Latest News
Holiday Cooking
We are all doing it - cooking like crazy from turkeys to Christmas/Hanukah cookies, we are spending lots of time in the kitchen. However, with all the frenzied activities, we let safety slip. Take a moment to review these tips to ensure a safe, blaze free holiday season, courtesy of NFPA:
Support Local Businesses
November 27th is Small Business Saturday. Small businesses are the heart of our communities. Shop at a local retailer to find that unique gift or eat at a local restaurant this weekend. According to the American Express Shop Small Impact Survey, 56 percent of small businesses surveyed said this year’s Small Business Saturday event is more critical than ever for their business. Looking ahead to the new year, 78 percent said holiday sales will impact their ability to keep their doors open in 2022. Small Business Saturday 2021 could help to boost small-business owners who continue to face difficulties during the pandemic.
Family Literacy
With the holiday fast approaching, it is a great time for the whole family to get together to enjoy some reading. When you read to your children, you instill in them the fundamental skills for success in their later years in school and life.
New Tool for Employers
As workers are struggling to make ends meet and the coronavirus pandemic drags on, companies are offering a new way to get paid – every day.
Turn Your Clocks Back
This weekend ends Daylight Savings Time. Set your clocks back an hour on Sunday at 2:00 am or as we do before retiring to bed on Saturday giving you another hour of sleep. YEAH!
Ransomware and the holidays
Holidays are the perfect time for an increase in ransomware risks. In 2020 reported losses from cybersecurity complains exceeded $4.1 billion or a 69% increase from 2019.
Halloween & Fun
Looking for ways to have fun for Halloween, here are treats you can create with your families:
October is Anti-Bullying Month
The aim of anti-bullying month is to prevent bullying from happening. It is designed to hold schools accountable when they fail to protect our children and to force them to take appropriate steps to respond to bullying. Bullying can come in many forms, and victims can feel helpless or unsure of how to stop the situation. While bystander intervention is an effective way to stop bullying in real-time, understanding how it can be prevented can be even more important.
Fall is Officially Here!
The autumnal equinox occurred on September 22nd. Fall is officially here and with it comes your honey-do lists preparing your home. Here are some home maintenance tips from the Travelers Risk Control professionals to help you prepare for the coming winter.
Do Hackers Return
According to Atlas VPM data, half of businesses worldwide have been affected by recurring attacks from the SAME hacker. The data also revealed that 61% of companies hacked did not remediate the breaches, leaving the company and its data vulnerable to attack. From phishing emails and cloud-based attacks to cyberattacks on remote workers and ransomware, cybercrime is up by 600 percent.
Solemn Weekend
Twenty years tomorrow we will remember the almost 3,000 people who lost their lives. We honor the first responders who never hesitated but ran to assist those in the two towers, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. Talk to your children about how we all came together with such patriotism that we haven’t seen since. We are the greatest country in the world and “we will never forget.”
September is National Preparedness Month
With forest fires and hurricanes hitting all across the US, it’s time to raise the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies. There are plenty of resources to assist you during September to help you prepare. Ready.gov/September features four weekly posts – Make a Plan, Build a Kit, Low-Cost, No-Cost Preparedness, and Teach Youth About Preparedness.
Hiking in the Wilderness
With Fall coming, family hiking is a great activity. However, being aware of both your surroundings and what to watch for can make your day a happy and safe one.
Seniors and Car Safety
Ever wonder as you grow older, what car you should choose for safety, one that is easy to drive, safe, and has the technology to help avoid common mistakes that lead to accidents. In a recent issue of Aging IQ, experts suggest tips for ensuring your safety behind the wheel.
Insurance Myths To Be Aware Of
Consumers are often confused about what insurance covers and what it doesn’t. Property Casualty 360 helps demystify some of the myths.
Traveling Safely in Your RV
Hitting the road this summer in your RV, here are some tips to keep you and your family safe. Over 43.6 million people will travel the roads, many of them in RVs.
Traveling By Car This Summer
With more and more people planning road trips, you need to be even more attentive due to distracted drivers. According to the NSC, more than 700 people daily are injured by distracted driving crashes. The cause – talking on the cellphone or texting/programming in-vehicle systems.
Dogs in Hot Weather
Dogs can’t perspire, so how do they keep cool? They pant. They also release heat through paw pads and nose to regulate their body temperature and keep cool.
Beat The Heat
We’re in the midst of summer and seeing record temperatures. It is important that we remind workers on the danger of working in the heat.
Fear of connected cars cyber vulnerabiities growing
When you think of cyber attacks, you think of breaches of credit cards, banking accounts, and businesses. But did you think about a cyber attack on your car? That’s right – a cyber attack.
Fireworks Safety
What would the 4th of July be without fireworks. Can’t imagine. But they are deadly. In 2020, eighteen people in the US died after episodes involving fireworks according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and that doesn’t include those who were seriously injured.
June Weddings
June is the most popular month to get married, simply because of the mild weather. There is a saying that “for those who marry in June, you’re a bride all your life.” Here some facts about June weddings:
Happy Father's Day - June 20th
“When my father didn’t have my hand, he had my back”Linda Poindexter
Graduations - Time to Celebrate
June is graduation month and parents are faced with how to keep their teens safe. Here are some tips from the Partnership to End Addition that might help:
2021 Hurricane Season
Hurricane Season – 2021 is shaping up to see 13 to 20 named storms, 6 to 10 to become hurricanes for the East Coast and 2 to 5 tropical cyclones predicted for the Central Pacific hurricane region. With tropical storms comes lots of rain and that means flooding. Make sure your to-go-bag is ready and you know your evacuation routes. Don’t drive through standing water. And last, contact our agency for a flood quote. Just two inches of water can cause significant damage.
Memorial Day 2021
Honoring all who served. Take a moment this holiday weekend to remember all who served and all who paid the ultimate price to protect our country.
Support your local restaurant - eat out
It has been a hard year and many restaurants have closed during the pandemic. According to the National Restaurant Association revenue is down by $240 billion. Over 110,000 restaurants are temporarily or permanently closed.
Small Business Month
Small businesses represent over 99% of the 28.7 million firms. The vast majority have fewer than 20 employees and nearly 40% of all enterprises representing under $100k in revenue, according to JP Morgan Chase. So it is fitting that the month of May celebrates the small business owners.
Happy Mother's Day
A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend. (Unknown).
Pandemic is changing Employee Benefits
According to Tim Allen, Harvard Business Review, companies are recognizing that employee benefits can be life-changing for their workforce, especially those centered around care, flexibility, and mental health. Many employers in order to better support their employees and their business are planning to revise their benefit strategies.
Alarming Surge in Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware attacks have surged about 200% in the past two years according to Insurance Thought Leadership. Severity is up too, with the average demand exploding from roughly $10,00 to $100,000. Armed with increasingly inexpensive tools, hackers are expanding where and what they target. There are even developers who sell or lease ransomware, offering Ransomware-as-a-Service (Raas).
Spring and Floods
With the weather changing and heavy rains upon, flooding is a certainty. Here are the ten top facts every consumer should know about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Happy Easter
On behalf of our agency we wish you a blessed and safe Easter Holiday.
Spring Cleaning - Spring Begins
With the start of Spring, it is now time to focus on getting our homes ready for the season. Here’s a quick list of tasks recommended to launch Spring properly.
Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Savings is this Sunday – don’t forget to set you clock forward. Looks like you you lose an hour of sleep. Some people have trouble adjusting to the one hour change. It is recommended that you keep your schedule and get seven to eight hours of sound sleep and go to bed a little early the night before. If your sleep cycle is out of whack, driving can be a bad idea. One study showed that fatal traffic accidents increase the Monday after both time changes.
Protect Your Phone Data
With all the data that is on your phone, there are quite a few tech makers who do not protect your privacy. So what do you do? Here are some tips from Firefox:
Why The Surge in Car Thefts
A puzzling invitation to auto theft is increasingly sitting in the unoccupied car’s cup holder—the key fob. After many years of car theft declines arising from improved technology, we are now seeing a surge in this unfortunate crime. This spree, worsened perhaps by the pandemic, can be attributed to largely one factor: human carelessness. No hot wire is needed!
Saturday is National Love Your Pet Day
This weekend is the perfect time to thank your pets for their companionship especially during these times when you are stuck at home with restricted activities. They are there with undying love and ready to put a smile on your face.
Happy Valentine's Day
If you are planning on giving a keepsake at Valentine’s Day, we want to remind you to obtain insurance coverage for it. You can add the item to your homeowners’, or depending on the value, obtain a jewelry policy.
Least Reliable Cars for 2021
It’s that time of year when Consumer Reports’ publishes their various reports on the auto industry. Here is a list of the ten most unreliable vehicles with the greatest risk of problems:
Dangers of Space Heaters
It is always nice to be snuggley and warm during the winter nights, but many of us use space heaters to keep us warm. They can be dangerous and the biggest threat is fire. Fire is caused by the overloading of circuits and power failures. Last year, there were 55,000 fires, 450 deaths, and more than 1,500 injuries due to space heaters.
Prevent Skin Irritation
With all the hand hygiene everyone has been doing during the COVID pandemic, many of us are experiencing skin irritations.
Start the Year Off with Business Continuity Review
With so many situations affecting our businesses this past year, such as COVID-19, lock downs, and remote employees, it is important to review annually your procedures to restore critical business functions in the event of an unplanned disaster. These disasters could include natural disasters, security breaches, service outages, and other potential threats.
Cyber Security Events
With ransomware and phishing attacks on the rise, companies must continuously focus on cyber risks to protect assets and customers.
Avoid Fines by Training Workers
Not training your workers regarding COVID-19 can result in fines and lawsuits. Sixteen states have passed emergency temporary standards requiring employers to train their workers on COVID-19 workplace safety protocols. Every state enforces things differently, so it is important you know what your state requires.
Ten Most Deadly Vehicles
According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 38,880 people lost their lives and more than 4 million required medical attention.
Daylight Savings Time
It is finally here – you get an extra hour of sleep. So don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour.
6 Ways to Save Money on Insurance for Teen Drivers
According to a recent article in NU Property Casualty 360, they reviewed the six ways to save money on insurance for teens.
Winter is Coming - Prepare Your Car
With winter months almost upon us, now is a good time to make sure your car is ready. Here is quick checklist for winter driving.
Life Awareness Month
September is Life Awareness Month and Life Happens, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to helping educate consumers on the importance of life insurance and related products.
September is National Preparedness Month
September is a time to promote family, community, and business disaster now and throughout the year. With COVID-19, hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, there is no better time to get involved.
Happy Labor Day
A day to honor the hard work that you have put in. A day to relax and enjoy.
OSHA COVID-19 Materials
OSHA has issued new posters and guidance booklets for businesses. They are free and available in multiple languages. Go to https://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.searchresults?pSearch=coronavirus%7Cadd+to+cart and select the materials right for your business.
OSHA Reverses Recordkeeping Rule
OSHA has updated their guidance to employers regarding completion of the OSHA 300 Log and the reporting of employees cases of COVID-19 as “work-related”.
Stroke Warning Signs
Stroke kills about 14,000 Americans each year – that’s 1 out of every 20 deaths. Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Every 4 minutes, someone dies of stroke. Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke, according to the CDC.
Protections for Working Safely in Summer Heat
Temperatures are soaring across the United States and are creating hot and hazardous working conditions. OSHA has issued a trade release with suggestions to help mitigate heat hazards.
Protecting Your Home From Tropical Storms or Hurricanes
We are in the midst of the hurricane season which generates tropical storms throughout the United States. 2019 is predicted to produce 16 name storms and reach tropical-storm strength or greater, with eight hurricanes with at least one potentially hitting land-fall.
Tips to Keep Working From Home Secure
If you are working from home, here are six tips to help you do so securely.
D&O rates are set to climb
According to a report by AM Best, Directors and Officers liability insurance rates are likely to double in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic as insurers respond to increased shareholder litigation over the past three years and future litigation over coronavirus-related exposures.
Veterans Day on the 11th
As we come together as a nation to celebrate Veterans Day, take a moment to remember friends, family members and colleagues who served in our military. It is thanks to them that we live in the home of the free and the brave. Also, it is a great time to hire a vet.
BIA Solutions - Party Time!
The holiday season is here, and that means the office holiday parties are coming. Today we discuss a few holiday party safety tips. Don’t wait for a claim to find out you aren’t covered. Call us at 940-549-2525, visit us in our office on the second floor of the Ciera Bank building in downtown Graham, TX, or visit us online at www.bryanins.com.
Daylight Savings Time Ends
Don’t forget: Daylight Savings Time ends for much of the United States at 2AM Sunday November 3rd.
BIA Solutions - Halloween Safety Tips
BIA Solutions – I Bought Life Insurance – What Now?
Is Your Business Continuity Plan Up to Date?
As the international community celebrated ShakeOut Day to promote earthquake resiliency and preparedness, now is the time to review your established business continuity plans or create an appropriate plan if you don’t have one.
October is Crime Prevention Month
According to Alarms.org, every 13 seconds a burglary occurs. Two thirds of the 2.5 million burglaries were home break-ins.
BIA Solutions – What is an Umbrella, and Do I Need One?
Today we discuss the importance of personal and business umbrella policies. Don’t wait for a claim to find out you aren’t cove bsp; Call us at 940-549-2525, visit us in our office on the second floor of the Ciera Bank building in downtown Graham, TX, or visit us onlin bsp;www.bryanins.com.
Automobile Insurance
Whether you own or lease your auto, it is important to protect your vehicle from theft and damage. It is also important to protect yourself, your family and your passengers for personal liability.Purchasing a vehicle is a significant financial commitment. Making sure it is protected with the right coverage is critical. To properly protect yourself from the always present danger of huge awards for auto liability, it is imperative that you maintain the proper level of coverage for your particular situation. Don’t wait until you have an accident to find out what is covered. Let us help provide you with the best coverage at a price you can afford.
Opioids in the workplace
Workers who are prescribed pain medications for work-related injuries must be educated about the risks of opioid addition. According to Marianne Kritserg, MSW, LCSW, RN there are eight strategies to consider:
September is Life Awareness Month
Life Happens, a non-profit organization, has an entire website devoted to life insurance. September is Life Awareness Month and you will find calculators to assist in determining the insurance coverage you need, along with helpful videos and educational pieces. Go to https://lifehappens.org to find out what you need to protect your family and then call the agency to discuss.
BIA Solutions – September is Life Insurance Awareness Month
September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. This industry-wide campaign is aimed at educating Americans about the importance of life insurance and helping them get the coverage they need. Call us at 940-549-2525, visit us in our office on the second floor of the Ciera Bank building in downtown Graham, TX, or visit us online at www.bryanins.com.
September is National Preparedness Month
The Small Business Administration has created a Business Guide to help keep your business running if a disaster strikes. It provides steps to prevent and prepare for disaster, and know where to get aid if disaster strikes.
BIA Solutions – Business Income and Extra Expense
Time is money! If your business is damaged by fire, a tornado, or any other covered property loss, Business Income and Extra Expense insurance can make the difference between “life and death” of your business. Don’t wait for a claim to find out you aren’t covered. Call us at 940-549-2525, visit us in our office on the second floor of the Ciera Bank building in downtown Graham, TX, or visit us online at www.bryanins.com.
Welcome back to Jekyll!
You’ll find this post in your _posts directory. Go ahead and edit it and re-build the site to see your changes. You can rebuild the site in many different ways, but the most common way is to run jekyll serve, which launches a web server and auto-regenerates your site when a file is updated.
History of Labor Day
Labor Day, celebrated the first Monday in September, pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19thcentury and became a federal holiday in 1894 by Grover Cleveland. Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer.
Welcome to Jekyll!
You’ll find this post in your _posts directory. Go ahead and edit it and re-build the site to see your changes. You can rebuild the site in many different ways, but the most common way is to run jekyll serve, which launches a web server and auto-regenerates your site when a file is updated.
BIA Solutions – Speeding in a School Zone, a Cautionary Tale
School is back in full swing. Today we urge our listeners to take extra care when driving through a school zone. Don’t wait for a claim to find out you aren’t cove bsp; Call us at 940-549-2525, visit us in our office on the second floor of the Ciera Bank building in downtown Graham, TX, or visit us onlin bsp;www.bryanins.com.
BIA Solutions – Cyber Attacks, Social Engineering, Ransomware Attacks – There’s a Policy for That!
If you have a business, you have a cyber liability exposure. Don’t wait for a claim to find out you aren’t covered. Call us at 940-549-2525, visit us in our office on the second floor of the Ciera Bank building in downtown Graham, TX, or visit us online at www.bryanins.com.
Driver Safety in School Zones
Last week’s post dealt with child safety, today we’d like to provide tips for drivers in a school zo bsp;Please review and be prepared for back to school traffic.
Going Back to School
Getting your children ready to start school is a perfect opportunity to review keeping them safe.
Consulting
Your consulting business specializes in helping other businesses. Perhaps your business has a single focus like IT, management, education, finance or marketing. Or, your firm has a number of different discipline areas you help your clients with.
BIA Consultants Plus Program
BIA Consultants Plus is an exclusive Bryan Insurance Agency Consultant Program for the oil & gas field consultants
August 12-19 is Safe & Sound Week
Safe & Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep American’s workers safe.
Natural Disasters and Your Pets
We usually prepare for a flood, hurricane, tornado, or weather-related incident with a go bag, but have you prepared for your pets. Take a look at a couple of tips to consider:
Safety Tips for Warm-Weather Work
Employees should understand the factors that lead to heat susceptibility. With temperatures rising, it is a good time to review.
Grill Safety
Lots of barbecues are happening this weekend. It’s is no better time to pass along some grill safety tips to make sure your party is fun and incident free. Here are some statistics to illustrate the point.
RV Safety
Getting ready to explore the US in your RV. Take a look at these safety tips provided by Property Casualty 360 to ensure you have a wonderful risk-free trip.
First Day of Summer
Today is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. Your children are out of school, and vacation plans are underway. Get prepared for summer by following these maintenance tips provided by Heather Turner from Property/Casualty 360:
Teen Drivers & Summer Driving
School is wrapping up for the year, and teen drivers are ready to hit the road this summer.
Hurricane Season Starts June 1st
Hurricane Season officially begins June 1st. This Spring has been tumultuous with weather activities such as tornadoes, heavy rain and flooding. Now, Hurricane Season is here and experts predict 13 named storms. While activity is slow in the beginning of the season, now is the time to purchase a flood policy to protect your home or business from the devasting effects of water and flooding. Remember, It takes 30-days for a policy to take effect.
Celebrate National Hispanic Americans
October celebrates National Hispanic American Month. As members of our community, you bring a rich heritage and history, culture, and achievements to the United States. Thank you for all you do.
