. We offer 24/7 service online and by phone. Our phone is answered 24/7 by a licensed agent for claim related information (270.827.3505) or through direct report to our partner companies.

We strive to meet your needs and provide friendly client services via phone, internet, email, and scheduled appointments any time! We now have live chat available- this is a great way to communicate with us. Give it a try now!

Insurance the one product you can't buy after the fact of needing it!

Vaughn Insurance is a Trusted Choice Agency.

Winter Tips to Prevent Claims

2009-12-29T04:30:00.000-06:00

Snow or ice is the fifth leading cause of homeowners’ insurance claims. Also, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the average homeowners’ claim for water damage and freezing is a whopping $5,531!

Follow these tips to protect you and your home from serious financial liability:

Prevent ice dams - An ice dam is a build-up of ice that blocks water drainage from the roof and the gutters. Ice dams can cause leaks from ceilings and walls that can ultimately lead to mold and other problems. To prevent ice dams, remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters or install gutter guards (available in most hardware home stores) that will prevent debris from getting in the gutter and interfering with drainage.

“Watch out for that tree!” - Trees and branches weakened by snow, ice and wind can snap and seriously hurt a person on your property, as well as cause serious damage to your home or car. Trimming trees and removing dead branches can help prevent serious damage and injuries.

Roof care and repair - High winds, snow and ice can damage a roof. Check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow and ice. After a heavy storm, check for water stains in attics and on any overhangs. Lastly, repair or replace split or loose shingles and fix any leaks.

Pipe dreams…and nightmares - First, the bad news: Frozen or broken water pipes disrupt hundreds of thousands of American lives every winter. The good news: You can prevent frozen pipes by following these tips.

• Keep the inside temperature of your home at 65 degrees or warmer.

• Wrap heating tape and/or standard insulation around pipes wherever possible.

• Look for pipes with cracks or leaks —they freeze first.

• Keep the inside temperature of your home at 65 degrees or warmer.

• Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around pipes (particularly in the kitchen and bathroom).

• If you’re leaving your home for several days, turn off the water completely and drain the pipes, or keep water dripping through one or two faucets, as moving water prevents freezing. However, if you are leaving your home for an extended period of time, plan to turn the water off. It also helps to have someone check your home every day while you are gone.

• If your pipes do freeze, quickly shut off the water and immediately call a plumber.

Prevent personal injuries - Homeowners are liable for any injuries that occur on their property. Keep kitty litter, sand or rock salt on hand to sprinkle over frozen driveways, walkways or sidewalks. Additionally, ensure that your outdoor steps and guardrails are in good repair to prevent injuries from falls on ice.

Can you think of other tips that help us prevent claims related to winter weather?

Gift Suggestions that can help you be prepared!

2009-12-16T16:00:00.000-06:00

It always seems to happen. During every holiday season we'll hear a news report about a Christmas tree or Menorah starting a serious house fire.

Each year, millions of lives are disrupted by natural disasters ranging from earthquakes and tsunamis to floods and wildfire. But all disasters – large or small – share a common attribute: they focus attention on the importance of disaster preparedness and the critical need to take action BEFORE disaster strikes.

The trick is to convert good intentions into good deeds, and according to Acting FEMA Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger, there's no time like the holidays.

"Disaster-ready gifts save lives, and are a wonderful way of welcoming in 2010," said Hunsinger. "Helping to better prepare neighbors, friends and loved ones for emergencies is a great way to say 'I care'."

Emergency and preparedness items that might make great gifts include:

NOAA Weather radios and extra batteries.
Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class.
Smoke detectors.
Appropriate fire extinguishers (kitchen, garage, car).
Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits, food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours, extra blankets, flashlights).
Foldable ladders for second-story escape in a fire.
Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flashlights).
The gift of a Gardner to cut back combustible vegetation from wildfire-vulnerable homes.
National Flood Insurance.

A wealth of information and preparedness tips are available from the Department of Homeland Security at www.ready.gov or from FEMA at www.fema.gov.

Some might consider these gifts “the worst Christmas Gifts ever” but upon facing disaster they might save a life.

Thank you Big I Markets for providing this information for us to share with our policyholders.

What is the worst Christmas Gift you have ever received?

Driving in the Rain with Cruise Control use Caution

2009-12-15T04:30:00.000-06:00

Note we did verify this story from Snopes.com.

A 36 year-old female had an accident and totaled her car. A resident of Kilgore, Texas. It was raining, though not excessively, when her car suddenly began to hydro-plane and literally flew through the air. She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence!

When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he told her something that every driver should know - NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON .. She thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain.

But the highway patrolman told her that if the cruise control is on when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.

The patrolman said this warning should be listed, on the driver's seat sun-visor – never use the cruise control when the pavement is wet or icy, along with the airbag warning. We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed - but we don't tell them to use the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.

The only person the accident victim found, who knew this (besides the patrolman), was a man who had had a similar accident, totaled his car and sustained severe injuries.

NOTE: Some vehicles (like the Toyota Sienna Limited XLE) will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.

Did you know about this?

Are your Christmas Gift cards Insured?

2009-12-08T04:30:00.000-06:00

Many people are giving and receiving various forms of gift cards not only during the Christmas holidays but all year long.

The National Retail Federation said that $25 billion will be spent on gift cards this Christmas season (2009), up from $18.5 billion for Christmas 2005.

Interestingly another research firm Tower Group estimates that approximately $8 billion in gift cards purchase this year will eventually go unused, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Unfortunately for most insured's the homeowners policy (HO-3) treats gift cards the same as cash, providing only $200 in the aggregate. The homeowners policy now refers to Gift Cards as Stored Value Cards.

Our suggestion is to buy gift cards with smaller values not to exceed $200 and to use them as soon as possible.

Please read your policy for exact policy detail.

What is your favorite Gift Card to give or receive?

Discounts on Insurance? Yes, we have them!

2009-11-24T05:00:00.000-06:00

Homeowners Insurance Possible Discounts:

We here at GoVaughn.com Insurance offer the following tips that may lead to substantial homeowners insurance savings.

· WHAT’S YOUR HOUSE WEARING? Some insurers give hail resistant roof discounts for Class 4 roofs and credits can be sizeable in some territories.

· ‘FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE’ MAY ALSO APPLY TO YOUR CREDIT SCORE: For married couples, sometimes one person will have a better credit score than the other. Since some companies will use the score of the first person named on the application, putting the spouse with the best credit score on first can result in a lower rate.

· GOT NEW WIRES? Depending on the age of newer electrical wiring in your home, you may qualify for an age of wiring discount.

· HAS IT REALLY BEEN 10 YEARS? If you have not filed any home insurance claims in the last 10 years, ask about a discount. “Claims-free” homeowners can often save up to 20%.

Automobile Insurance possible discounts:

Trusted Choice provide the following tips and considerations that may lead to big auto insurance savings.

· IS YOUR TEEN A SCOUT? Some insurers give credits to young drivers who are involved in organizations such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.

· WHAT’S YOUR ALMA MATER? At least one insurer gives a 5% credit if a driver is a graduate of a university on the company's approved list.

· DO YOU HAVE A COMPANY CAR? Many carriers will give a multi-car discount to consumers who have a company car even if they only own one personal vehicle.

· HAVE YOU BEEN WIDOWED? Some insurers give "married" discounts to widows and widowers.

· ARE YOU SHOPPING FOR NEW WHEELS? Before you buy a car, make a short list of the ones you're considering and ask your agent to estimate the difference in insurance premiums. The difference could save you thousands of dollars.

· ARE YOU A GREEN COMMUTER? Consider car pooling to reduce your commute frequency and ask your agent if that will impact your auto premium. In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, you may also be fattening your wallet.

· HOW YOUNG ARE YOU? In some states, if you're 55 or older, and you're the principal driver of your insured car, you could save on your premiums by taking an approved defensive driving class.

· GOT A TRACTOR? If you're a full-time farmer or rancher, and you're insuring a farm or ranch vehicle used exclusively for work on your property, a farm vehicle bonus could help keep your costs down.

Other well known discounts:

While there are plenty of quirky discounts your independent agent can investigate, there are many ‘tried and true’ discounts that many, but not all, insurance consumers know.

· UNEMPLOYED? People who are out of work should qualify for a low-mileage discount or lower rating factor that can save 5-10% on their auto premium.

· MULTIPLE POLICIES? If you have property insurance with ONE company, you may qualify for a multiple policy discount to lower both your auto and your home insurance premiums by as much as 10-15%.

· SOUND THE ALARMS! Alarm credits are often available if your home is equipped with two or more of the following: fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, deadbolt locks and a burglar alarm. Savings can be up to 15%. (Criteria vary in some states. An agent can help determine what applies in your area.)

· ACCIDENT-FREE FOR THREE YEARS? If you've been safe on the road and accident-free for the past three years, and you haven’t received any moving violations, you might qualify for a good record discount. To be eligible, you and all additional drivers also need to have carried continuous, standard automobile liability insurance during those same three years. If you're a new driver and received your license within the past three years, you, too, could be eligible. Just make sure you meet the above qualifications from the date your license was issued.

· DOES YOUR CAR HAVE SAFETY FEATURES? Auto insurance discounts apply in many states, if your car comes equipped with approved anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes, and/or passive restraint systems such as airbags.Let us know if you quality for any of these discounts. All of our partner companies offer different discounts. Not all of our partner companies offer all discounts mentioned.

What discount gives you the most premium break?

The survey was conducted for Trusted Choice^® via telephone by International Communications Research (ICR); an independent research company in Media, Pa. Interviews of a nationally representative sample of 1058 U.S. households were conducted in Oct. 28 – Nov. 1, 2009. More information about ICR can be obtained at http://www.icrsurvey.com.

Downtown Henderson Business Employee Costume Contest Winners

2009-10-30T13:00:00.000-05:00

We here at GoVaughn.com Insurance are the proud sponsors of the Downtown Henderson Project annual Employee Costume Contest.

The Winners are:

Best Overall Business – Finance Department, City of Henderson – “The Black Opal Pirates”

Most Original Business – RE/MAX Superior Realtors – “Insane Asylum”

Funniest Group – County Judges Office – “Hugh Heffner and his Bunnies”

Funniest Individual– Carson Cowan – “Count Pimpula”

Scariest Individual – Shirley VanBussum – “Ms. Witch”

Most Realistic Individual – Nicole Hodge, Homefolks Hardware – “Flo of Progressive Insurance”

Other participants – Bill Stevens of WSON radio, “The Black Knight”; Homefolks Gifts, “Three Witches”; and Nu-Look Cleaner “Bag Ladies”

Thanks to All that Participated!

Who was your favorite?

Insurance: The One Question Everyone Asks “Am I overpaying?”

2009-10-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

That’s a question that every consumer asks from time to time. Everyone is curious and concerned as to whether he or she is getting a good value for the money, whether it’s for a candy bar, a car or an airline ticket.

It’s a good question to ask about insurance, too. After all, Americans spend a lot of money on insurance for homes, autos and businesses. In 2008, American drivers spent $161 billion for personal automobile insurance, reported the A.M. Best Co., an insurance research and ratings firm.

This large market for auto insurance is highly competitive. Consumers play a large part in keeping insurance rates competitive by virtue of shopping—whether online, by telephone or on the World Wide Web. More than one of four (about 28 percent) of auto insurance buyers shopped around for car insurance in 2009, reported J.D. Power & Associates in its 2009 national auto insurance study.

But consumers aren’t the only ones shopping around for auto insurance. So too do independent insurance agents like us here at GoVaughn.com who are Trusted Choice® insurance professionals.

On average, Trusted Choice® agents provide consumers with property/casualty insurance options from eight different insurance carriers, reported the 2008 agency universe study conducted by Future One, a collaboration of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (the Big “I”) and leading independent agency companies. For automobile insurance, those agents may compare rates and coverages at even more insurance companies, through their use of software that allows them to compare multiple policies and multiple carriers. We here at GoVaughn.com use a web based application called Vertafore Personal Lines rating to see that we are providing the best rates possible.

For auto insurance buyers, research showed that independent agents rank most highly on the most important element of customer satisfaction. The J.D. Power study measures customer satisfaction with auto insurance companies across five factors (in order of importance): interaction, policy offerings, billing and payment, price and claims. Insurers who sell their auto insurance products through agents performed “stronger in the interaction factor than do direct insurers,” reported J.D. Power.

Overall, customer satisfaction with auto insurance companies reached a five-year high in 2009, reported the J.D. Power study. The biggest improvement in satisfaction among the five factors has been in price. Interestingly, 42 percent of customers in 2009 reported that their auto insurance premiums declined without switching insurers.

Are you overpaying for auto insurance? Thanks to a competitive market that includes Trusted Choice® independent insurance agents, the answer probably is no. If you’re not sure, ask us here at GoVaughn.com for a no obligation quote proposal or if we have your insurance presently we will be happy to give you a review!

When was the last time you had your Automobile and Homeowners Insurance reviewed?

source: TrustedChoice.com, October 2009

Personal Umbrella Insurance – What is it? Do I need it? Part 2

2009-10-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Do I need it? With today’s society, it is common place for you to hear about someone being sued. Could that person be you? Possibly. Do you have enough money to cover the damages? Maybe. Can you buy extra coverage just in case? Yes. Is it expensive? No.

Something really big is punitive damages. We all know about the case where the lady sued a restaurant for her coffee being too hot and scalding her when it was spilled in her lap, by her. She was awarded compensatory damages for her medical bills & lost wages, but she was awarded a huge sum of money for punitive damages. So say your teen is texting while driving, causes an accident and severely injures someone.

The court awards $300,000 in compensatory damages and 1 million in punitive damages because your teen was acting carelessly and they want to punish them for their actions. This could happen. If you purchased the wrong Umbrella policy that excludes punitive damages, your Umbrella policy won’t be paying that claim. Guess who will? You will.

Do you have an Umbrella policy? Do you know if it is a true Umbrella policy and if it excludes punitive damages?

Part 1

Personal Umbrella Insurance – What is it? Do I need it? Part 1

2009-10-20T04:00:00.000-05:00

Those are two really good questions and neither one is a simple answer.

What is an Umbrella policy?

An Umbrella policy is designed to give you additional liability coverage, should you find yourself in a lawsuit due to an accident or claim and your home or auto policy does not have enough coverage for the damages being sought. All policies are not created equal, so you have to be careful.

A “true” Umbrella policy will extend past your auto and home policy to give broader coverage. There are some policies that use the term Umbrella, but are what we call “excess” policies. Excess policies don’t give you broader coverage and if your underlying policy excludes coverage, they typically exclude the coverage as well. So you have to be careful when shopping for an Umbrella policy.

Two good questions to ask your agent:

Is this a “true” Umbrella or an “excess” Umbrella policy?
Does this policy exclude punitive damages?

Do you have an Umbrella policy?

Do you know if it is a true Umbrella policy and if it excludes punitive damages?

Do I need it? Part 2 is coming later this week. Look for more!

Part 2

The Unsolved Murder of Morris Beckham Vaughn

2009-10-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

On this day in 1972 (October 17, a Tuesday) Morris Beckham Vaughn then owner and major stockholder of Vaughn Insurance Agency Co. was last seen alive.

His body was found six days later- a Sunday afternoon, October 22, 1972. The Henderson Kentucky newspaper The Gleaner headlines read “ Vaughn Victim of Homicide” .

Vaughn was last seen leaving his office after 5 pm on October 17, 1972 walking to the rear of the office to his car. He was also seen at dusk at the Henderson Post office and later at Howard Johnsons in Henderson KY.

Morris B. Vaughn was shot at close range in the back of the neck with a shotgun and then shot in the face with a handgun or rifle. He had $170.00 in cash, a watch and diamond ring on his person when found. His body was found in Horseshoe bend north of the now defunct Audubon Raceway in Henderson KY. The body was discovered off the road on the edge of a soybean field face up fully clothed and with his glasses on.

His car, a 1969 Black Cadillac, was later found parked behind the insurance agency. It was not parked in his normal fashion. Usually Morris parked the car facing south. This time the car was parked facing north.

His billfold along with credit cards and heart medication were found in the insurance agency safe that is still used today.

Many rumors continued to multiply about this mysterious murder.

The Gleaner reported on October 26, 1972 that a “$1,500 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who murdered Morris B. Vaughn, well-known local insurance company owner.”

Morris B. Vaughn was 67 years old when he was murdered.

Morris Beckham Vaughn came to Henderson initially from Clay Kentucky when his father the Andrew Boyd (A.B.) Vaughn opened the A B Vaughn & Co. insurance agency in 1917. This agency is the predecessor to Vaughn Insurance Agency Co.

Morris graduated from Barrett Manual Training High School in Henderson Kentucky and later graduated from the University of Kentucky. After graduation he went on to be a school principal in Columbia Kentucky. He met his wife Jessie Carter Vaughn while in Columbia. He returned to Henderson in 1935 to assist his father operating the insurance agency. A few years later (1949) he (Morris B Vaughn) split from his father and opened the Morris B Vaughn insurance agency. His father continued solo. When his father died (1952) they joined the agencies back together.

He was a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Henderson. Morris and his wife Jessie C. Vaughn lived at 821 N. Main Street in Henderson Kentucky. The couple did not have any children.

Norris O. Priest current owner and 100% stockholder of Vaughn Insurance Agency Co. purchased the agency from Morris Beckham Vaughn’s widow Jessie C. Vaughn in August of 1974. He initially purchased a portion of the stock and later the entire agency.

Norris O. Priest chose not to change the name of the agency. Norris and or his family were no kin at all to the Morris Beckham Vaughn family.

Ironically Norris and his wife Mary Elizabeth started their married life in 1958 across the street from Vaughn Insurance Agency Co. and knew of Mr.Vaughn, but had no real contact with him.

To this day Henderson City Police along with Kentucky State Police have this murder as a unsolved cold case.

Detectives are requesting help from the community or anyone who might have information on the murder of Morris Beckham Vaughn. Contact Kentucky State Police.

See GoVaughn.com for more history about our agency.

Henderson County Tourist Commission will host a “Spooks and Legends of Old Henderson” walking tour on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 2pm and 5pm. This story along with other legends of Henderson will be talked about. Read more about this tour on the Henderson Tourist Commission Blog.

Do you remember Morris B. Vaughn?

What are your thoughts about his demise?

We think his name is Morris Beckham Vaughn. Kentucky State Police records say his name is Morris Bechman Vaughn. We are also looking for pictures of him.

We are proud to have Locally Based Claims Adjustors

2009-10-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

Today we had one of our partner companies property adjustors visit our agency. We are always happy to see our adjustors.

Jason Deweese is a property adjustor for Safeco Insurance.

Jason also handles claims for our Ohio Casualty and Indiana Insurance policyholders.

Safeco like many of our partner companies handle their claims over the telephone but we do have local adjustors in the area for more complicated claims.

Vaughn Insurance Claims webpage has more information about claims and how to report them.

Tell us about your experience with a property insurance adjustors.

Who’s Afraid of the Minimally-Insured Motorist?

2009-10-15T04:30:00.000-05:00

Do you have enough Automobile Liability insurance?

Let us here at GoVaughn.com review your existing insurance and help you decide!

Drivers Training Classes: Is it important for my Teen Driver to take?

2009-09-30T05:00:00.002-05:00

This is a very common question that our agency is often asked. We will try to explain our position.

Would it be beneficial in terms of premium savings to have our teenage driver enroll in the local driving school?

You will not recoup the amount of the class tuition in discounts the first year for taking driver's training. However, you will keep this discount for several years, so the savings over time will accumulate.

With that being said. We have seen statistics showing that young drivers that have been through a driver’s training school are less likely to have auto accidents. So, if you can decrease their probability of having an accident and you having to pay a deductible, you come out ahead having your teenage child take driver's training. More important than discounts and deductibles is the safety and welfare of your child and those that may be riding with them. If the class will keep them safe, it is priceless.

We understand that some students have a school work load that doesn't allow them much extra time for taking a driver training course. If it becomes an issue with time and your teenage driver needs to spend more time on school work, you both will have to decide if there is enough time for the driver training course. With safety and education in mind, we hope you can find the time for both.

In Henderson KY we recommend Pascal Bensons Driving School.

Another blog we have written about Teen Insurance.

Did a professional drivers Training course make your teenager a better driver?

Travelers – Vaughn’s New Company Partner

2009-09-29T05:00:00.002-05:00

Vaughn Insurance Agency Co. has been appointed to sell personal lines insurance coverage from Travelers.

Norris Priest of Vaughn Insurance Agency Co. said that the agency will now be able to offer customers Travelers coverage for their Home and Automobiles.

"Vaughn Insurance Agency Co. is pleased that customers can now select insurance coverage from Travelers," said Priest. "Travelers is one of the largest and most respected insurance companies in the nation. They offer a range of products at competitive prices. In addition, Travelers shares our commitment to providing the highest level of responsiveness and service to our clients."

Established in 1917, Vaughn Insurance Agency Co. is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including, but not limited to, Auto, Home, Life, Health, & Business. Vaughn Insurance Agency Co. is a member of PIA of KY and IIAA and supports several local charities and organizations throughout the year.

For information and proposals on insurance coverage, please visit our website, GoVaughn.com, contact our office, or you may stop by our office, Monday - Friday from the hours of 8 am to Noon and 1 pm to 5 pm.

About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve customers is to deliver insurance in-synch with evolving risks. The company's diverse business lines offer its global customers a wind range of coverage in the auto, home, and business settings. Travelers is a fortune 100 company, with 2008 revenues of approximately $24 Billion. The company has more than 33,000 employees.

Tell us about your experience with Travelers for your personal lines insurance needs.

Confused about Graduated Licensing Laws in Kentucky?

2009-09-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

Download the latest copy of the Kentucky Drivers License manual and answer this question and more.

This handy booklet will update you on all of the driving laws and procedures in Kentucky.

Texting while driving – Driving while distracted

2009-08-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, a lot of us can admit that we have all done something that has caused us to take our eyes off the road while driving. Be it eating a fast food sandwich, changing the radio station, answering or placing a call on your cell, but this video released about Texting while Driving is a real eye opener.

Take a moment and watch this video below. Then take a moment and watch it with your young driver. We feel that, although graphic, it will show in a way that no spoken words can show, the danger of being distracted while driving.

We must all remember that not paying attention while driving is no different than taking a loaded gun and shooting it while blindfolded. You wouldn’t shoot a gun while blindfolded, so why would you take your eyes off the road. Both can lead to deadly consequences.

See the video below, please remember that it is graphic, but that it needs to be to open some eyes.

Another video from the Today Show about Texting while Driving. Not as graphic, but real.

What do you think about the issue?

Are you OK with your life insurance?

2009-08-21T05:00:00.001-05:00

A recent survey found that nearly fifty percent of people surveyed had no life insurance. When asked why, the top three reasons were:

Don’t know what to buy.
Don’t want to discuss my own mortality.
No one has asked me.

We don’t want you being the one person that was never asked or didn’t know what to buy. We have a dedicated life & health person that is here to help you make an informed decision about your needs, be it life, health, or disability income protection.

As far as discussing your own mortality. We are all going to die someday. Let us be prepared and help our family by planning ahead to give them one final gift, a gift of life insurance to cover the cost of the funeral and other cost that we would have paid for had we still been around, like college education, the first car, or a down payment on their first home.

Do you love your family enough to take the time to plan ahead for a future that does not include you? That is tough, but it could be a reality.

To start the process moving forward, go to our secured Life & Health quote request page or you may contact Richard Hesley at our office at 270.631.2122 or any of our licensed insurance agents at Vaughn Insurance.

Re-published due to recent inquiries about life insurance.

Surface Mining - Blasting in your neighborhood?

2009-08-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

Eastern Henderson County (Hebbardsville KY Area) has some above ground mining going on presently (2009). Mining companies are using explosives to mine the coal out of the open area. Several of our policyholders are concerned.

Our best advice to the policyholders is to document the condition of the home prior to the blasting with pictures and videos.

In the event of problems later you will have documentation to help the insurance companies adjust any future claims.

Have you seen evidence of damage to your home through surface mining in Henderson County KY?

Actual Cash Value vs Replacement Value

2009-08-13T20:15:00.002-05:00

Can we at Vaughn Insurance answer any questions you might have about Actual Cash Value vs Replacement Value?

Great News on our companies!

2009-08-07T11:36:00.001-05:00

Consumer Reports magazine September issue has an article on insuring your home. They also ranked insurance companies and we are pleased to have 5 of the top 16 companies in their article.

9. State Auto Insurance Companies

10. Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies

12. Safeco Insurance Companies

14. Farmers Insurance Group

16. Travelers Insurance Companies

If you don’t subscribe to Consumer Reports, you might want to pick up a copy at the local newsstand. There are several good tips and recommendations.

All of GoVaughn’s Company Partners!

So you think you don’t need flood insurance?

2009-08-05T16:58:00.002-05:00

What happened in Louisville Kentucky yesterday (August 4, 2009) could happen anywhere, anytime. Flash Floods are not covered by a standard homeowners' policy. Your contents in your flooded car are not covered by your auto or standard homeowners'.
Your car would be covered if you have comprehensive coverage. If you are not sure you are protected, ask your agent or send us an email or chat with us live.
Now we don’t advise you to drive through standing water. The old saying, “turn around, don’t drown” is so very important.
However we have to share this video with you of people driving through the streets in Louisville. Don’t try this at home:

Also be sure and read our previous blog about Flood Insurance.
Evansville Courier News Article: Drenched Louisville
Frequent Asked Questions About Flood Insurance (9/2/2009)

Will Your Homeowners Insurance ever DECREASE in Henderson County Kentucky?

2009-07-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

That could possibly happen if more communities in Henderson County could/would lower their fire protection classes (PC).

Presently a majority of the Henderson County Kentucky volunteer fire departments are ISO (Insurance Service Office) rated PC 9 departments. We need that to change in order to lower homeowners’ insurance premiums in our county. PC 1 is the best and 10 is the worst.

A few volunteer fire departments in the Henderson county Kentucky have upgraded their equipment and received lower PC ratings. When the PC is lowered the premiums are lowered significantly.

Presently we only have 2 departments lower than PC 9. The Zion Fire Department is a PC 6 and Robards Fire Department is a PC 7. The Corydon Civil Defense Fire Department will have their class lowered October 1, 2009 to PC 6. Previously they have been a PC 9.

All homeowners and other property policies that are affected by this change will be endorsed effective October 1, 2009 to reflect this change. We here at Vaughn Insurance are in the process of taking care of this for our clients automatically.

As independent insurance agents we urge you to make it a point to have a conversation with your County Government officials (county judge and magistrates') and let them know how important it is to you as a homeowner/business owner in Henderson County KY to give county fire departments resources to improve the fire protection. When fire protection is improved homeowners rates also are reduced.

We also urge you to support your local Volunteer Fire Department. Your support may be what they need to make that change that could save you $200 or more in insurance premium a year.

Official Letter about Corydon KY Protection Class (PC) Change

Gleaner Newspaper Article 8/29/2009

Fox News Story

Henderson County Judge Executive

Henderson County Magistrates

Henderson County Fire Departments (Kentucky)

Stay Cool with Swimming Pool Risks

2009-06-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

It’s summer, and thoughts of Americans everywhere turn to water. Whether it’s in the pool, on the lake, at the ocean or in the river, water draws people almost magnetically as the weather turns hot.

Swimming pools are popular but also present a risk to a homeowner. While homeowners are welcoming friends and family with a clear, clean pool, they’re also assuming significant financial risks by doing so. What’s more, they are unwittingly facing liability from strangers since pools are an attractive nuisance that can pose a risk to uninvited guests, children in the neighborhood and intruders. Homeowners can be found liable for injuries to uninvited guests.

Drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years, reported the American Red Cross. Its survey of more than 1,000 adults showed that more than 90% of families with young children plan to be in the water this summer, and almost half (48%) plan to swim in a place with no lifeguard. If that’s on your property, be prepared.

Insurance plays a key role in protecting consumers who have pools on their property. Homeowners and liability insurance cover bodily injury and liability protection in the event of an injury or claim. Plus, insurance carriers, by virtue of inspecting or requiring compliance with building codes, can make a swimming pool safer.

If you have a swimming pool:

1) Let us at Vaughn Insurance your Trusted Choice^® insurance agent or insurance carrier know. Coverage is most likely to be provided if the structure and risks are known prior to a claim. Insurance carriers view pools as presenting a unique and heightened set of risks. Put simply, a swimming pool will increase the risk of property damage or a liability claim, as compared to a home without one.

Typically, a homeowners insurance policy covers property damage to a home and additional structures. An in-ground pool usually is considered an “additional structure” in insurance parlance, as are sheds and detached garages. An above-ground pool may be considered “personal property” and insured under that section of the homeowners policy.

Homeowners insurance also offers liability coverage in the event a homeowner is hit with a claim or lawsuit as a result of an incident in or near the swimming pool. Friends and family who are injured in a pool accident may not want to sue, but may need to sue in order to pay medical bills and replace lost income.

2) Check the amount of homeowners property coverage. A standard coverage amount for additional structures on a property is 10 percent of the amount written for the home itself. Thus, a $500,000 home might have $50,000 of property damage coverage for other structures. Ask your independent agent to help you determine the proper amount of property coverage.

3) Check the amount of homeowners liability coverage. One claim can pierce a standard homeowners liability insurance limit, so check with Vaughn Insurance your Trusted Choice^® insurance professional to discuss increasing the limit and/or adding an umbrella policy. An umbrella (or excess liability) policy pays up to a limit (usually $1 million) for claims.

4) Check the perils covered. Homeowners insurance comes in a variety of types, and some policies protect against additional “perils” in addition to fire, lightning and windstorm. Other perils may be excluded. Check which type of policy you have and whether it suits your needs. For pool owners in the north, note that damage by freezing/thawing is usually not covered by homeowners insurance.

5) Check that your pool is up to code, and whether any features are specifically not permitted or insured. Plumbing, fencing and deck requirements all can vary by state and locality. A homeowner increases the risk of loss if a pool is not up to code. Additionally, amenities such as diving boards and slides are particularly hazardous and may be excluded by building code or can be uninsured.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control noted that drowning prevention requires appropriate adult supervision while children are in the water, as well as multiple layers of protection (such as four-sided isolation fencing, pool alarms, and locked gates) to keep children away from swimming pools.

If you have any questions about your insurance and how they relate to a swimming pool or as we say in Kentucky swimming hole contact us here at Vaughn Insurance!

Source: TrustedChoice.com, June 2009

Wind and Hail Deductibles are changing due to Catastrophes in the past year

2009-06-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

State Auto Insurance Co CEO talks about how catastrophes in the Past year is affecting his company.

Not all catastrophe insurance losses are on the coast. State Auto Insurance CEO Bob Restrepo discusses how his Super Regional company has been hit hard by cat losses and what it is doing to mitigate these losses.

Do you know what your wind and hail deductible is now?

How much can you save by increasing that deductible?

The Value of a Independent Agent

2009-05-28T19:53:00.001-05:00

Just like the Independent roofer we are your local Independent Insurance Agent! We can help you make the right choices when it comes to your insurance.

Chat with us online NOW!

Driver Safety Class being offered in Henderson

2009-05-19T10:32:00.001-05:00

Henderson KY will be the host of a AARP Driving Safety Class in June 2009.

Not only does participation in this class give you a discount on your automobile insurance but it will help you sharpen your driving skills.

Sorry but Kentucky law only allows the discount for drivers 55 and above. Anyone can take the class but the discount is only given to those drivers 55 and above in Kentucky. Other states offer different discounts.

The Henderson KY class will be held at John James Audubon State Park on Monday June 22, 2009 from 12pm to 4pm.

To register you need to call 270.683.0654.

The cost of the class for a AARP member is $12 (non members $14). The class is 4 hours long.

Have you taken the 55 Alive Driver Safety program in the past? What did you think of the class?

We value community . . .

2009-05-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

Consumers and companies alike are going through profound changes based on complex and challenging economic realities. Everybody is looking for value, but value doesn't just mean what's cheapest; it's about what's best for consumers, their families, their communities and the world around them.

Providing this value and living by our ethics is precisely what Vaughn Insurance has been doing since 1917.

One thing to keep in mind when you do business with a locally owned and operated Henderson KY business is that they not only benefit from selling to a locally economy but provide benefits to the community as well.

Vaughn Insurance employees 8 full time employees.

We contribute to many non-profit organizations and encourage all our employees to participate in community service work and allow time away from the office to do that work.

Vaughn Insurance Mentioned in National Trade Magazine Article

2009-05-05T18:15:00.001-05:00

Vaughn Insurance was mentioned in the Independent Insurance Agent Magazine (a national magazine for independent agents) about Agents taking advantage of Web 2.0 technologies to service clients and increase sales.

You can read the article in full here.

We here at Vaughn Insurance take every new technology seriously.

We want to service our clients any way the client wants to be serviced. That could be a walk-in client, a phone client, an email client, or someone that wants service using Twitter.com or FaceBook.com! (Nibby’s twitter account)

Let us know how we can help you with your insurance.

Our pledge to you is to be your anytime anywhere agency providing the best possible protection at the lowest possible cost using the best company partners in the industry.

Thank you IA Senior Writer Susan Hodges for a great article.

Teensurance ~ For your Teenage driver

2009-05-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

The Teensurance package gives parents a set of online tools that encourages responsible driving habits by their teen.

With Teensurance, parents and teens can:

Find a car’s location online, in real time.
Have a car door unlocked remotely in seconds.
Set speed alerts, safe driving zones, and curfews.
Access Roadside Assistance 24/7.
Locate vehicle if it is stolen.

Contact us here at Vaughn Insurance to discuss how Safeco Insurance can fit into your insurance portfolio and how Teensurance can protect your most valuable asset.

We highly recommend this innovative device.

Discounts are available from Safeco Insurance for parents purchasing this device to monitor their children's driving patterns. Discounts vary.

Have you ever considered using a GPS device to monitor your teen-age drivers driving habits?

Homeowners’ / Renter’s Inventory List

2009-04-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

A devastating loss can occur in an instant. A Fire, Tornado, or Flood can wipe out all of your possessions.

Everyone needs a home inventory list in case of a devastating loss. It is much easier to do it now, than to wait until after a loss.

This link, KnowYourStuff, takes you to a free tool to download & prepare a home inventory list. It is part of the Insurance Information Institute.

We here at Vaughn Insurance highly recommend that you prepare a home inventory list and store it somewhere other than you home. I know all too well about trying to recreate a list of contents after a major loss. It is very hard to remember everything you had when the only thing you have left is a pile of burnt debris.

If you don’t want to take the time to prepare an inventory list, then you at least need to go through your home with a video camera and record everything you have.

Be prepared & be safe.

Picture provided by Central Kentucky Claims Service LLC

Do you have your home or office inventory up to date?

Technorati Tags: Insurance,Home Inventory,Homeowners,Contents

OVAL Kitchen Tour- April 24, 2009

2009-04-22T20:26:00.001-05:00

One organization in Henderson KY that has been very near and dear to me over the years is Ohio Valley Art League.

This Saturday (April 24, 2009) OVAL is having the largest fund raiser that they have all year.

The OVAL Kitchen Tour is a event where local homes open up there kitchens for a tour. This event has been going on for several years and each year gains more acclaim.

Each homeowner allows ticket holders to see the design of the kitchen and equipment used in the kitchen.

Each home has a celebrity chef making some delectable food item that the participants can taste. The tickets to the event are a recipe book with all the recipes of the items that are being prepared in all of the homes. A keepsake for sure!

Several of the homes are within walking distance of my house.

Besides a cooking demonstration going on in the kitchens other things will be going on as well. The Hazelwood home will feature a herb and flower sale. The Lane/Shelton home will have a live potter and pottery for sale. A silent auction will be going on at the Wilson home. April Robinson will be selling her latest art photography book at the Link home and there will be a display of Southern Living Tablescapes at the Stinson house. The Fidler home will have representatives from the Henderson County Extension office

The website for the event is http://www.ohiovalleyart.org/ktour

A personal note:

I along with my company Vaughn Insurance will be offering a item at the silent auction. It is a Sunset Dinner Party & Fireworks on Saturday, July 4, 2009. This dinner party of Filets and Firecracker Shrimp and sides will be served on the veranda of my home at 330 North Water St overlooking Sunset Park and the Mighty Ohio River the night of Henderson’s annual Fireworks display.

Can you imagine having a front row seat for the fireworks and enjoy a nice dinner too? All for a good cause- Ohio Valley Art League.

Alternative dates for this dinner party auction item are available and subject to hosts availability. The dinner party must be redeemed by 8/15/2009.

The party is for six guests. Two additional guest may be invited with a extra donation to OVAL based on the winning bid amount. An example of this would be if winning bid is $600 then to add two additional guest you would need to make an additional $200 contribution to OVAL. Sounds great doesn’t it?

Do you need tickets for OVAL Kitchen tour? If you mention to me that you have seen this blog I will give you a discount! If you buy insurance from me—better yet—I will give you a ticket! You can’t beat that!

What is your favorite home on this years OVAL Kitchen Tour?

Read the Gleaner News Paper Article about the tour by Donna Stinnett.

Roof Claim ~ Shingles Don’t Match

2009-04-16T17:11:00.001-05:00

Part of my roof was damage and the company only wants to fix part of my roof. I think the insurance company should pay for a new roof for the whole house.

Okay, here is the skinny on roof claims. Many people have pondered this very issue. The insurance policy states that the insurance company is only responsible for the part that was damaged. This does not include matching.

Typically what insurance companies do are based on the claim. Here are a couple examples, however we must note that it is up to your insurance company and their procedures to determine how a claim will be paid.

Just a few shingles damaged or blown off – Company will cover replacing those missing shingles.
Several shingles damaged or blown off one side / slope of the roof – Company will cover a new roof for that one side / slope.
Shingles damaged or blown off on a majority of home / majority of the slopes – Company will cover a new roof for the entire home.

Your deductible will apply. Please read your policy carefully or ask your agent to explain, because several companies have a different deductible for wind & hail damage.

Generally companies will be understanding if you can see multiple sides at the same time and the shingles cannot be matched. However if the damage is minimal or you can’t see another slope at the same time making the difference very noticeable, they will only cover the damaged side.

The same would be true for the siding on your home. Only the damaged pieces are owed, but the insurance companies generally allow enough to replace the entire side of the house that was damaged.

How can I pay my insurance bill?

2009-04-14T09:03:00.001-05:00

Most of our partner companies offer online policy bill paying with several payment options from bank draft to credit card. You will need to set up your account to access your information. Below are the links to some of our partner companies. If you do not see the link for your company, please email our office at insure@govaughn.com and we will be sure to reply to you with specific information to your company’s online billing.

State Auto payment options.

Ohio Casualty payment options.

Auto-Owners payment options.

Progressive payment options.

GuideOne payment options.

Foremost payment options.

Weddings ~ Are you covered?

2009-03-23T11:50:00.001-05:00

With Spring here, there will be a lot of wedding plans in the air. Most couples will be renting a reception venue.

When you pick out your reception venue, make sure you read the contract carefully before signing. You may be responsible for providing the liability insurance.

Your homeowners policy may or may not extend the coverage. You will need to talk with your insurance agent.

A Special Events Liability Insurance Policy is recommended to protect you, should a liability related accident occur at the reception resulting in bodily injury or property damage.

Liability limits up to $1,000,000 are available. Liquor liability can be included if alcohol is being served at the reception. Liquor liability can be purchased at a separate limit.

You will be spending a lot of time and money for your Wedding Day. Making sure you have your event covered, will be one less thing to worry about.

This blog was written by Terri Knight, Agent at Vaughn Insurance Agency Co.

Spring Floods right around the corner

2009-03-11T16:00:00.001-05:00

After a cold winter, most of us are eagerly awaiting spring. In addition to warmer weather, however, spring can also bring heavy rains that swell rivers, streams and ditches and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to individual properties. Because the risk for flooding will increase in the next few months, we here at Vaughn Insurance feel now is a good time for property owners to acquaint themselves with flood insurance.

Standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding, but there is a way for homeowners to protect themselves from financial disaster caused by flooding. The United States government administers the National Flood Insurance Program, which makes flood insurance available to homeowners, renters and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP. According to the NFIP website, Floodsmart.gov, participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA requirements to reduce the risk of flooding. In the coming weeks we will provide more information on who can get flood insurance, how the government program works and how you can protect yourself from financial loss due to flooding.

Vaughn Insurance is authorized to provide this insurance to homeowners in the area. To find out your flood risk and get a premium estimate, contact an agent at Vaughn Insurance by stopping by our office at 315 N. Main Street in downtown Henderson, calling us at 270.827.3505 or visiting our website, http://www.govaughn.com/.

We also offer live chat at www.govaughn.com/chat

Auto-Owners Insurance

2009-03-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

One of our partner companies Auto-Owners Insurance recently received an award for “highest client satisfaction with the automobile insurance claims process” J.D. Power and Associates.

We are proud to represent Auto-Owners

See their video below:

Poem ~ Ice Storm of 09

2009-03-03T16:43:00.001-06:00

By Blake A. Beaver

The meteorologist said it’d be the worst in 4 years

This ice that was coming was horrible news to our ears

When at first it hit, it did not seem so bad

Little did we know this was just part of what it had

Many families went to sleep that night oblivious to this long time fight

The next day there was just a coating but still that ice kept flowing

When nightfall came ice had engulfed everything

The weight of the ice on the trees and power lines was just too much

Tree by tree line by line the ice pulled them down in a matter of time

Houses went dark and soon fell cold

A few people died of hypothermia some young some old

Only a couple of people had generators on hand

If only people had prepared and had a plan

It took days for the electrical companies to restore power

What would some have done if they knew power would be lost again in a matter of hours

When everything started to look better a squall line came with high wind

Mixed with the ice damage we feared this would not be a good blend

Now time has passed and power is restored

Things are on their way back to normal once more

* James Roll is the proud uncle of Blake Beaver.

Are my Insurance Rates going up because of all the homeowner claims related to the recent ice storm?

2009-02-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

Yes, we here at Vaughn Insurance predict, but as independent agents, we help our clients shop around for the most affordable rates.

The insurance business is based on the spread of risk. The more widely risk is spread, the more accurately loss can be estimated (from the Insurance Information Institute). Everyone pays for the losses of others.

After a regional disaster insurance rates may go up for two reasons. First, the insurance companies have to pay out a large number of claims that may amount to more money than it has set aside in their capital reserves. Second, the company has to rebuild the reserve after a disaster to pay future claims. Usually everyone in the geographic region hit by disaster will see some form of increase in their insurance premium.

Sometimes a single disaster is not enough to raise rates in a certain region. But in the last six months western Kentucky has suffered losses from three catastrophic events. On September 14, 2008, remnants of Hurricane Ike caused extensive wind damage in the area. Because of the damage, Kentucky's insured catastrophe losses were among the fifth highest in the nation for the third quarter of 2008, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The widespread damage sustained in the recent ice storm on January 27, 2009 only compounded the problems from that disaster, which was followed by another wind storm on February 11, 2009. As well as the current economic climate.

Even though rates are likely to rise, as independent insurance agents we may be able to find you more affordable coverage. This is because we have access to multiple insurance providers and can quote prices from several sources so that you can pick the plan that is right for you. Be sure to contact us if you feel you are paying too much. We offer free price quotes!

Power Surge ~ Electronic Appliances

2009-02-16T08:32:00.001-06:00

Something we found out during the recent ice storm of January 27, 2009 and the wind storm of February 11, 2009, is that some companies are starting to exclude coverage for your appliances that are damage as a result of a power surge.

With this new information, we strongly recommend that you purchase surge protectors for all of your major appliances, televisions, and other electronic devices. Depending on your individual needs, there are several types of surge protection devices.

Small basic unit that usually plugs into one outlet and has one to three places to plug in your device.
Medium unit that usually plugs into two outlets and will have up to six places to plug in your device.
Power Strip that usually has eight to ten places to plug in your devices, spot for telephone protection, along with cable protection.

Not only will you protect your devices, but you will minimize your potential for loss. This can save you money and if your company covers power surges, it will save your company money, which can keep your insurance premium cost down.

Insuring Personal Electronic Articles (iPhone)

2009-02-12T18:35:00.003-06:00

A client/policyholder that lost his iPhone this week unfortunately found out that an unendorsed homeowners’ policy usually does not cover losing or misplacing an iPhone (or any electronic device).

Contrary to what the Apple and ATT representatives said in comfort last evening when the iPhone was reported missing, it is NOT covered most the time if you lose, misplace or break it.

Homeowners' policies do cover electronic devices (including the iPhone) for such losses as fire, theft—but just plain ole losing or misplacing an iPhone is not covered.

If the iPhone was covered under one of the above perils the deductible (usually around $500) would apply.

So how can we go about getting electronic devices covered without having to first meet a deductible? Insurance for electronic devices can be added to the homeowners’ policy like we do for jewelry, cameras, coin collections and firearms. The cost usually approximately between $30 and $50 per year and varies per company. Most all* of our partner companies allow us to individually list and insure these electronic devices.

Once an item is scheduled on a homeowners’ policy no deductible will apply to the loss.

Please contact us if you would like more information about scheduling coverage for your electronic equipment.

*Special Note: Our company partner State Auto Insurance does not currently have a way to insure these electronic items unless the client has the Prime of Life endorsement, which includes "cellular phone coverage".

State auto will have a rate and form change in September 2009, there will be a way to specifically insure these at that point. There will also be coverage available for GPS devices.

InsWeb Blog about this issue

Ice Storm – Frequently Asked Questions

2009-02-04T11:31:00.001-06:00

Always keep in mind that your policy is the sole source of what is covered and what is NOT covered. This document is just used as a simple guide to use as a reference. All claim situations are different.

1: I purchased a generator, is it covered? Some companies are paying a portion of the cost of the generator and some policies will pay for the fuel for the generator if there is direct damage at your home. You will have to direct this question to your adjuster.

2: I had to stay in a motel/hotel because I had not power, is it covered? Possibly, if there is direct damage to your home that made it unlivable. If not, then there is No coverage.

3: I had a tree fall down in my yard, is it covered? For the majority of the homeowners’ it is not covered. There are some policies that offer limited coverage for tree debris removal for trees in the open.

4: I had a tree fall on my house/fence/garage/across my driveway, is it covered? Yes, up to the limits in your policy. Your adjuster will be able to discuss this with you in more details.

5: I had a tree fall on my neighbors property. Am I responsible for this? No, however if you want to remain a good neighbor, you may offer to help clean up the mess. Your insurance will not cover their damage.

6: I lost all of the food in my refrigerator/freezer, is it covered? Some policies offer additional coverage for this, most do not. We can let your adjuster discuss this with you in more detail.

7: A tree limb fell on my car, is it covered? Yes if you have comprehensive coverage and your deductible would apply. No if you do not.

8: A tree limb pulled the electric from my home and shorted out my tv & other electronics, are they covered? Yes, and your deductible would apply. Plus you would have some debris removal coverage for the tree limb.

9: What is the role of the Agent in claims? Our role is to take down details of the loss, record those details, and submit to company.

10: What is the role of the Adjuster in claims? Their role is to determine the coverage provided by the policy and it's endorsements, then to pay accordingly.

11: Does Vaughn Insurance want our pictures emailed to them? We would prefer that you keep all photographs. Basically all the damages are looking the same. Please keep the photographs in a safe place, we might need them later if there is a question about your claim.

12: What do I do with all of my estimates/receipts? We will be happy to fax or email your estimates & receipts to the adjuster.

Click here to read the press release from the Kentucky Department of Insurance. This was published in The Gleaner 02/05/2009.

Electricians, Tree Trimmers, Contractors, & Roofers

2009-02-03T15:15:00.003-06:00

We have tried to compile a list of reputable contacts to handle your needs. There are more than we can list to be found in the yellow pages of the local phone book. On the ones we know are insured, we have marked verified. We highly recommend that you know the person working for you is fully insured. If not and something happens, you could be held responsible.

We just heard from one of the electricians that we contacted that if you don’t have a licensed (for your state) electrician do your repair work, the utility company is not hooking up your service. So you may end up paying twice.

Electrician

Schriber Electric 270.827.4050 (verified)

Mr. Electric 270.831.6533 (verified)

Caton Electric 270.827.9764 (verified)

Galloway Electric 270.826.1224

Owens Electric 270.826.2131 (verified)

Demar Electric 270.827.0326

Greg Burris (verified) 270.860.2271

Tree Trimmers

Todd Clary (verified) 270.577.7833

Four J’s Home Improvement 270.860.6102

Pioneer Tree & Landscape Inc. (out of Missouri) 612.860.5327

Poor Boy's 270.826.9949

Anthony's/Carlisle's 270.826.5981

Tri-State 800.870.9251

Coy's 270.577.7335

Out on a Limb 615.771.8733

Contractors / Roofers

Parker Custom Homes 270.827.8742 (verified)

Nu-Look Restoration 270.724.1111

Schreiner Roofing 270.827.5544

Servpro Restoration 270.683.1888

B & N Construction 270.577.9780

Clyde Littrell & Son Roofing 270.533.9800

Ace Roofing 270.826.1037

If you feel you have been a victim of price gouging, contact:

Office of the Kentucky Attorney General
Office of Consumer Protection
1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 200
Frankfort, KY 40601
phone 502.696.5389
fax 502.573.8317

Generator Basics

2009-02-02T11:19:00.001-06:00

A generator is a device powered by Gasoline, Diesel, Natural Gas, or LP Gas, that will provide electricity to your home. Generators can be portable or stationary and that will depend on the space you have for the generator.

Gasoline models are the least expensive to buy, but have short run times and will need to be filled often. In our recent widespread power outage, gasoline was hard to find, due to many of the stations not having electricity to pump the gasoline. So you may need to consider this in your purchase.

We also found this to be a problem with LP Gas. There was such a run on LP Gas for portable heaters & generators that a lot of the local providers did not have enough to supply the demand. You should be willing to put a large LP Gas tank in your yard if you consider this as an option for your generator.

The generators that can be hooked up to natural gas can provide continuous power since they are hooked up to an external fuel source. They to have their drawbacks, depending on the disaster. An earthquake could rupture gas lines, leaving no fuel to supply your generator.

Do your research and talk to a qualified electrician to determine your needs and how they can be met. Be safe.

Refrigerated Products Safety

2009-02-01T13:16:00.000-06:00

If you lose electricity, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Your refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if it's unopened. A full freezer will keep an adequate temperature for about 48 hours if the door remains closed.

Food in the refrigerator should be thrown away if the power has been off for more than 4 hours or if food is warmer than 41 degrees Farenheit.

Frozen food should be thrown away if it has thawed. Do not re-freeze thawed food.

Keep the refrigerator temperature at or below 40° F (4° C). The freezer temperature should be 0° F (-18° C). Check temperatures periodically. Appliance thermometers are the best way of knowing these temperatures and are generally inexpensive.

Refrigerator/freezer thermometers may be purchased in the housewares section of department, appliance, culinary, and grocery stores. Place one in your refrigerator and one in your freezer, in the front in an easy-to-read location. Check the temperature regularly.

Follow this link for more information on food safety: http://www.hawkeyechapter.org/Publications/PowerOutageFoodSafety.pdf

Need Electric Service Repaired in Henderson KY?

2009-01-28T16:30:00.000-06:00

It seems that many people will be needing to contact an electrician in Henderson KY.

Below is a listing (in no particular order) of Electricians that are in the Henderson Phone book:

Mr. Electric 270.831.6533

Parven Schriber Electric 270.860.1603

Galloway Electric 270.826.1224

Owens Electric 270.826.2131

Jameson Electric 270.826.6386

Caton’s Electric 270.827.9764 (Think they are same as Mr. Electric)

Demar Electric 270.827.0326

Ice Storm Causes Entire City to be "Under state of Emergency"

2009-01-28T08:00:00.001-06:00

Due to the entire county of Henderson Kentucky (KY) being under a state of emergency our physical office is closed today.

We do offer multiple client service options for our clients to communicate with our agency:

1. Telephone: Our main switchboard line 270.827.3505 is staffed by licensed agents awaiting your calls to answer questions about claims.

2. Internet: We maintain client chat services with a live licensed agent at www.govaughn.com/chat, please click this link and speak to a agent via internet chat

3. Direct Report: All of our partner companies offer direct reporting of emergency claims see our claims page on our internet site for those numbers.

Things to remember if you have a claim situation from this ice/snow storm.

1. Do everything possible to keep the damages from becoming worse than what they are presently

2. If you have power lines down. Stay away and call power company or 911

3. All claims relating to ice/snow are subject to homeowners policy deductible which is usually $500 or $1000.

Our agency is a Trusted Choice agency! Click Here for Our pledge to you our client- and we take it seriously!

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Claim Situations so far:

Trees Down, Utility Connection pulled from house, car slid off in ditch, Broken windshield from fallen tree.