December 3, 2018 By Pollock Insurance

We are kicking-off our annual food drive supporting the Highline Food Bank and the Highline School Foundation’s Project N.O.W. today! Our goal this year is to help establish a much needed on-site food pantry at Highline Choice Academy, which serves students in grades 7 through 12.

62% of the Highline School District’s student body lives below the poverty line. That equates to over 12,000 students district-wide! Many Highline students have little-to-no food at home, are poverty-stricken and in some cases homeless or are in transitional housing.

Project N.O.W. is a program that supports Highline Public School’s most vulnerable students with a free backpack full of food to take home for the weekend, and an on-site food pantry at each school they’re able to serve. The program was started by a small team of individuals, including Highline District employees and community volunteers, who recognized the urgency in helping our students struggling with hunger.

Last year, through your generosity, we were able to help establish on-site food pantries at both Evergreen and Tyee High Schools! Project N.O.W. is currently able to serve the following schools:

High Schools: Highline, Mt. Rainier, Tyee, Evergreen, and New Start
Middle School: Sylvester
And Elementary Schools: Gregory Heights, Seahurst, Cedarhurst, and Hilltop.

The most important needs continue to be shelf stable foods, such as:

macaroni & cheese
soups
peanut butter & jelly
protein bars
cereals
juice boxes (100% juice)
snacks (fruit snacks, crackers, individual cereal, etc.)

The Foundation will also gladly accept tax-deductible cash donations and gift certificates for stores such as Costco, Safeway, and Grocery Outlet. This allows them to purchase perishables on a weekly basis including milk, eggs, and some meat.

We will happily collect your donations (suggested items listed below), at our office Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm., or you can shop The Foundation’s Amazon wish list!

This year the food drive will run through January 31^st, 2019.

2018-19 Food Program Needs

Breakfast Foods:
Instant Oatmeal
Mini box of cereal
Protein / Energy / Breakfast / Granola Bars
Shelf-stable milk

Lunch/Dinner Foods:
Mac n Cheese cups
Cup of Noodles
Top Ramen
Canned Chili, Ravioli, or Spaghetti
Canned Soup
Fruit cup
Apple sauce cup
Peanut butter
Jelly
Canned meat (tuna, chicken, etc.)
Other easy-to-prepare meal items

Snacks:
Fruit Snacks or fruit roll-ups
Individual packets of crackers
Crackers & cheese
Crackers & PB
Other Healthy, Shelf-stable Snack Items

Beverages:
Water Bottles
Juice Boxes

Personal Hygiene:
Shampoo
Conditioner
Bars of Soap or liquid soap
Feminine Hygiene products

Other ideas:
Gift cards to grocery stores (for purchase of perishable items)

June 3, 2016 By Pollock Insurance

Firefighters battling the Okanogan Complex fire. Photo: Kris Hayes Torgeson.

Key tips to protect your property in the event of a wildfire.

The 2015 wildfire season in Washington State brought unbelievable devastation and loss across the Pacific Northwest. All told from June – September of 2015, over a million acres across the state burned. The season was the largest in state history calling in over 3000 firefighters including those from international departments as well as 800 Washington State National Guard troops. Aside from significant loss and damage to property, tragically 3 U.S. Forest Service firefighters, Tom Zbyszewski, Andrew Zajac and Richard Wheeler lost their lives with four additional firefighters being injured.

Over 170 homes were lost and property losses were estimated to the tune of more than $10 million. Okanogan County alone lost over 90 single family residences, 86 cabins and well over 100 out buildings.

You may be asking yourself what can you do to prepare for an event like this? Here are a few tips from the Washington State Insurance Commissioner’s office that you can do to help prepare and protect your home from fire exposure-

Use fire-resistant roofing or building materials.
Installing a water pump or having access to a nearby water source.
Clear a natural firebreak between your home and outbuildings, trees, bushes and uncut fields.
Review your policy – Check your coverage regularly to make sure it includes adequate replacement coverage, in the event you suffer a loss.
Buy special coverage to protect specific valuables, such as jewelry, fine art, and other items that may have limited coverage under your homeowner policy.
Prepare a Household Inventory.

In addition, don’t rely on Federal Emergency Disaster Assistance. FEMA denied assistance for private wildfire losses in Washington State in three Eastern Washington counties who suffered uninsured losses during the 2015 season.

The good news in all of this is at least 2 carriers contract with Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc. (“WDS”) to help mitigate potential wildfire losses for their customers with homeowners policies. Both Safeco Insurance Company and Mutual of Enumclaw have Wildfire Defense Programs in place to monitor and contact policyholders who have homes in wildfire prone areas. The WDS programs through each carrier typically provide wildfire response services that may include;

Pre-Suppression Services: This is not a first responder service; rather, work is performed in support of local, state and federal responders. Pre-suppression defensive measures may include emergency fuel mitigation, zone sprinkler system setup, fuel break preparation and fire blocking gel application.
Threat Notification: Recurrent monitoring of wildfire activity.
Coordination with Incident Command: The site incident command established by municipal fire departments, state or federal wildfire agencies. Radio communication capabilities include radio cloning to meet IC communications needs.
Policyholder Assistance: Service to policyholders can extend to on-the-ground site visits for pre-mitigation work, evacuation assistance, home inspections and reporting while policyholder is evacuated as well as assistance with re-entry following evacuation.
Government Affairs Support: WDS provides government affairs services to integrate the insurer response program with local, state, and federal wildfire agencies

These services are at no additional premium cost for homeowners policyholders with those carriers however, additional enrollment and waivers for the services may be required. If you have questions about your home, auto or business insurance, or to see if your current policy is applicable to any Wildfire Defense Program call the insurance agents at Pollock Insurance Agency in Burien, WA. Because we’re a Seattle insurance agency, we live where you do so we understand the unique options we have in the Northwest. With years of insurance experience we can easily help you insure everything from your home to your auto or business Insurance. Because we’re an independent insurance agent, we can help you find the right company to fit your needs. You can also check out our website, 24/7.

Sources:http://www.capitalpress.com/Washington/20151023/fema-denies-funds-for-private-wildfire-losses-in-washington, http://wildfire-defense.com/wildfire-response-program/

Cover photo: http://www.khq.com/story/29828564/okanogan-complex-fire-continues-to-burn-evacuations-in-place

November 16, 2015 By Pollock Insurance

Join Pollock Insurance as we help the Trufant Family Foundation on the National Day of Giving!

We are excited to once again be participating with community organizations this holiday season by collecting warm weather gear for this years National Day of Giving to be handed out to our neighbors in need throughout the Puget Sound by the Trufaunt Family Foundation.

The team at Pollock Insurance will be spending it’s staff holiday party at the 11th Annual Marcus Trufant Celebrity Bowling & Billiard Classic at ACME Bowling, Billiards & Events in Tukwila, WA.

In 2014, we proudly participated in the Seahawks Celebrity Waiter Night benefiting the Cyctic Fibrosis Foundation at the Metropolitan Grill in Seattle, WA. We wanted to carry on this tradition of celebration with our staff while partnering with organizations rooted in the betterment of our communities.

The Pollock staff enjoying the 2014 Seahawks Celebrity Waiter Night with Paul Richardson.

The Pollock staff enjoying the 2014 Seahawks Celebrity Waiter Night at the Metropolitan Grill with Paul Richardson.

From now through Tuesday, December 1st, the National Day of Giving, we will be collecting:

Hats
Gloves
Scarves
Socks
Blankets
& Toiletries

Please join us by dropping off any of the above warm weather items at our offices located at 654 South 152nd Street in Burien, WA.

The Trufant Family Foundation’s mission is

to help make dreams come true for disadvantaged youth and their families and to build a personal connection and involvement with individuals and community programs that provide service to people who are most in need. We focus our energies in three major areas to help improve the quality of life for children which include: College scholarships, Youth Football Programs and TruFitness Programs for Children and Adults. We support specific community programs, such as; the Boys and Girls Clubs, Hearts for Kids, and Sickle Cell Camp.

If you have any questions related to your home, auto or business insurance. Be sure to call the insurance agents at Pollock Insurance Agency in Burien, WA. Because we are a Seattle insurance agency, we live where you do so we understand the unique options we have in the Northwest. With years of insurance experience, we can easily help you insure everything from your home to your auto or business Insurance. Because we’re an independent insurance agent, we can help you find the right company to fit your needs. You can also check out our website, 24/7.

October 22, 2015 By Tosten

How to Keep Your Teen Safe on the Road

This week represents National Teen Driver Safety Week. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the leading cause of death of teenagers from 15-19 years old in the United States is auto accidents. In order to decrease these numbers, it’s important for parents to sit down with their children to discuss the dangers of driving.

The National Teen Safety Week goal is to make teens aware of the “5 to Drive” Rules.

Keep in mind, in order for your teenagers to be following these five rules, parents need to be leading by example. If you aren’t following the rules yourself, your teenager won’t take these steps seriously. Educate your teen on the importance of each rule. Give real life scenarios and grim statistics so they understand why the “5 to Drive” is so crucial to follow.

Alcohol

We all know not to drink and drive, but be sure to continue these conversations with your teen. It’s also important to discuss the major consequences of getting into an accident when alcohol is involved such as jail time, a loss of driver’s license and fines. If your teen happens to be in a situation involving alcohol, make a deal that you will pick them up to prevent the dangers of drinking and driving.

Seatbelts

This is such a simple habit to stay safe and it’s the best way to protect yourself! According to NHTSA, 64 percent of all young passengers and teen drivers who didn’t wear a seatbelt died in a motor vehicle accident. Train your teenager to buckle up every single time they get into a vehicle until it becomes a habit!

Texting

We all know the dangers of texting while driving. Distracted driving accidents continue to increase in deaths per year. Coach your teen to put their cell phone away before getting behind the wheel or let the passenger take care of any urgent texting.

Speeding

Teenage drivers learn in driver’s education that every time their speed doubles, their stopping distance quadruples. Be sure to continue this conversation to help them follow the speed limit. In 2013, almost one-third (29 percent) of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were speeding.

Extra Passengers

The more passengers in your teenager’s vehicle, the more risk of a fatal crash. Some states prohibit any passengers from riding in your teenager’s car for a certain period. Check your State’s GDL law to see what your teenage driver needs to follow.

Remember, you will make the biggest impact on your teen’s safety behind the wheel. Show you care about their safety and take about the dangers of driving. Most importantly, follow the five rules yourself. With continued education, you’ll shape your teenager into a responsible driver.

While we can’t keep your teen safe on the road, we can answer any questions related to your home, auto or business insurance. Be sure to call the insurance agents at Pollock Insurance Agency in Burien, WA. Because we are a Seattle insurance agency, we live where you do so we understand the unique options we have in the Northwest. With years of insurance experience, we can easily help you insure everything from your home to your auto or business Insurance. Because we’re an independent insurance agent, we can help you find the right company to fit your needs. You can also check out our website, 24/7.

October 10, 2015 By Tosten

Key Tips to Prevent Mold

Every home in the US is vulnerable to mold damage and now that we’re coming into the cooler winter months, mold can thrive. Mold really needs one thing to grow: moisture.

Protect your home from mold by identifying and eliminating sources of moisture. Moisture can enter your home through many different areas including:

Damaged roof flashing
Damaged or worn out shingles
A downspout that is not properly setup to push water away from your home or foundation
A leaky pipe
Condensation from your laundry, shower or kitchen
A crawl space with no vapor barrier or an improperly installed vapor barrier
Single pane windows that are sweating
Seeping up through the floor

Eliminating these common problems is fairly simple. Identifying where the issues are coming from are sometimes more tricky as water can travel great distances before it makes it mark known. Look for mold on walls, around windows and in the corners of a room. Sometimes mold can grow under your carpet on cement slabs so if your basement smells moldy, that would be a good place to check.

There are many ways to remove moisture from your home. In bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens, install exhaust fans to remove excess moisture from laundry, showers and cooking. Without these fans, moisture can seep upwards and into your attic producing another hidden problem. A fan will quickly pull the excess moisture out of the room. Be sure to closely look at the size of the fan you install because a fan that is too small for the room may not even make a difference.

If moisture is entering your home through your crawlspace, a simple visual inspection can be completed. First, look to see if a vapor barrier exists (a black plastic). Make sure it is covering the entire surface, goes up over any pier blocks and extends to the edges of your foundation. If it doesn’t, consider a quick weekend project to remedy the issue.

If you have questions about your home, auto or business insurance, call the insurance agents at Pollock Insurance Agency in Burien, WA. Because they’re a Seattle insurance agency, they live where you do so they understand the unique options we have in the Northwest. With years of insurance experience they can easily help you insure everything from your home to your auto or business Insurance. Because they’re an independent insurance agent, they can help you find the right company to fit your needs. You can also check out their website, 24/7.

September 23, 2015 By Tosten

Be Prepared with a Custom-Built Supplies Kit.

Fall is a great time to consider disaster preparedness and to take a look at your family’s emergency kit. While disasters can happen anywhere, whether natural or man-made, it is important that your family be prepared.

For many, the thought of having a disaster preparedness kit in their home seems silly and unnecessary. The fact of the matter is that every state in our country is susceptible to a natural disaster such as an earthquake, tornado or hurricane, flood or even a volcanic eruption. Preparing for one of these events can be quick and inexpensive, but also a great time to educate your family about safety during one of these events.

The basic home preparedness kit, according to ready.gov should include:

Water – 1 gallon per person, per day. Minimum 3 day supply.
Food – non-perishable food such as canned tuna, canned fruits & vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, low sodium crackers, soups. Also, dry mixes that do not require refrigeration. Store food in tightly closed containers to extend it’s shelf life and protect from pests. Change food & water supplies every six months to keep fresh supplies.
Battery powered radio for emergency information
Flashlight with extra sets of batteries. (Consider an LED flashlight that requires much less energy to use)
First aid kit
Whistle to signal for help
Dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal off an area from contaminants
Moist towelettes for simple hygiene
A manual can opener and pocket knife
Cell phone w/ solar charger of some sort

Additional items could include prescription medicines, diapers, pet food and blankets. Keep this kit in a designated area where your entire family can easily find it.

September 1, 2015 By Tosten

How Technology Can Keep Your Home Claims-Free!

We touched a couple weeks back on how simple pieces of technology can keep your home safe from burglary. Well, wouldn’t it be great if technology could help us avoid other claims like water damage, fire & freezing damage? It is!

Technology for the home has taken huge steps in the past 5 years. In fact, most everything in a home can be controlled by a mobile device and an installed home router (Wi-Fi). Implement some of these do-it-yourself items into your home to help you avoid an insurance claim:

Thermostats: Not only does a smart thermostat help you reduce your energy consumption, you can now monitor the home temperature while away on vacation. We all know someone who has experienced a frozen pipe that caused water damage. Typically this is because the thermostat wasn’t on and a cold-snap came through. Smart thermostats allow you to adjust the temperature through a Wi-Fi signal even while you’re abroad.

Smart Garage Door Openers: I think we’ve all come back home and noticed we left the garage door open all night, or even left the house only to reach your destination and think… did I leave my garage door open? Smart garage door openers work with your Wi-Fi system to notify you if the door is open or closed. You can then close it from your mobile device ensuring your items stay safe and sound.

Water sensors: Water sensors alert to you when water is standing on the floor. A great place to install a water sensor is behind a toilet, near a dishwasher and behind your refrigerator if you have a water/ice maker. Water sensors can be synced up with your existing alarm system or are available in a Wi-Fi version which at this time run around $60 each.

Smart Smoke Alarms: Smoke alarms are really the first line of defense for fires and smoke damage. Often times a fire will smolder, but the resulting smoke damage can be just as damaging. Smoke alarms, like water sensors, can be obtained by your existing home security company and tied in. Additionally, smoke alarms can be tied into your Wi-Fi alerting you if something is awry at home while you’re way.

Smart Locks: “Did you lock the front door when we left? No, I was carrying the suitcase.” Fortunately, door locks are available in a Wi-Fi enabled where you can simply lock and unlock your front door via a battery and Wi-Fi signal. Unlocked front doors are now a thing of the past.

Humidity Monitors: High humidity is another sign that you have water in your home. When humidity rises it can wreak havoc on your home. Humidity sensors come in all sorts of devices including your thermostat, furnace and even some home video monitors like the aforementioned Canary device we mentioned in our blog about home security. If the humidity is extra high, this may be a sign that water is leaking somewhere.

If technology is your thing, consider some of these options! For most people, insurance is not. Fortunately if you have questions about your home or renters insurance, call the insurance agents at Pollock Insurance Agency in Burien, WA. Because they’re a Seattle insurance agency, they live where you do so they understand the unique options we have in the Northwest. With years of insurance experience they can easily help you insure everything from your home to your auto or business Insurance. Because they’re an independent insurance agent, they can help you find the right company to fit your needs. You can also check out their website, 24/7.

August 18, 2015 By Tosten

How to Protect Your Home While Away

Ah, summer. A time where we enjoy the great outdoors and most often take our vacation for the year. Whether you’re traveling close to home on a short camping trip or headed off to Europe with the drones of other tourists, keeping your home safe while you’re away can be as simple as not doing anything differently. Ponder these points to keep your home safe from burglary while on vacation:

Social Media:

It is best to keep the details of your vacation until you get back from your trip. Far too often people divulge the details of their trip prior to leaving. You may as well put a sign on the door that says “nobody home.” Post your pictures and narrative when you get back so burglars don’t know you’re gone.

Neighbors

Most people get along great with their neighbors and help each other out while away on vacation by checking the mail, removing newspapers from the driveway and putting out the trash. Make sure you tell your neighbors when you’re leaving town so they can keep a watchful eye out for any strange activity.

Technology

Americans love their technology. Home security systems have come a long way since and you no longer need a monitored home security device. Consider options like Canary. A home video surveillance system that sends you a text when there is motion detected at your home. You can then pull it up and watch a live video stream allowing you to record the activity as well as call police.

Another simple piece of technology is an outlet timer. These small devices can turn on and off lights throughout your house throughout the night making it appear that someone is home. At about $9.00 each, a very inexpensive security option. You can set them up in different rooms to make it look like you’re moving around the house. To keep it efficient, use LED bulbs in your lamps you intend to leave running throughout the night.

There are many other things you should do while heading off for vacation. Following these simple tips can help you avoid a costly insurance burglary and losing items that simply can’t be replaced. If you have questions about your home or renters insurance, call the insurance agents at Pollock Insurance Agency in Burien, WA. Because they’re a Seattle insurance agency, they live where you do so they understand the unique options we have in the Northwest. With years of insurance experience they can easily help you insure everything from your home to your auto or business Insurance. Because they’re an independent insurance agent, they can help you find the right company to fit your needs. You can also check out their website, 24/7.

August 4, 2015 By Tosten

Insuring Comic Books, Fine Art, Antiques & More

So, you’ve got an Amazing Fantasy #15 comic book – the first appearance of Stan Lee’s Spider Man in a safe from when you were just a kid. What you probably know is that this item can be worth tens of thousands of dollars, but what you probably don’t understand is what happens if that item is lost, stolen or destroyed by a disaster in your home.

Many of us acquire valuable items from inheritance, being collectors or investment purposes throughout our lives. Perhaps you received a valuable old watch, or received an expensive engagement ring. Often time people assume that these collectibles will simply be covered by your standard home insurance policy as a covered item. What is important to understand about insuring these items is that your standard home insurance policy has specific limits for these valuable items. Typically around $1500, but this amount varies between companies. So, if you have a watch worth $10,000 you’ll have a gap of $8500. What you need to talk to your insurance agent about is getting something called a “floater.” A floater is a type of insurance policy that allows you to insure a specific item. One way to remember a floater is that the items it covers tend to be able to float away (be carried away). Thus, increasing the chances of theft or damage.

Some valuable items to consider adding to a floater include:

Watches
Rings, necklaces and other jewelry
Art
Furs
Historical Documents
Comic Books
Antiques
Expensive electronics

While they may not have an expansive comic book collection or a one-of-a-kind fur coat from the 30’s, if you have questions about your home or renters insurance, call the insurance agents at Pollock Insurance Agency in Burien, WA. Because they’re a Seattle insurance agency, they live where you do so they understand the unique options we have in the Northwest. With years of insurance experience they can easily help you insure everything from your home to your auto or business Insurance. Because they’re an independent insurance agent, they can help you find the right company to fit your needs. You can also check out their website, 24/7.

July 23, 2015 By Tosten

Tips to Consider Before Renting a Moving Truck

Every time you rent a moving truck, you are faced with the question, “do you want to buy insurance?” The answer to needing insurance or not really depends solely on the size of the vehicle (in addition to what coverage you currently carry, of course) as well as whether or not it is even a vehicle.

The coverage that the rental car company is selling you is collision and comprehensive coverage and, since this vehicle is replacing your existing one temporarily your most standard auto policies will cover the usage of a temporary replacement vehicle usually up to 10,000 GVW. If a vehicle is over this GVW, it would be excluded from coverage. Additionally, if the cab is separated from the bed, this will also create an exclusion from coverage for most auto insurance policies.

Truck rental companies typically offer four types of coverage:

Damage Waiver: covers you in case of damage to the truck. If you do not purchase this coverage, you are responsible for any and all damage to the vehicle, no matter what the cause. If you decide to decline this coverage, you may be responsible to pay the damages to the truck even if they are not your fault. Something to keep in mind is depending on the extent of the repairs, you may be held responsible for loss of use on the vehicle.
Liability Coverage: covers you in case you hit something or someone. Your auto policy may cover this, but please call us in advance before you rent a vehicle to make sure. Each company is different.
Cargo Coverage: Your auto policy will NOT cover any cargo that you are carrying. Period. If you are moving valuables, you may consider this coverage, depending on the values. If you’re moving a mattress or other item that will likely not be damaged, it would probably be wise to save your money, but only you can decide.
Personal Injury Protection: This is a no-fault insurance and can be used anytime you’re involved in a motor vehicle collision, regardless of the motor vehicle you’re traveling in.

With anything, please feel free to call us with questions. This article is meant to be informative, but not a means of advice as every insurance company is a bit different and coverage varies greatly between each carrier. If you have questions about a rental vehicle, please contact our office and speak directly to a licensed agent to ensure that your situation is covered.

Call Us Today | 206-244-3566

How to Keep Your Teen Safe on the Road

Key Tips to Prevent Mold

Be Prepared with a Custom-Built Supplies Kit.

How Technology Can Keep Your Home Claims-Free!

How to Protect Your Home While Away

Social Media:

Technology

Insuring Comic Books, Fine Art, Antiques & More

Tips to Consider Before Renting a Moving Truck

Ask about our Referral Program!

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