March is Red Cross Month and you can become a HERO when you donate to your local American Red Cross chapter. Morrow Insurance is honored to have our own, Charlie Cranford as campaign chair, Linda Thomas as co-chair and committee members are Joyce Biddix, Carolyn Wilson, Beth Fagan and Chrisitna Dinardo. Donations can be made online at american.redcross.org/heros, click on Support A Hero and type in any of the above names to donate.

About the American Red Cross of Western North Carolina

Since its founding in 1911, the American Red Cross of WNC has been the region’s premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.

Today, the American Red Cross of WNC offers service in four primary areas. Learn our ABCD’s of Service:

A – Armed Forces. The Red Cross provides timely emergency communications services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during times of deployment. Last year the Red Cross of WNC provided services to 439 military members and/or families in the region.

B – Blood Services. In the Carolinas, the Red Cross collects and distributes lifesaving blood products to 100+ hospitals, saving thousands of lives each year. Accident victims, individuals undergoing surgeries and those fighting disease in WNC alone require 1600+ pints of blood every day. Blood donors throughout WNC have access to hundreds of blood drives held throughout a 16 country area to give the gift of life.

C – Classes. Health and Safety services are the hallmarks of the Red Cross. CPR, First Aid, Aquatics, Babysitting, Wilderness First Aid and Pet First Aid are some of the many courses taught by staff and volunteer instructors. In fact, last year, nearly 40,000 individuals throughout WNC received some type of Red Cross instruction. On CPR Saturday, held annually, over 600 individuals were trained in CPR free of charge.

D – Disaster Response. The winters of 2009 – 2010 proved to be two of the most challenging on record in WNC. In response to the numerous snowstorms, power outages and a major landslide, the Red Cross of WNC opened 34 emergency shelters, housed over 2,000 individuals and fed more than 4,000 meals to residents and travelers. Our volunteer Disaster Response Teams also responded to 269 home fires affecting 310 families. Families were provided shelter, food, clothing and emergency funds.

Donate Now

Flooding is the nation’s most common natural disaster. Flooding can happen in every U.S. state and territory. However, all floods are not alike. Some can develop slowly during an extended period of rain, or in a warming trend following a heavy snow. Others, such as flash floods, can occur quickly, even without any visible signs of rain. It’s important to be prepared for flooding no matter where you live, but particularly if you are in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. Even a very small stream or dry creek bed can overflow and create flooding.

Step 1: Get a Kit

Get an Emergency Supply Kit, which includes items like non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries. You may want to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car. This kit should include:

• Copies of prescription medications and medical supplies;
• Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows;
• Bottled water, a battery-operated radio and extra batteries, a first aid kit, a flashlight;
• Copies of important documents: driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.

Step 2: Make a Plan

Prepare your family

• Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
• Plan places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.
• It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
• You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one.
• Be sure to consider the specific needs of your family members
• Notify caregivers and babysitters about your plan.
• Make plans for your pets
• Take a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class from your local Citizen Corps chapter. Keep your training current.
• Purchase a flood insurance policy if you do not already have one or review your current insurance policy to ensure your home and contents are adequately covered. Visit FloodSmart.gov to learn more about individual flood risk, explore coverage options and to find an agent in your area.

Step 3: Be Informed

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a flood hazard

• Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information
• Flash Flood Watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
• Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

Understand Some of the Most Frequent Causes of Flooding:

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes: Hurricanes pack a triple punch: high winds, soaking rain, and flying debris. They can cause storm surges to coastal areas, as well as create heavy rainfall which in turn causes flooding hundreds of miles inland. While all coastal areas are at risk, certain cities are particularly vulnerable and could have losses similar to or even greater than those caused by the 2005 hurricane, Katrina, in New Orleans and Mississippi.

When hurricanes weaken into tropical storms, they generate rainfall and flooding that can be especially damaging since the rain collects in one place. In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison produced more than 30 inches of rainfall in Houston in just a few days, flooding over 70,000 houses and destroying 2,744 homes.

Spring Thaw: During the spring, frozen land prevents melting snow or rainfall from seeping into the ground. Each cubic foot of compacted snow contains gallons of water and once the snow melts, it can result in the overflow of streams, rivers, and lakes. Add spring storms to that and the result is often serious spring flooding.

Heavy Rains: Several areas of the country are at heightened risk for flooding due to heavy rains. The Northwest is at high risk due to La Niña conditions, which include: snow melts, heavy rains, and recent wildfires. And the Northeast is at high risk due to heavy rains produced from Nor’easters.

This excessive amount of rainfall can happen throughout the year, putting your property at risk.

West Coast Threats: The West Coast rainy season usually lasts from November to April, bringing heavy flooding and increased flood risks with it; however, flooding can happen at anytime.

A string of large wildfires have dramatically changed the landscape and ground conditions, causing fire-scorched land to become mudflows under heavy rain. Experts say that it might take years for vegetation to return, which will help stabilize these areas.

The West Coast also has thousands of miles of levees, which are meant to help protect homes and their land in case of a flood. However, levees can erode, weaken, or overtop when waters rise, often causing catastrophic results.

Levees & Dams: Levees are designed to protect against a certain level of flooding. However, levees can and do decay over time, making maintenance a serious challenge. Levees can also be overtopped, or even fail during large floods, creating more damage than if the levee wasn’t even there. Because of the escalating flood risks in areas with levees, especially in the mid-west, FEMA strongly recommends flood insurance for all homeowners in these areas.

Flash Floods: Flash floods are the #1 weather-related killer in the U.S. since they can roll boulders, tear out trees, and destroy buildings and bridges. A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas in less than six hours, which is caused by intense rainfall from a thunderstorm or several thunderstorms. Flash floods can also occur from the collapse of a man-made structure or ice dam.

New Development: Construction and development can change the natural drainage and create brand new flood risks. That’s because new buildings, parking lots, and roads mean less land to absorb excess precipitation from heavy rains, hurricanes, and tropical storms.

Know Your Risks, Know Your Saftey

• Find out if your home is at risk for flood and educate yourself on the impact a flood could have on you and your family. FEMA’s Flood Insurance Study compiled statistical data on river flows, storm tides, hydrologic/hydraulic analyses, and rainfall and topographic surveys to create flood hazard maps that outline your community’s different flood risk areas.
• Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Talk to your insurance provider about your policy and consider if you need additional coverage.
• The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can help provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves if additional coverage is required. The NFIP offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP. To find out more about the NFIP visit www.FloodSmart.gov.

Prepare Your Home

• Elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk.
• Consider installing “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
• If feasible, construct barriers to stop floodwater from entering the building and seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds.
• Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency by visiting www.FoodSafety.gov

Prepare Your Business

Plan to stay in business, talk to your employees, and protect your investment.

• Carefully assess how your company functions, both internally and externally, to determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating.
• Identify operations critical to survival and recovery.
• Plan what you will do if your building, plant or store is not accessible.
• Consider if you can run the business from a different location or from your home.
• Develop relationships with other companies to use their facilities in case a disaster makes your location unusable.
• Learn about programs, services, and resources at U.S. Small Business Administration.

Listen to Local Officials

Learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government. In any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials.

Federal and National Resources

Find additional information on how to plan and prepare for floods, what to do during and after a flood and learn about available resources by visiting the following:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• NOAA Watch
• American Red Cross
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control
• USA Freedom Corps Website
• www.FloodSmart.gov

Spring is on the way, which means that daylight saving time is beginning.

Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 13.

Do you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home? Carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America and these deaths can be avoided by having carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your house. When purchasing a detector, follow all instructions and take note of when it should be replaced.

It is almost planting time and the ground is beginning to thaw. Many of us will be digging in our yards. A handy resource to make sure you don’t get into underground utilities is the new national “Call Before You Dig” phone number (811) designated by the Federal Communications Commission. This number was developed to eliminate the confusion of multiple “Call Before You Dig” numbers because it’s easy to use, remember and it’s the same for every state. It is important to call 811 before digging so that professional excavators and do-it-yourself homeowners are aware of any underground lines buried in the area. This information can help protect people who dig from injury, expense and penalties. Damages to underground lines can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, harm diggers and cost diggers fine and repair costs.

What Happens After Calling 811?

Similar to the current “Call Before You Dig” numbers, all 811 calls will be routed to a local One Call Center and the affected utilities. The utility will then send crews to the location to mark any underground lines for free.

For more information about the 811 call system, visit http://www.call811.com. To download the most current industry Best Practices in connection with preventing damage to underground facilities, go to http://commongroundalliance.com.

Severe Weather Awareness Week

This week is also Severe Weather Awareness week. Governor Bev Perdue in conjunction with the National Weather Service and Department of Crime Control and Public Safety have declared the week of February 27th through March 5th as Severe Weather Awareness week for 2011. All week long the National Weather Service will be issuing informative messages to help you prepare for severe weather. You may also go directly to this site for more information: http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/awareness.htm.

Be safe!

Morrow Insurance Agency dedicated the Robert L. Cranford Memorial Conference Room on February 25, 2011 with a luncheon and dedication.  The conference room can hold up to 40 people for meetings, training sessions and classes.

The Tim Duncan 5K Race is focused on honoring the memory of Tim Duncan. Tim had served as a police officer and worked at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine NC. On April 9th 2011, the Criminal Justice Association will be having a 5K in McDowell County NC. All proceeds from this race will go the Tim Duncan Scholarship Foundation at Mayland Community College.

As many people know, Tim was the husband of Jamie Duncan who is an agent in our McDowell Division office and was killed in a tragic accident on September 20, 2008.

For more information or to register for this event, please visit http://www.timduncan5k.com/

Charlie Cranford has stepped up to lead the Heroes Campaign for the Henderson County Chapter of the Red Cross. It’s the first year for the local chapter to try the fundraiser, which sends out local heroes to collect money to help the Red Cross. The Henderson County Chapter has a goal of $50,000.

“My dad was so involved in the community, and it’s nice following in his footsteps,” Cranford said.

Read the entire article on BlueRidgeNow.com

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20110121/ARTICLES/101211020/1151?Title=Chamber-hails-2010-motivators

Jewel and Roger are prepared to exchange their vows but will murder nix their nuptials?  You can be the one to solve the mystery at Housing Assistance Corporation’s “Murder & Matrimony” dinner fundraiser.

The “Murder & Matrimony” dinner will be held on Friday, February 25^th at 6:00 pm at the Saluda Mountain Jamboree.  Tickets are $65.00 and proceeds benefit Housing Assistance Corporation, a non-profit organization who has provided affordable housing services to our local community for over 20 years.

If you are interested in purchasing tickets for the “Murder & Matrimony” event or in learning more about Housing Assistance’s home repair, homeownership, counseling, or rental programs please contact Noelle McKay at (828)692-4744 ext 101 or email noelle@housing-assistance.com.

Morrow Insurance Agency is a proud sponsor of the HAC Murder and Matrimony dinner.

Morrow Insurance was honored today by the United Way of Henderson County.  We were presented the Live United Award in recognition of engaging the philanthropic philosophy of the United Way of Henderson County to Give. Advocate. Volunteer. during campaign 2010.

We are proud of the time and contributions our employees have given in support of our community.

Winter has been hitting WNC and the Upstate with full force this week.

Here are a few tips for driving safely in the snow.  Remember that icy roads are extremely hazardous and the best thing to do is avoid driving on ice.

Morrow Insurance is scheduled to reopen the office on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 10:30 am, weather permitting.

Employees who can’t make it to the office safely will be accessing their voice mail, e-mail and computers remotely and will be returning your messages as soon as possible.

Morrow Insurance would like to welcome Jamie Duncan back to the McDowell Division office.

Many of our McDowell customers know Jamie and have worked with her for years.  Jamie is looking forward to assisting our current customers and looks forward to meeting new ones.

We would like to to congratulate Tracy Brown for completing the requirements designating her a Certified Insurance Counselor.  The Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation is the undisputed professional credential for insurance agency and company personnel – owners, producers, agents, brokers, underwriters, and marketing personnel.

Morrow Insurance would like to welcome Fay Ryan to the commercial service team.