01/22/2016
The agency is closing at 12:30 p.m. today due to the severe weather conditions. Mrs. Washington is still available by phone to assist you until 5:00 p.m.. Please call 757-896-2822 ext 3. If you need to file a claim with Farmers Insurance, please call 1-800-435-7764. If you are in danger, call 911.
A few pointers during this cold weather:
FOR YOUR DRIVING
• Do not drive unless you have to. Be very vigilant on the icy roads. Give several vehicles' space between yourself and other drivers. If you are driving slower than the speed limit, be sure to put on your hazard lights so that vehicles behind you understand to slow down and not hit you, as foggy and blizzard conditions make it difficult to tell how fast other cars in front are going. Make sure that in the case of an emergency where your vehicle could become stuck/stranded in the snow, that you have a first-aid kit, water, blankets, flashlights & non perishable snacks in your vehicle.
• If you are involved in an accident, do not exit your vehicle unless you have verified that you are safe and that no other vehicle risks sliding into you. Take pictures of the damage and area, if you can do so safely. Exchange contact and insurance information with other drivers involved. Make sure to get a copy of the police report. Keep a note of the attending officers name, badge number and contact info.
FOR YOUR HOMES:
• Keep your sinks running with a trickle of water at all times to help avoid freezing/bursting pipes. Your slightly increased water bill will still cost less than your deductible if your pipes freeze & burst.
• If you are using space heaters, be sure to check on them regularly and verify that they are not overheating, and that they are securely placed away from anything flammable. Best placed on a hard floor, not carpet. If you have to put it on carpet, place it on an un-elevated, flat, hard surface that does not risk tipping. Turn them off from time to time to lessen the risk of overheating.
• Avoid using gas ovens to warm the home. That can be an extreme &/or fatal hazard if the pilot light goes out, especially with children around who are curious.
• If the wind or freezing temps cause your electricity and heating to go out, make sure you have prepared your back-up materials together in a place you can remember & easily access - even in the dark, yet safe from children. Candles, matches, flashlights, batteries, external charging devices, mobile stoves, blankets, radio, food, water, etc. Charge your phones & computers now.