December Newsletter
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2011 has certainly been a turbulent year when it comes to the number of severe weather events we’ve experienced. Consider the number of tornadoes in the United States from January 1, 2011 through October 20, 2011: it stands at 1,820. Tragically, these tornadoes have killed more than 537 people – mostly in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin, Missouri.
The map below shows the location (in red) of each reported tornado in the United States so far this year. Ohio doesn’t look too bad in comparison to the many of the southern states.
The results are even worse when looking at the number of reports for large hail storms over the same period of time: 9,317. These storms have caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and vehicles.
The map below pinpoints (in green) the locations for the reported hail storms, as determined by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Unfortunately, Ohio has been hit very hard by these hail storms causing millions of dollars of insured losses. Combine this with several consecutive years where many insurance companies have been unprofitable and the only logical conclusion is that home and other property rates will be increasing.
Perhaps one of the most surprising statistics is the number of severe wind storms that have caused serious losses for many home and business owners. The number of wind damage reports through October 20, 2011 is 18,356.
The map below shows the reported wind claims in blue.
These windstorms have been so frequent that nearly the entire State of Ohio has been impacted, again, causing millions of dollars in insured claims.
Adding it all up, there have been 29,493 severe weather reports through October 20, 2011. The map below, perhaps, tells the story best. This depiction shows all the reported tornadoes, large hail storms and severe wind damage storms through October 20, 2011. With the exception of a small area in Southern Florida, the entire Midwest and Eastern part of the United States has been hit by severe weather related losses.
You might be wondering, how will this impact me? My homeowners insurance? What I’m paying? Keep in mind, the whole idea of insurance is to spread the risk of loss over a large number of people. If everyone pays a small amount (the premium) for a significant amount of coverage (the replacement value of your house, for example) then when a small number of people experience a loss, they can be made whole again.
What is unique about 2011 is that such a huge number of people have been hit with some type of weather related claim. Through June of 2011, there have been more than $17.3 BILLION in claims associated with catastrophe losses. This number exceeds the amount for the entire 2010 year. With so many claims being filed, insurance companies have no alternative but to begin increasing the premiums they charge.
Depending on where you live, your homeowner insurance rates could be significantly different. This is because factors out of your control – such as weather conditions – can greatly affect the premiums you pay. No matter where you live, it’s vitally important to obtain the best homeowner insurance to fit your needs. You should always seek competitive quotes from multiple insurance companies, which will help you verify that you’re receiving the best coverage at the best price. Services such as those offered by HouseInsuranceRates.com can assist consumers in obtaining these quotes. To learn more, be sure to fill out the informational form on this Web site.
Regional homeowner insurance rates
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Gulf Coast states pay the most for their homeowner insurance. Throughout the country, the national average was $804 for annual homeowner insurance premiums. Where you live, environmental factors and other issues such as property value can affect how much you will be expected to pay each year in homeowner insurance premiums. Find out how your area compares to others in the United States:
West
The Western portion of the United States has an extremely varied range of insurance premiums. California has the highest insurance rates in the area by far – the seventh highest in the nation, in fact – but this is largely due to environmental issues like earthquakes, floods and fires, as well as cost of living.
- Alaska: Ranks 15th at $850
- Arizona: Ranks 38th at $640
- California: Ranks 7th at $937
- Colorado: Ranks 16th at $813
- Hawaii: Ranks 20th at $776
- Idaho: Ranks 49th at $477
- Montana: Ranks 32nd at $666
- Nevada: ranks 29th at $693
- New Mexico: 39th at $638
- North Dakota: Ranks 21st at $742
- Oregon: Ranks 46th at $502
- South Dakota: Ranks 41st at $628
- Utah: Ranks 47th at $494
- Washington: Ranks 42nd at $603
- Wyoming: Ranks 36th at $648
Midwest
Depending on where you live in the Midwest, your insurance premiums could be above the national average. According to the NAIC figures, those states that are particularly at risk for tornadoes have slightly higher insurance premiums. But the relatively affordable cost of living in this area of the country can also assist in keeping premiums lower.
- Illinois: Ranks 30th at $674
- Indiana: Ranks 39th 638
- Iowa: Ranks 43rd at $596
- Kansas: Ranks 13th at $866
- Michigan: Ranks 24th at $715
- Minnesota: Ranks 18th at $788
- Missouri: Ranks 25th at $707
- Nebraska: Ranks 19th at $783
- Ohio: Ranks 45th at $530
- Oklahoma: Ranks 4th at $1,018
- Wisconsin: Ranks 48th at $490
East
The East coast has a very diverse sampling of homeowner insurance premium ranges, likely because the area features extremely costly metropolitan areas as well as coastal areas that are susceptible to hurricanes.
- Connecticut: Ranks 11th at $878
- Delaware: Ranks 45th at $530
- Maine: Ranks 44th at $573
- Massachusetts: Ranks 8th at $925
- New Hampshire: Ranks 31st at $669
- New Jersey: Ranks 22nd at $726
- New York: Ranks 12th at $869
- Pennsylvania: Ranks 37th at $643
- Rhode Island: Ranks 9th at $919
- Vermont: Ranks 29th at $677
- West Virginia: Ranks 34th at $650
South
The South is likely the most expensive place to insure a home in the United States, and these figures are largely due to the costs associated with Hurricane Katrina and similar natural disasters. Residents in these states, particularly, must be vigilant in obtaining multiple homeowner insurance rate quotes.
- Alabama: Ranks 10th at $894
- Arkansas: Ranks 17th at $802
- Florida: ranks 2nd at $1,386
- Georgia: Ranks 27th at $703
- Kentucky: Ranks 40th at $637
- Louisiana: Ranks 3rd at $1,257
- Maryland: Ranks 23rd at $721
- Mississippi: Ranks 6th at 4998
- North Carolina: Ranks 35th at $649
- South Carolina; Ranks 14th at $851
- Tennessee: Ranks 26th at $706
- Texas: Ranks 1st at $1,409
- Virginia: Ranks 33rd at $662
Ranking the Highest and Lowest Auto Insurance Rates by State
Consumer-focused research shows Michigan, Louisiana and Oklahoma top the list of highest average car insurance rates.
Insurance Networking News, March 23, 2011
Recent survey results reveal a significant disparity in auto insurance rates across the country.
Insure.com, an online resource targeting consumers, conducted a national survey of car insurance rates by state based on rates for 40-year-old single male driver who commutes 12 miles to work. But, the company points out that a consumer’s driving record is not always the biggest factor in determining prices and found that a number of non-driver-related factors have a significant effect on the average cost of car insurance for consumers in different states.
The percentage of uninsured drivers in a given state, along with other factors such as weather and state insurance laws, are in large part what determine the average cost of auto insurance premiums.
“We often think of car insurance prices strictly in terms of our own personal details, like our driving record and our coverage amount,” says Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com. “But Insure.com’s rankings demonstrate how factors like state laws and the judicial system can be the driving force behind high rates.”
The national average annual premium is $1,561. Michigan holds the spot as the most expensive place for auto insurance because it’s the only state that guarantees unlimited personal injury protection payments by law, which is very costly for insurance companies, Insure.com says. Louisiana is the second most expensive state because of its judicial system, which generally favors individuals—meaning that insurance companies tend to lose in court, again driving up costs for insurers. By comparison, a representative driver in Vermont pays 87% less for insurance coverage than the same driver in Michigan because of the lower level of traffic congestion in Vermont and the large number of insurers competing for business.
Below are the U.S. states and the District of Columbia as ranked by the average annual premium that a representative driver would pay:
1. Michigan, $2,541
2. Louisiana, $2,453
3. Oklahoma, $2,197
4. Montana, $2,190
5. Washington, D.C., $2,146
6. California, $1,991
7. Mississippi, $1,896
8. New Mexico, $1,896
9. Arkansas, $1,836
10. Maryland, $1,807
11. North Dakota, $1,794
12. Connecticut, $1,786
13. Rhode Island, $1,747
14. Wyoming, $1,714
15. Hawaii, $1,707
16. South Dakota, $1,707
17. Georgia, $1,670
18. New Jersey, $1,663
19. West Virginia, $1,633
20. Kentucky, $1,629
21. New York, $1,627
22. Minnesota, $1,614
23. Washington, $1,584
24. Missouri, $1,563
25. Indiana, $1,518
26. Colorado, $1,508
27. Texas, $1,492
28. Delaware, $1,489
29. Florida, $1,476
30. Nebraska, $1,470
31. Pennsylvania, $1,468
32. Kansas, $1,461
33. Alaska, $1,454
34. New Hampshire, $1,334
35. Massachusetts, $1,328
36. Idaho, $1,325
37. Alabama, $1,306
38. Oregon, $1,306
39. Nevada, $1,300
40. Illinois, $1,290
41. Arizona, $1,280
42. Utah, $1,272
43. Virginia, $1,237
44. Iowa, $1,179
45. North Carolina, $1,154
46. Ohio, $1,152
47. Tennessee, $1,146
48. Wisconsin, $1,128
49. Maine, $1,126
50. South Carolina, $1,095
51. Vermont, $995
For everyones safety, please make a New Year's resolution to
NOT TEXT WHILE DRIVING!
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Brian Tracy Inspirational Article of the Month:
Mastering Human Relationships
Brian Tracy is a world-renowned personal and professional development coach that has helped millions of people achieve their goals and develop a positive mindset. Brian will be contributing to our newsletter every month by providing us with an article to help inspire you, our clients, to reach higher and achieve more than ever before.
Click Here to Read the Full Article by Brian Tracy
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Interesting Articles and Photos of the Month:
Top 20 Offices to Work in around the World
Businesses these days, particularly those who make their money on the Internet, seem to be paying much more attention to their staff and their work environment, so that they can really get the most out of them. Here is a list of 20 remarkable offices from across the world, to show you what happens behind the scenes of some of the biggest companies on the Internet. Be sure to share these photos with your boss!
Click Here to View the Images by IncomeDiary.com
Man Discovers Tooth in Ear after 33 Years of Pain
For more than 30 years Stephen Hirst was in constant pain and partially deaf due to an excruciating earache. But that is all in the past now after doctors found a tooth lodged in the former miner's ear. The only thing left for Hirst to figure out, is how it got there!
Click Here to Read the Full Article by DailyMail.com
Amazing Shadow Art
These photos contain everyday objects that have been manipulated to cast incredibly realistic shadows. You will not believe what you see! Take a look at these truly amazing images and share them with a friend or family member!
Click Here to View the Images by BuzzFeed.com
To Punish Thai Police, a Hello Kitty Armband
Thai police officers have adopted their own form of punishment. Any Thai police officers caught breaking the rules will be forced to wear a hot-pink armband featuring "Hello Kitty," the Japanese icon of cute, as a mark of shame.
Click Here to Read the Full Article by NYTimes.com
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Videos of the Month:
House Made out of Plastic
When hit by hard economic times, Alfredo Santa Cruz survived by sorting through rubbish heaps in search of items he could sell, but found a new way of living by building a fully furnished house from plastic bottles and other disposable plastics. And honestly, it's a pretty nice house. Now Alfredo is using his success to teach others how to do the same to help fight homelessness.
Click Here to Watch the Video by YouTube.com
Parking Ticket Prank
A parking lot ticket machine plays tricks on flustered drivers who just want to pick up their ticket and park. A hidden camera films the hilarious attempts to capture the quick ticket and the reactions of all those caught in the middle of a prank.
Click Here to Watch the Video by YouTube.com
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Delicious Recipe of the Month:
Buffalo Chicken Dip
If you love Buffalo wings, you will love this dip. This zesty and creamy dip features the great flavor of Buffalo chicken wings without all the mess! Serve it hot at your next party with crackers and celery sticks. It will be a big hit!
Click Here for the Full Recipe by AllRecipes.com
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Dumb Criminal Story of the Month:
Would-Be Teen Burglar gets Stuck in Chimney
This month's dumb criminal attempted to rob a home but ended up lodged in a chimney for 10 hours, never making it inside the home. No, it was not Santa Claus arriving early!
Click Here for the Full Story by Reuters.com
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Business/Economy:
Private Sector Jobs Soar
Private sector job growth accelerated in November as employers added 206,000 jobs, the biggest gain since December 2010. November's job figures show positive growth in all major sectors of the economy, and are in line with the recent drop in the national unemployment rate. Cheers to positive news!
Click Here to Read the Full Article by NJBiz.com
Check out the "Resource Center" in the left-hand column of this newsletter for interactive online tools that can help answer just about any industry related question.
