Search results for lightning
June 28, 2013  

Avoid the Jolt from a Lightning Bolt!

I came across this fierce 30 second video on Youtube today of a lightning bolt striking the shore of a beach about a hundred or so yards from a hotel balcony where some guy was filming. Check it out (some cursing included so beware)

The force and power are so crazy it knocked the guy back a little bit!

Living in Southern California, we don’t see a lot of intense thunder and lightning, but you should learn to identify the early signs of an oncoming thunder and lightning storm.

Typically you’ll see towering clouds in the shape of a cauliflower, dark sky, distant rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning. When a storm is on the verge of striking your area, you need to take cover to get out of harm’s way.

Here’s how:

  • Seek shelter in an enclosed building, if possible.
  • If you are in a car, stay inside and keep the windows securely rolled up.
  • Do not use a small shed, pavilion or lean-to as shelter; they do not provide enough protection.
  • Stay several feet away from open windows, sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, electric boxes, outlets and appliances during a lightning storm. Lightning bolts can flow through these items, “jump” to you and give you a jolt.
  • Do not use a landline telephone during a storm. Opt for a cellular or cordless phone, which is not connected to the building’s wiring.

If you are caught outside in a lightning storm:

  • If your skin starts to tingle or your hair stands up, lightning may be about to strike. Crouch to the ground on the balls of your feet and place your feet close together. Then, place your hands on your knees and lower your head. Try to get as close to the ground as possible without placing your hands or knees on the ground.
  • Avoid seeking shelter under trees, near metal fences, pipes or tall and long objects.
  • If you are swimming, boating or fishing, seek shelter on land immediately.
  • If you are boating and cannot get to shore before the storm hits, crouch your body down in the middle of the boat, as low as you can get.

Next time you’re in the path of a thunderstorm, you can stay cool knowing Jim Kinmartin taught you everything you need to know about dealing with it ;).

Planning is important when it comes to preparing for storms, and that includes having the proper home or business insurance. Contact your broker or me to learn more about insurance solutions for your home, business and life.

–JK

June 18, 2014  

The Risk of Internet Business

As a modern day business owner, you have likely felt the push to become more web-involved. The Internet seems to be where businesses are concentrating efforts, whether they involve revamping your website to keep up with the competition or creating social media accounts to attract a new audience. Of course, charting a new business course presents new risks. Navigating the Internet can be difficult enough when dealing with multiple accounts, email marketing and search engine optimization, but you’re also responsible for protecting the information that you store there. Cyber liability insurance may be the answer.

  • In 2008, almost 50% of businesses reported they had 1 to 5 cyber risks.
  • The most expensive cyber risk incidents involve fraud, which averages a loss of almost $500,000.
  • In 2008, the most common cyber risk businesses faced were viruses, followed by inside abuse and then laptop theft.
  • In 2012, 36% of the business industry experienced a data breach.

To understand what protection cyber risk insurance provides, you must first understand the risk you face as a business. Cyber attacks don’t necessarily occur in the ether of Internet. Cyber attacks can also include computer hardware problems, communication media errors, system backup and operating system errors and even errors and fraud invoving internal people like system administrators.

A company can face three common types of cyber risks:

  • Natural: The most common errors and losses result from severe weather. For example, a lightning strike or power surge can severely damage or destroy an entire database.
  • Human error: These unintentional acts can involve something as simple as leaving a laptop that has access to patient medical records, at the airport.
  • Intentional: This involves illegal criminal activity and can occur outside the organization, by hackers or criminals, or inside the organization.

No matter what kind of cyber attack you experience, the consequences of an attack can be expensive. In addition to retrieving information and establishing new cyber protocols, many companies have to perform clean-up efforts with a customer base. Cyber liability insurance can help with each step of recovery.

Source: Trusted Choice

-JK

August 13, 2013  

Huge Thunder Storm In Japan; Train Takes A Direct Hit

We don’t see thunder and lightning like this in Southern California! Watch this train get struck by lightning at the 1:20 mark in the video:

When a lightning storm is on the verge of striking your area, you need to take cover to get out of harm’s way. Here are some tips from a former post on Lightning Safety Considerations

-JK

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