Shepard Website Gets a New Look - and New Features
 We're calling it the "extreme web makeover," but we know you'll call the new Shepard Insurance Agency website helpful, informative and easy to use.
The totally redone shepardinsurance.com
launched last month. We've already heard kudos from clients who were pleasantly surprised when they went to our site and discovered a whole new look, along with some useful new features. Online payments, claim information, and commonly used forms are right there at your digital fingertips. The Reference Library contains back issues of this newsletter, along with loads of other helpful information. And, getting a quote has never been easier.
If you haven't visited our online offices recently, take a look at
shepardinsurance.com today.
Shepard Insurance Shows you How to Properly Install your Child's Car Seat
 We all know the law tells us our young children have to ride in car seats. What we don't always know, however, is whether these important pieces of safety equipment are installed in our cars the way they should be.
That's why Shepard Insurance Agency will have a certified car seat installation specialist on-hand at its booth during the SCV Child and Family Kid Expo to help parents learn how to properly secure their children's car seats.
Statistics show that 7 out of 10 children riding in car seats are not properly buckled. According to research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 7,000 lives have been saved by the proper use of child restraints during the past 20 years.
In 2005 alone, among children under age 5, an estimated 420 lives were saved by proper child restraint use. Research on the effectiveness of child restraints show that these devices provide the best protection for all children up to age 8.
Join us at the Kid Expo and make sure your children are safe in their car seats.
Sunday, October 19
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Golden Valley High School
27051 Robert C. Lee Parkway
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
Admission is FREE!
Click here to download a copy of our informative handout on car seats.
New law bans texting while driving
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law last month making it illegal to read or send text messages while driving in California beginning January 1, 2009.
The law imposes a $20 fine for a first offense and $50 for repeat offenders using any electronic devices to read or send messages.
Since July, motorists have been required to use hands-free devices, and drivers under age 18 may not use any electronic devices.
New Devices Turn Off Water Fast to Reduce Leak Damage
 Water is a leading cause of property and structural damage for most homeowners. Supply line leaks and plumbing failures can create spectacular messes that require costly cleanup and repairs to damaged floors, walls, and fixtures.
But you can protect yourself. We've compiled a list of automatic shut-off devices designed to minimize damage caused by leaks. And, depending on your homeowners insurance carrier, you may be eligible for a discount on them. If you have any questions or wish to learn about how this will lower your homeowners insurance premiums, please give us a call at (818) 508-9925 or (661) 902-0360.
Flo-Guard
The Flo-Guard System limits damage by shutting off the main water supply. The device can be activated manually with a special wall switch, or automatically by connecting it to a security or smart home system. www.floguard.com
FloLogic System
From a single installation point on your main water line, the FloLogic System continuously monitors all water flow within your home. If a leak is detected, it shuts off the water supply and sounds an alarm. No moisture sensors are required. www.flologic.com
Leak Defense System
Once installed on your home's incoming water supply line, the Leak Defense System uses your pre-set parameters to monitor water flow. It can detect as little as one cup of water per hour, so leaks can be identified before major damage occurs. If the flow exceeds the limits you've set, an alarm will sound. If no one is home, the Leak Defense System will shut off water to the home automatically. www.sentinelhydrosolutions.com
WaterCop
WaterCop automatic shut-off systems automatically turn off the water when a leak has been detected. This effectively reduces the chance of water damage due to common plumbing problems. They can be activated by flood sensors, an optional remote switch or via many types of home security systems. www.watercop.com.
New Report Underscores Danger of House Fires
 The National Fire Protection Agency recently published its findings from their report on fire loss in the U.S. for 2007. Again, the report demonstrates what a significant danger fire presents in the home. After reading these statistics, take time to protect yourself and your loved ones. Plan evacuation routes in case of a fire. Practice using them. Eliminate common household hazards that can lead to fires, such as improper wiring, or storing flammable materials near an open flame.
Fire departments responded to 1.6 million fires last year, the lowest total since 2004. Although the number of fires declined, fire deaths and injuries increased.
Fires killed one person every two and a half hours last year. Home fire deaths accounted for more than eight in 10 of all fire deaths. In 2007, fires caused an estimated $14 billion in property damage, a nearly 30 percent increase from 2006.
Other findings from the report:
- Almost 1.6 million fires were attended by public fire departments, a decrease of 5.2 percent from the year before.
- 530,500 fires occurred in structures, an increase of 1.2 percent.
- 414,000 fires, or 78 percent of all structure fires, occurred in residential properties.
- A residential fire occurs every 76 seconds.
- 3,430 civilian deaths occurred in 2007, an increase of 5.7 percent.
- About 84 percent of all fire deaths occurred in the home, an increase of 11 percent.
- 17,675 civilian fire injuries occurred, an increase of 7.8 percent.
- 14,000 injuries occurred in residential properties.
- Nationwide, there was a civilian residential fire injury every 30 minutes.
- An estimated $14.6 billion in property damage occurred as a result of fire in 2007, an increase of 29.5 percent in 2006. The figure includes the California Fire Storm with an estimated $1.8 billion in property damage.
- $10.6 billion of property damage occurred in structure fires, excluding structures associated with the California Fire Storm.
- $7.5 billion of property loss occurred in residential properties, an increase of 8 percent.
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