Brennan Insurance Agency

02/23/2026

To our Safeco Insurance clients:
Safeco Insurance was acquired by Liberty Mutual in 2008 and starting today, February 23, the name Safeco is being retired and the name will change to Liberty Mutual moving forward. There will be no change to your coverage and there is no need for concern, it's merely a unification into one brand.

01/23/2026

What items should you keep in your car in case you're stranded during a winter storm?

1. Keep a shovel in your trunk.

If you’re stranded on the roadway or slide into a ditch, removing the snow around your car is critical. If you idle your car to keep warm, the exhaust pipe must remain clear to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. If you don’t have a shovel, use your arms and legs to move the snow away from your car.

2. Small candles and matches.

Small candles and a coffee can be used as an emergency heat source.

3. Tow chain or rope.

Roadside assistance is an excellent service to have. The service usually works well in normal weather conditions; however, usage increases significantly during major winter storms so there aren’t enough tow trucks to go around. If you have a tow chain or rope, a Good Samaritan may be able to pull you out.

4. Food and water.

Keep snack foods, such as energy bars, nuts, raisins, and water in your car all winter.

5. Medications.

Consider taking a few days’ supply of your medications. And a roll of toilet paper may come in handy.

6. Emergency flares, reflectors, and flashlights.

These will help you remain visible and assist emergency crews in finding you.

7. Extra clothes and blankets.

Packing boots, jeans, sweatshirts, and blankets can make you more comfortable until help arrives.

10/08/2025

We are thrilled to be the sponsors of the ofrendas Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum Dia de Los Mu***os celebration on October 25th. Please be a part of this special event!

01/03/2025

An arctic blast of cold temperatures is expected to affect a large part of the country this coming week and could drop temperatures below freezing for several days. Here is some information that can help prevent water damage from frozen pipes:

Tips to Help Prevent Frozen Pipes

• Disconnect any hoses from exterior faucets. Even frost proof faucets/sillcocks require that the hose to be disconnected in freezing weather to allow residual water to drain.

• If provided, close inside valves supplying water to outdoor faucets and hookups. Open outdoor faucets to allow residual water to drain. Be sure to keep them open during the cold weather months, while the water supply is turned off.

• Keep garage doors closed to help protect water pipes located in the garage.

• Open the doors on cabinets where plumbing is located. This can help allow warmer air to circulate around the pipes.

• For pipes that are at risk of freezing (both hot and cold water pipes), let water drip from faucets.

• Keep the heat in your home set at a minimum of 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Identify areas that have experienced freeze issues in past winter storms and consult with a plumber or mechanical contractor to address and help protect those vulnerable areas ahead of the cold weather.

What to Do if You Have a Frozen Pipe

• Locate and close the main water shutoff valve as soon as possible and before temperatures rise above freezing.

• Inspect pipes for damage, including those in attics and crawl spaces, where it is safe to do so.

• As temperatures increase above freezing, watch and listen for signs of water leaks.

• If a pipe is leaking, do not turn on the water. Open all faucets including those outside to drain remaining water from pipes and call a licensed plumber for repairs.

• If no leaks are detected, turn water back on slowly. Continue to check for leaks before turning water on completely.

• Never use torches or heat guns to facilitate thawing as these can create fire hazards.

05/15/2024

If you’re thinking about starting a business or have recently started one, you know there are plenty of things to do and consider. Some examples include hiring employees, attracting customers, and managing your finances.

While these are essential priorities, it’s crucial not to overlook the importance of protecting your business with the right insurance coverage at an adequate level. Without it, your business and potentially, you, personally, could experience significant financial loss.

Imagine this: You’ve finally started your dream business and are off to a successful start. One day, a customer slips and falls on your premises and is injured. Does your business have enough money to defend itself against a lawsuit and/or pay the party damages for his/her injuries? It’s imperative that you have Business Liability insurance to protect yourself.

What’s Business Liability insurance?
Business Liability insurance provides financial protection to businesses in the event of claims made against them for property damages, bodily injuries, and other types of injuries caused to others. Claims could arise from accidents on or off the business premises, product defects, errors in services provided, or even advertising liabilities.

There are different types of Business Liability insurance products. It’s important to understand the difference between the types of coverages available and select the coverage(s) that best fit your business risks.

•General Liability
This standard commercial coverage protects your business against common risks such as bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury claims.

•Professional Liability
This is also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. It’s a specialized form of insurance that protects financial, insurance, real estate, and other types of professionals against claims of negligence or errors in your work that lead to client injuries or losses. It’s often paired with General Liability insurance.

•Product Liability
If your business manufactures or sells products, this specialized coverage protects against claims from third-parties arising out of how your product was designed, manufactured, marketed, or used. It’s also often paired with General Liability insurance.

•Cyber Liability
This newer, specialized coverage protects your business from cyber threats. It covers expenses related to data breaches, cyberattacks, and other security incidents. It’s often paired with General Liability and other types of insurance.

Ways you and your business benefit from liability insurance
As a new business owner, you may be tempted to cut corners on insurance to save money. Doing so can put you and your business and its reputation at risk. Insurance provides these protections:

•Legal
Liability insurance can provide financial assistance for legal fees, settlements, and judgments against your business. Without insurance, costs of litigation, alone, could potentially bankrupt your business.

•Financial
Accidents happen, and even the most diligent businesses can experience them. Liability insurance ensures your business can survive the financial impact of claims or damages.

•Asset
Personal assets may be at risk if your business faces legal action. Liability insurance helps separate your personal finances from your business liabilities, protecting your savings, home, and other personal property.

Business Liability insurance isn’t just another expense; it's a critical investment in your business's long-term success and sustainability. In the ever-changing business landscape, talk to your independent insurance agent to ensure you have sufficient coverage that best suits your business.

04/18/2024

April showers are bringing May flowers, and wet roads. As the season changes, drivers may be facing flooded streets and slippery conditions. And it’s not just water that’s a problem — rain can mix with oil and other debris, making wet roads even slicker than expected.

Here are some tips on navigating roads in wet weather:

Choose an inside lane. Stick to the inside lanes if pooling water is evident. Roads are generally constructed so water drains to the side.

Avoid flooded streets. Never drive through flowing or standing water unless you can confidently judge its depth. Choose an alternate route if you can. Deep water may flood your engine or even carry you off the roadway.

Turn on your headlights. Remember that headlights aren’t just to help you see, they help make your vehicle more visible to other drivers.

Keep your distance. You need more time to brake when driving on wet roads. Give yourself time to react by keeping at least two or three car lengths from the vehicle in front of you.

Slow down. If you’re driving too fast in wet conditions, your car can lose traction and start to hydroplane. When you drive at a slower pace, you allow more of your tire tread to make contact with the road.

Know how to recover if you’re hydroplaning. Hydroplaning occurs when the water in front of your car builds up faster than your tires can push it out of the way. If that happens, your car can rise up on a thin layer of water and lose contact with the road. If you find yourself hydroplaning, stay calm. Don’t brake or turn suddenly or you could throw your car into a skid. Ease off the gas until the car slows. If you have ABS ( since September 2000 this is required all new cars), brake firmly and slowly turn your car in the direction you want it to go.

Pull over if you can’t see. You may know your local roads like the back of your hand, but if rain is coming down so hard that you can’t see at a safe distance, pull off the road, turn your hazard lights on, and wait it out.

Maintain your tires. As your tires age, the tread wears out and they lose their ability to channel water and grip the road. Keep tires on your vehicles properly inflated and inspect them regularly.

10/31/2023

With the recent drop in temperatures, don't forget to winterize your home:

Winter season to-do’s
Simple precautionary tips for when the outside temperature drops below 20ºF.
Inside your home:
• Keep the house heated at a minimum of 65ºF in all locations.
• If you have a furnace or fireplace, have it inspected to ensure it’s running safely and efficiently.
Tip: Place fireplace ashes in a metal bucket and allow them to cool for 12 -24 hours before wetting them down and disposing of them appropriately outside.
• Close the internal valves on the pipes that lead to the hoses outside your home.
Outside your home:
• Drain and remove hoses and cover faucets.
• Clean and repair any damaged gutters to help prevent ice dams, which can damage your roof.
• Store patio furniture and grill. Furniture that can’t be stored should be protected with weatherproof covers.

12/14/2022

This is a busy time of year, if possible, take some time to slow down with these tips:

Isn’t this time of year supposed to be fun and relaxing? Here’s a list of tips that can make this time of year more enjoyable and less stressful.

09/29/2022

Is your house ready for the upcoming winter:

Leaves are falling and, for many, especially those in the Upper Midwest, snow may be looming in the extended weather forecast. It’s time to consider several home maintenance tips that can save on costly repairs in the future.

08/04/2022

Making changes to your home? Might want to call your insurance agent first:

You spend time and money fixing up your house to make it a haven for your family — remodeling the kitchen, finishing the basement, getting everything exactly how you want it.

So it’s important to make sure that investment is protected. If you suffered a loss, you typically would receive replacement cost value from your insurance company: enough to rebuild your home with similar materials. But if you don’t update your insurance policy with any major renovations or upgrades you’ve made, those additions may not be covered.

Here are some renovations that could affect your insurance policy.

Upgrading the materials
Custom cabinets, hardwood floors, whirlpool tub — if you switch from standard builder’s grade materials to higher-end materials, this could change your replacement cost value.

Adding livable space
Whether it’s a sunroom, an expanded master suite, or a finished basement, extra square footage needs to be covered. Additionally, make sure to talk to your agent if you've added a pool or additional shed to your property.

Making key updates
Some house renovations could result in possible credits, meaning a lower insurance premium. For example, if you put on a new roof, you could be eligible for a discount from your insurance company.

Talk to your agent
Contact your insurance agent to make sure you have enough protection on your policy to include any recent remodeling. Tell them the extent and cost of the renovations, and any added square footage. Your agent will use this information to determine the new replacement cost value and make sure you are covered.

For a major renovation, it’s best to consult your agent before you start the project so you know how it will affect your policy. If you’re unsure whether the updates will change your insurance coverage, ask your agent.

07/14/2021

Make sure that your home is well protected:

Burglars, injuries, health hazards, and natural disasters are just a few of the possible threats that could compromise the safety of your home.

04/14/2021

Getting your trampoline out of hibernation? Check out these safety tips:

Trampolines are a good way for kids to get some fresh air and exercise. However, they also can be dangerous. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind.