Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States, however not all floods are alike. Some floods develop slowly, while others such a flash floods, can develop in just a few minutes and without visible signs of rain. Additionally, floods can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states. Recently Hurricane Sandy terrorized several Eastern states; impacting millions. Flash floods can occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or a sudden release of water held by an ice jam. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water carrying rocks, mud and other debris. Overland flooding, the most common type of flooding event typically occurs when waterways such as rivers or streams overflow their banks as a result of rainwater or a possible levee breach and cause flooding in surrounding areas. It can also occur when rainfall or snowmelt exceeds the capacity of underground pipes, or the capac ...

Small business marketing can be tricky. In just the past 5 years, social media has done wonders for small business marketing. Small businesses can't ignore social media for these reasons: First and foremost, social media is either free or relatively low cost.  Once a strategy is in place, it is not time consuming to update pages. It is possible to reach a large, and if necessary, international audience. Small businesses can network via personal connections or B2B.  Image Credit: http://www.wordtracker.com/attachments/LinkedIn-Logo.png Among social media networks, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ get the most attention by far. If you own or run a small business whose customers are primarily consumers, having a presence on these social networks makes a lot of sense. But there's another social network worth considering -- LinkedIn -- especially for business-to-business (B2B) organizations. LinkedIn is billed as "the world's largest professional network." To some degree, it's ...

The National Cyber Security Alliance has conducted a new study with Symantec to analyze cybersecurity practices, behaviors and perceptions of small businesses (less than 250 employees) throughout the United States. Key facts are listed below: Small Businesses are Increasingly Dependent on the Internet Eighty-seven percent of SMBs have one or more employees who use the Internet for daily operations. Seventy-one percent of SMBs say their business is somewhat or very dependent on the Internet for day-to-day operations, two-thirds (66 percent) of which say they’ve become more dependent on the Internet in the last 12 months. A majority of small business owners (55 percent) say that the loss of Internet access for 48 straight hours during a regular business week would be disruptive to their business – two-fifths (38 percent) of which say it would be extremely disruptive. SMBs Say a Safe, Secure Internet is Important to their Success… Seventy-three percent of SMBs say a ...

Tomorrow nearly 1.6 million residents of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland are expected to participate in a multistate earthquake drill. Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia says many people didn’t know about earthquake safety when a magnitude-5.8 quake hit Louisa County on Aug. 23, 2011. The governor is encouraging all Virginians and surrounding states to participate in the Great SouthEast ShakeOut and learn about earthquake safety. The drill is scheduled for 10:18 a.m. tomorrow.  If you would like to find out more information or register as a participant follow this link:  http://www.shakeout.org/southeast/.   Federal, State, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. Great ShakeOut earthquake drills (www.shakeout.org) are opportunities to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes. ...

Many families gather in the kitchen to spend time together, but it can be one of the most hazardous rooms in the house if you don't practice safe cooking behaviors. Cooking equipment, most often a range or stove top, is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Cooking equipment is also the leading cause of unreported fires and associated injuries. It's a recipe for serious injury or even death to wear loose clothing (especially hanging sleeves), walk away from a cooking pot on the stove, or leave flammable materials, such as potholders or paper towels, around the stove. Whether you are cooking the family holiday dinner or a snack for the children, practicing safe cooking behaviors will help keep you and your family safe. Choose the Right Equipment and Use It Properly Always use cooking equipment tested and approved by a recognized testing facility. Follow manufacturers' instructions and code requirements when installing and operating cooking eq ...

There's good news and bad news if you're a homeowner who's bracing yourself for the annual rise in winter heating costs: The bill won't hurt more this year, but it won't hurt much less. The Energy Information Administration forecasts that the average household heating fuel expenditures this winter will decrease to $928 per household, down from $947 last year. This is the first price drop since the winter of 2001-2002. If you hope to save more than the projected $19, there are many steps you can take. Here are simple steps you can take to slash your home's heating bill. You can often expect to save 20% — and possibly much, much more — on your home heating bill this winter. Turn down the thermostat. "The rule of thumb is that you can save about 3% on your heating bill for every degree that you set back your thermostat" full time, says Bill Prindle, deputy director for the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Turn down the thermostat 10 degrees w ...

Hopefully you all will be joining other families across the United States at planning and practicing an Exit Drill in the Home this week - It could save your child's life. During Fire Safety Week, October 8 - 12, 2011, First Pioneer Insurance Agency and the IIANC are urging families with young children to join Operation EDITH. Did you know?--Home fires and home fire deaths peak in the cooler months. Organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have also compiled safety information as well as research to inform the public of the significance of fire prevention. To learn more interesting fire facts that will have you thinking twice or to take the 2011 Fire Prevention Week Quiz, visit the link provided here! Our Agency Several of our agents across the Southern Pines, Aberdeen and Pinehurst have delivered packets of educational materials to schools throughout the community.  These materials will include coloring books and stickers for the children and informational brochures o ...

We are pleased to announce a 3% dividend will be paid to eligible policyholders in the Growers workers compensation program. The Insurance Company will be mailing the checks directly to you if you qualify. Dividends are based on the claims experience of all participating members. For more information on how growers association members have saved with the Workers Comp program visit our website or speak with one of our agents today. You can find all of our contact info here.

AS a business owner investing may also be something you have your hand in as well. Below are 10 tips on investing and helping your business grow. We would also like to help your business grow. With the risks your business faces every day, you need a successful North Carolina business insurance plan. First Pioneer Insurance Agency can provide that partnership with the right coverage. Evaluating Performance - http://bit.ly/P9dGkn, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Evaluating Risk in Your Portfolio - http://bit.ly/UNjXsT, 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy/American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The Life Stages Series - http://tiny.cc/31ralw, CFP Board. 5 Keys To Investing Success - http://bit.ly/So5lcY, Investor Protection Trust. Researching and Managing Investments - http://tiny.cc/i2ralw, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Balancing Act - http://bit.ly/SnuxEQ, North American Securities Administrators Association. A Simple Valuation Spr ...

Holiday Season Already Underway for Insurers of Seasonal Events Amy O'Connor:  Ready or not, the holidays are right around the corner. And like retail stores and other holiday specialists, insurers are preparing for the holiday rush. This seasonal class can be challenging, especially for those insuring Christmas tree farms and lots for which premiums can be low but claims often severe. However, it is also a reliable market. According to Tom Wilkins, president of Keelson Partners in Portland, Ore., this market has been pretty stable over the last 10 to 15 years. Keelson Partners runs the Christmas Tree Liability Purchasing Group in Portland Ore., which offers liability coverage for Christmas tree farms and growers, including choose-and-cut operators, and retail lots, through Great Northern Insurance Co., a member of the Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. While business tends to be steady, Keelson says there was a bump about three years ago when there was a surprising increase in new Christmas ...