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Winter Claims We See Every February (And How to Avoid Them)

A woman covering her head with her light blue beanie.

By Lorie Ham

February may be the month of love and warm feelings because of Valentine’s Day, but it can also be very cold and wet as winter has its final burst before spring. This cold, wet, and in some places snowy, time of year can also bring with it the potential for problems and accidents caused by the weather, so it’s a good idea to do what you can do avoid those issues. Especially issues that can be bad enough to lead to an insurance claim, whether for your home or your car.

So, what are some of the most common types of insurance claims this time of year? “I think the common claims we see in the winter (depending on where one lives) are chimney fires (more in rural areas in the Northwest), frozen pipes (in areas subject to extreme cold which are often secondary homes in the mountains where people are gone for an extended time), and windstorm/rain,” says Kevin Lucke, President/CEO of Mennonite Aid Plan/Mennonite Insurance Services.

Kevin also shares some tips for avoiding some of those claims for your home or business:

  1. Have chimneys and woodstoves cleaned on regular basis
  2. Have roofs serviced/cleaned to remove moss build-up to reduce the possibility of leaking roofs
  3. Have trees trimmed to reduce the possibility of them falling on to homes
  4. Maintain adequate heat in homes and if you are going to be gone for more than a few days, have someone occasionally come over to check on things
  5. Cover outdoor plumbing items (hose bibs) to keep them from freezing

“Those of course are related to property,” continues Kevin. “For auto, roads get slick due to rain or ice, and it is not always easy to see.” 

For drivers who are operating in inclement weather (cold, ice, snow, heavy rain etc.), here are some more recommendations:

  1. Reduce speed
  2. Eliminate distractions (like texting while driving)
  3. Ensure tires have adequate tread
  4. Ensure that you have chains or studded tires
  5. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination

Ready.gov also has some great tips, and links to resources, to help you prepare for cold winter weather. One such link provides information specifically on winter storms. According to their website, sixty-three percent of temperature-related deaths are attributable to cold exposure, home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, and winter is when most home fires happen. Travel during the winter has unique risks, especially if you travel by car.

So make sure you are prepared for whatever winter weather you may encounter each year, not only to help keep yourself and your family safe, but to look out for your community as well. Making certain you have the insurance coverage you need in case something bad does still happen, is part of being prepared. Mennonite Insurance/Mennonite Aid is happy to answer any of your questions at (559) 638-2327.

Why Is Insurance Getting So High?

a series of wooden house models of increasing height, arranged in a bar graph-like structure, with a blue upward arrow indicating growth or rising values, symbolizing increasing property or housing market trends.

By Lorie Lewis Ham

Prices on everything in our lives seem to keep going up these days, and this includes the price of insurance—whether it be for your car or your home.

According to an article in USA Today, the average auto insurance rate in the U.S. is expected to go up by 7.5% in 2025, as stated in a recent analysis by MarketWatch Guides. The hikes will add an average $182 to the average annual full-coverage premium nationwide, raising it to $2,615 from $2,433. Drivers in several states face increases of at least $200. An increase in national disasters such as floods, wildfires, and hurricanes are to blame for a lot of the increase. Also, the shortage of vehicle parts, skilled auto repair workers, and supply chain problems that have continued since early in the COVID pandemic.

Not only are national disasters an issue because cars may need to be repaired or replaced more often, but also the cost of parts needed continues to go up. An article on Noble Quote.com states that inflation is hitting the auto industry hard and has touched every aspect of the auto world. Labor and parts costs have gone up significantly. Tariffs are also playing a part in that rise of costs. Another factor, is that cars are more expensive and complicated to fix as the technologies in newer cars require more specialized diagnostics and repairs, hence higher labor costs. Freeman Insuranceservices.com says for example, repairing an EV often involves more labor hours and expensive parts compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

Homeowners insurance is also facing an increase in cost. According to Trusted Choice.com, home insurance has increased by an average of 21% across the U.S. in the last couple of years. Some of the reasons for the increase include the same things that made car insurance go up, such as an increase in national disasters, including wildfires in some areas of the country like California. Speaking of California, it is one of the many areas where a lot of insurance companies have stopped writing coverage because they are high risk areas. As natural disasters worsen and become more frequent, some home insurance companies just aren’t willing to continue writing policies in the states that are deemed high-risk.

Trusted Choice.com goes on to state that another factor is that the construction industry has also seen a labor shortage. In August of 2024, there were 368,000 construction job openings in the U.S., which was an increase of 138,000 from the previous month. This number was more than double that expected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also, just like with cars, inflation and supply chain issues have made the cost of repairing or rebuilding a home much more expensive.

The rise in insurance rates has been going on for a while now. According to an article on Lending Tree.com, home insurance rates climbed 40.4% cumulatively across the U.S. over six years.Rates stayed relatively level from 2019 through 2021, with the biggest jump of 3.0% in 2021. They have since risen faster, with increases of 5.4%, 11.0% and 11.4% in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.

While this continued rise in insurance rates may be concerning to the consumer, just like any other business, insurance companies can’t afford to lose money. So, with the rising costs of repairing your home and car, insurance rates also have to go up.

There are a few things consumers can do to combat some of the rising costs of insurance. In a recent CNBC.com article, they share seven ways to lower car insurance. These include shopping around, paying your premium annually if you are able, bundling your car and home insurance, and being aware of any discounts you may qualify for. Kinplinger suggests many of the same things for reducing your home insurance, such as bundling and asking about any discounts you might qualify for. There may also be discounts available through organizations you belong to. Implementing simple home upgrades can often lead to savings on your homeowners insurance premiums as well, and you can lower your deductibles.

Mennonite Insurance Services is here to answer any of your questions about your insurance, and to help you see if there are ways you can bring the costs down. You can contact them at (559) 638-2327.

Summer Safety Prep

Illustration of a person inspecting a fire extinguisher next to a checklist, representing fire safety and inspection.

By Lorie Lewis Ham

Summer is nearly here. In some areas of the country, it already feels like summer thanks to the high temperatures. If you haven’t had the chance already, now is the time to prepare yourself for the summer heat, and also for the summer wildfire season in some areas.

HGTV has several tips for getting your house ready for summer. One tip is to spruce up your front door by making sure the weather stripping is in place and by tightening hinges in case anything shifts due to the temperature change. It is also a good idea to give your windows a similar check to make certain they are ready to help keep the heat out, and perhaps give them a nice cleaning (the article includes some good window cleaning suggestions). They also recommend checking on the sprinklers, and cleaning out your gutters.

According to a recent article on Kiplinger, the Farmers’ Almanac’s summer 2025 forecast states that most regions in the United States can expect the hottest temperatures in recorded history. The article has several more suggestions on how to prepare for that heat, including an HVAC tune-up, making sure you have clean air filters in the AC, setting your ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise, plugging air leaks, and aerating your lawn.

The American Red Cross has good tips on how to keep yourself and those you love safe from the summer heat. They include obvious ones such as never leaving kids or pets in a hot car, and making sure that you stay hydrated. It is also a good idea to avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine as they can dehydrate you. Other good tips are to wear loose fitting and light colored clothing, avoid strenuous activity and exercise during the hottest part of the day, and take frequent breaks when you have to work outdoors.

For those who don’t have or can’t afford to use air conditioning, many areas have cooling centers available during the day. A cooling center is an air-conditioned public or private space opened up to the public to temporarily provide relief from extreme hot weather conditions. They not only provide a cool place to be in while it’s hot, some even provide water. One common type of cooling center are public libraries. The National Center for Healthy Housing has links to cooling centers across the United States.

In many areas, especially California, summer also brings more wildfires. Cal Fire states that one crucial thing you can do for your home’s wildfire safety is to create defensible space. Defensible space is the buffer zone you create between your property and the surrounding wildland area. This space is key to slowing or stopping wildfire spread and protecting your home from embers, flames, or heat. It also provides firefighters with a safer area to defend your property. Defensible space is divided up into zones, and the intensity of vegetation management increases as you get closer to your home, with the goal of starting at your house and working outward up to 100 feet or to  your property line. This includes fire-safe landscaping. Cal Fire also has a list to go through with defensible space and home gardening actions you can take to help protect your home. These include removing all combustible materials in a five feet area around your home, removing all dead or dying plant materials within 30 feet of all structures or to the property line, and store combustible outdoor furnishings.

Another good thing to check on as we come into summer, especially if you live in an area where wildfires are a concern, is your insurance coverage. Mennonite Insurance Services would be happy to answer any questions you might have in that area (559) 638-2327.

Here’s to a happy and safe summer!

Do You Need Flood Insurance?

A flooded living room with water covering the floor. A beige sectional sofa with cushions and throw pillows is partially submerged, surrounded by wooden bookshelves filled with books, plants, and framed pictures. An open book floats on the water in the foreground, with a large window showing a view of trees outside.

By Lorie Ham

Lately it feels like there has been one disaster after another—fires, hurricanes, floods, volcanos, etc. How do you protect yourself and your property when these things happen? In past articles, we have talked about different types of safety, but we haven’t talked about floods and who might need flood insurance.

According to Kevin Lucke, President/CEO of Mennonite Aid Plan/Mennonite Insurance Services, anyone who lives in a flood area should consider buying flood insurance. “Floods happen frequently enough and damages can be substantial.” Typically, homeowners insurance excludes coverage for loss due to flood or surface water.

A recent article on Realtor.com, states that many U.S. homes lie within flood zones and a lot of homeowners aren’t properly aware of the risks or prepared to take them on. It also states that most homes in high-risk flood zones are near a body of water, and yet more than 20% of flood-related home insurance claims happen in non-flood zones.

One way to determine whether you are in a flood zone is by using flood maps. Flood maps, known officially as Flood Insurance Rate Maps, show areas of high- and moderate- to low-flood risk. FEMA is a good resource when you are trying to determine if you are in a flood zone. FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) is the official source for National Flood Insurance Program flood hazard information,  produced in support of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). You can use the MSC to find your official flood map, access a range of other flood hazard products, and take advantage of tools for better understanding flood risk. Simply type in your address on the Flood Center webpage. If you live in an area with low or moderate flood risk, you are still five times more likely to experience a flood than a fire in your home over the next 30 years.

So you have accessed your risk of flooding and feel that flood insurance is a good idea, how do you go about getting flood insurance? “Most individuals can work through their insurance agent to procure flood insurance, or they could call the National Flood Insurance Program,” states Lucke.

There are also things you can do to help mitigate the damage done by floods. Property Wire has a list of eight things you can do. These include planting trees, installing water storage areas, building water diversions, water pumps, and floodgates. Floodgates are barriers and gates installed around your home, to doors, windows, and other openings, which would otherwise let in floodwater. The floodgates provide a water-tight barrier so no water can enter the house.

However, FEMA says, before you mitigate know your risk. Meeting National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements is the most cost-effective way to reduce the flood risk to new buildings and infrastructure, and FEMA provides tools and resources to help communities navigate NFIP requirements and implement higher standards of floodplain management. State and federal agencies, tribal governments, local communities, and property owners have a role in reducing flood risk and helping communities become more resilient. Everyone can play a part in making communities safer and more resistant to flood disasters.

If you have questions about flood insurance, Mennonite Insurance Services is happy to help. Just call (559) 638-2327.

Tips To Keep Those You Love Safe

A big white, lit, candle. there are three tea light candles around the big candle. there is an open book in the background with smoke filling the scene.

By Lorie Lewis Ham

According to Drive Research, 52% of Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day. While many of those celebrations are romantic, it is also a perfect time to celebrate the love we have for our family. One way to show that love is by keeping them safe. This is something that has become an even greater concern with the multitude of fires and severe weather that have been occurring lately.

There are many ways that we can help keep our families safe when they are away from home. You can make sure any family member who drives has proper driver safety training. You can remind them not to stay out in the heat or cold too long when there are extreme temperatures, and that they are properly dressed for the weather. It is also a good idea for them to have a cell phone so they can call for help in an emergency.

But what about when they are home? Are there things you can do to make your home a safer place? The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development has a long list of tips. Here are a few of them:

  1. Properly storing poisons and medications—making certain no one will take them by mistake and that they are out of the hands of children and pets.
  2. Install Carbon Monoxide and smoke detectors in your home.
  3. Make sure you have a family escape plan.
  4. Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of children’s reach, and never smoke in bed, as that is the leading cause of fire-related deaths.
  5. Keep anything that can catch fire away from fireplaces, heaters, and radiators. Replace frayed electrical wires.
  6. Take care to avoid kitchen fires and burns. Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Turn pot handles toward the inside of the stove so children cannot grab them. Install ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in kitchens and bathrooms.
  7. Set water-heater thermostats below 120 degrees F (50 degrees C).
  8. Learn CPR and First Aid. Have a First Aid Kit on hand.
  9. Have a locked fence around your pool if you have small children or pets.
  10. Keep electric appliances away from water.

Safety Talk Ideas.com lists three eye-opening safety statistics relating to home safety. There were an estimated 1.1 million burglaries that occurred in the U.S. in 2019. Approximately 12,000 children and young adults die from unintentional injuries each year. There are over 350,000 home structure fires per year in the United States (this year may be higher due to the recent devastating fires in Southern CA). Their website also includes some more great home safety tips, such as installing a smart doorbell, installing locks and sensors on windows, and a deadbolt on doors. They also suggest buying a delivery box protection system because so many packages are stolen these days off doorsteps and out of regular mailboxes. Products such as secure package delivery boxes can help to secure your packages. They also suggest getting a home security system. ConsumerAffairs.com offers a list of what they consider to be the top six security companies and a checklist to go through to find the one that best meets your needs.

Ready.gov offers suggestions on making an emergency plan should you ever need to evacuate. It’s something none of us want to think about, but it is another good way of keeping those you love safe.

Something else to consider when it comes to making your family safe is having the insurance you need. Mennonite Aid Plan/Mennonite Insurance Services is here to help. Now is the perfect time to check your coverage and make sure you have everything you need to protect your home, car, and family. Just call (559) 638-2327 to talk with an agent who will be happy to answer your questions. This Valentine’s Day month let’s do all we can to protect those we love.

Do You Have An Emergency Plan?

A red background with the words "Emergency plan" etched onto two wooden blocks.

By Lorie Ham

With all of the extreme weather and fires happening all over the country right now, it is a good idea to have an emergency plan in case they come your way. Many think those types of emergencies won’t ever happen to them, but one can never really be sure and it is better to be prepared. Fires and storms can move quickly, so you need to be ready if the sheriff comes knocking at your door telling you to evacuate. 

According to a recent article on Fox Weather, by early June, California wildfires had burned 34,394 acres, four times the five-year average amount of land consumed by this time of year. An article on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website states that they are forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher) during hurricane season this year which runs from June through November. Of those, eight to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including four to seven major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). On the West Coast, you also have earthquakes to consider, and with high temperatures all over the country power outages also become a greater concern. 

It would be easy to be stressed about all of this, but it is much better to be proactive and prepared. Cal Fire has a Wildfire Action Plan and many of their points work for other emergencies as well. They include:

  • Have a meeting point: A predetermined meeting location outside high-risk areas to determine who has been evacuated even if you are split up in the process.
  • Plan escape routes: Have several escape routes known to all in your household. Practice these often so everyone knows where to go.
  • Make animal arrangements: Specific arrangements for pets and larger animals, like horses and other livestock.
  • Communication plan: A family communication strategy names someone outside the area to be the main contact point for all family members if you get separated or have trouble with phone networks.

Cal Fire also has a list of the six P’s of Evacuation (a list of important items to take with you) which includes: important papers, prescriptions and other medications and supplements, irreplaceable pictures, personal computer, and plastic (credit and debit cards) and cash. You can also find disaster preparedness plans on the Red Cross website for diverse needs such as for seniors or those with disabilities.

The PG&E website has a great list of things to remember when making an emergency plan. These include having a backup generator in case of power outages (especially if you have medical equipment you can’t do without or live in a high-heat area), make sure you have plenty of non-perishable food and water on hand, flashlights and batteries, and make sure your mobile phones are charged (you can also purchase a portable charger for your phone but make sure it is charged as well). They suggest that you also sign up for outage alerts from PG&E, and know where there are cooling centers and shelters if needed.

Ready.gov has some other great tips for evacuating, such as making sure you have a full tank of gas and an emergency kit in your car. And if you don’t own a car, have a transportation plan. They also recommend having a go-bag and making sure everyone in the house knows where that is. Their website has a checklist of things to include in the go-bag/kit which include items already mentioned here, and things such as a mask to filter out contaminated air, local maps (in case you can’t access GPS), a manual can opener, activities for the kids, hand sanitizer, and a wrench or pliers. 

It is also a good idea to make sure you have the proper insurance coverage in case those disasters impact your homes and property. Mennonite Insurance is happy to answer any of your questions about such coverage (559) 638-2327. Be prepared and be safe!