Holiday Travel Tips & Vacation Tips

HOLIDAY TRAVEL AND VACATION TIPS

There’s no question that Southern California is blessed with mild weather conditions year-round. No need to get the snow shovels out or chain those tires, we have it made in the sun. However, many families look forward to visiting the snow and the mountains during the holiday season, it’s exciting and a welcomed change from the norm. While the last thing on anyone’s mind is safety precautions during a vacation it is good to be prepared during unusual weather conditions, at least unusual for most of us. It’s also beneficial to remember to keep your home and belongings protected while you’re away enjoying your vacation. As your local Allstate Burbank agent I’ll take you through a few holiday travel tips so you can relax and have a safe, happy winter vacation.

Driving Safety in the Snow and Mountains

Driving to the mountains could take around a couple to a few hours, and in that time weather conditions will alter drastically. Independent Traveler has some vacation tips to ready you and your vehicle for the icy roads.

1.     Pack Extra and Emergency Items: Extra supplies and clothing could be helpful if your car breaks down in cold weather conditions. Coats, flashlights, extra batteries, and a windshield scraper are all things to consider bringing along while you’re packing.

2.     Check your Vehicle: Either you or your mechanic should inspect your vehicle and tires for winter readiness. Make sure your windshield wipers, brakes, defroster, heater, and exhaust systems are all in working and good condition.

3.     Keep a Safe Speed: Be mindful to slow down on icy roads, slowing down about 50% is what The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends.

4.     Don’t ‘Hug’ the Center Lane: Many mountain roads are narrower than your average highway lane, by hugging the center lane it could create a hazard with another vehicle that is also traveling near the center.

5.     Cars going Uphill have the Right of Way: Just a driving reminder to allow these passing vehicles the right of way. It’s also important to note that cars do not perform as well as at 10,000 ft than at sea level so allow them plenty of time to pass.

6.     Prepare for Quick Weather Fluctuation: From sunny to snowy, the mountain weather could be pristine one minute and a storm the next. Be more observant and courteous on the road. If other cars appear in a hurry allow them to pass. Add a special solvent to the windshield washer reservoir so there is no icing on your window. Bringing chains, an ice scraper, small broom and hand shovel is also beneficial. There may be a point where you have to dig out your tires from the snow.

7.     Skip the Cruise Control: Cruise control could accelerate during the time you least want it to such as going over an icy bridge or animal crossing.

8.     If Stranded:  If your car stalls make sure to stay with it as vehicles are far more easier to detect than pedestrians in the snow. Run the engine for heat, if you do not want to run it the entire time keep windows closed to keep heat in and run the car for 10 minutes every hour with a front window open as you do so.

9.     Take Frequent Breaks: Driving through mountain terrain can be more tiring than flatlands, keep hydrated and if you have a long distance to drive consider driving only up to 6 hours per day.

10.  Relax and Have Fun: Not exactly a tip, but we here at Allstate Burbank want you to enjoy your time up on your holiday vacation, enjoy the scenery and have fun in the snow!

Easy to follow holiday travel tips like these will keep you vigilant and ready while you venture out onto the mountain terrain while also letting you take in the view and the feeling of driving through beautiful snow.

Peace of Mind That Your Home is Safe

While you’re away enjoying your holiday your home should be protected, taking a few extra precautions can go a long way in keeping your things at home safe. Following these easy holiday travel tips from Home & Garden will help you enjoy your vacation up north without having to worry about what’s going on back at home.

1.     Have a house or pet-sitter stay over. Having someone like a close friend or relative stay in your home can be the best solution to keeping all your belongings safe as well as upkeep your home. You can also hire a house or pet-sitter from a trusted agency.

2.     Make sure no mail is stolen by calling your post office and asking them to hold it for you until you get back. Post offices can keep mail for up to 30 days.

3.     Don’t let your house look unoccupied for too long. Having a pile of newspapers sitting on your front porch might draw some unwanted attention. Stop newspaper services while you’re out of town. It’s a small detail that can make a big impact.

4.     Newspapers and mail will be able to be stopped while you’re gone, but there are still few snags to worry about. Doorknob flyers and yellow page book can give away your absence. Ask a neighbor or another trusted individual to take down these red flags.

5.      Create the illusion that your house is lived-in. Invest in a timer that turns on your interior and exterior lights for a few hours each evening and ask your neighbor or a trusted individual to take out the trash for you. To people passing by it’ll look like just another normal day at your house.

6.     That outside appearance is just as important as the inside. If you mow your lawn or trim your hedges weekly and will be gone for an extended period of time think about hiring a service to upkeep your lawn.

7.     Such an obvious thing to do, but sometimes forgotten is to keep all your windows deadbolt shut. Normally you might keep your kitchen window slightly open when your home so it’s easy to forget about this easy task. This small task being forgotten could be a literal window of opportunity for a burglar to seize.

8.     Be a little precautious on who you tell about your trip. That’s not to say you should be suspicious of everyone, but some information is best kept within your circle of trusted friends and family. Letting it pass to the wrong people could be potentially dangerous.

9.     Consider turning off electronics and appliances. You can save money by unplugging computers, coffee pots, and your television. Also turning off your garage door can stop thieves from opening it with a universal remote.

10.  Another more obvious way to protect your home is with a security system in place. These features work when you’re away, asleep, awake, or just out in your backward. It can be discreet or very visible, either way it does it’s job of protecting your home.

While some of these vacation tips may seem too obvious and others too small a detail to think or worry about all of them can be great deterrents for any potential burglars looking for an easy steal.

Allstate Can Help Lessen the Worry

We here at Allstate Burbank want to help you be prepared to avoid any unwanted events with our holiday travel tips while you’re enjoying your vacation. Unfortunately even being prepared isn’t a guarantee of absolute safety being properly insured can help in this circumstance. Having both auto and homeowners insurance will put you back on the right track and I can provide the right insurance to suit your needs.

Auto Insurance After an Accident or if Damaged

Two types of coverage to consider while you're driving through the snowy mountains are collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car if you collide with another car or something else such as a bridge or tree. If someone hits your parked car, this is considered a collision as well. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car caused by something other than a collision such as theft, fire, windstorm, other natural disasters, or hitting an animal.

Homeowner’s Insurance in Protecting your Belongings

There are a few different types of homeowner’s insurance that protect your home from a variety of cases. Personal Property Protection will provide monetary coverage in the event that your belongings are stolen or damaged. When considering this option come to talk to me about the different levels of monetary coverage that would adequately benefit you and your home.

Enjoy Your Vacation and Let Us Do the Work

Vacations are about forgetting your worries and taking time for yourself and your loved ones. Keeping some precaution in mind with our vacation tips whether it be while you’re driving in the unpredictable mountain terrain or while you’re away and your home is unattended lets you enjoy your time off all the more. Having Allstate homeowner’s and auto insurance will also keep them in good hands in the event that things don’t go right. Be it before or after an incident Allstate has your best interest at heart this vacation season.

Small Business Holiday Protection

Small Business Holiday Protection

Lighting up the decorations, and preparing your staff for the holiday rush are a couple key ways to prepare for this time of year, but it can also distract from other pressing risk factors. Running a business during the holidays is a stressful endeavor with more foot traffic and a larger staff to handle, and with that come safety risks to your products, your new employees, as well as your property. At AllState Burbank we want to help keep your business on the right track during times of change and although the holidays are predictably busy, there are still unpredictable consequences that come with it.

Protecting from Retail Theft

Theft from customers and employees is always something to be on the lookout for, but with large crowds and new seasonal employees the risk is even higher. Fit Small Business  has helpful low to mid cost tips to avoid and prepare from retail theft.

1. Acquiring Inventory Management:  In the event that you are losing inventory it allows you to know exactly what’s being stolen. Getting an inventory management system is the most accurate way to count and keep track of your inventory.

2. Educate Employees:  A lot of seasonal employees may not have the experience on just how to detect retail theft, ask them to lookout for suspicious activity and alert a manager if they actually see someone shoplifting. This type of communication is important in building loyalty as well as deterring theft from happening within the business. Educating the employee on your inventory system and informing them on how you keep track of your products is also another way to discourage employee theft.

3. Organize your Store to be Theft Deterrent:  Keep your store as open as possible. If every area appears accessible and within view it is much more difficult for shoplifters to take items without being exposed to everyone. Keeping your products from reaching from the floor to ceiling as well as having proper lighting are also some other ways of deterring theft.

4. Placing Shoplifting Signs, Security Mirrors: Not only do signs make theft less likely as they too deter shoplifters, they are also they’re for your legal protection if you intend to take someone to court. Mirrors also allow for a better view if your store happens to have tall shelves and secluded areas.

5. Video Surveillance System: You don’t need break the bank to get a secure security camera in place. Make sure that they’re not discreet, but instead clearly visible to potential shoplifters. Having one at the entrance is usually one of the best strategies.

6. RFID Tags: Removable radio frequency tags are often used on clothes and react as sensor if a customer and possible shoplifter tries to bypass the checkout area. They range in price and come in varying options such as stickers, pins, and tags. They can be removed with a special tool or just taken off by the cashier. While they’re not a 100% guarantee they discourage majority of shoplifters.

Even if you have already implemented these easy steps into your business remaining more vigilant and cautious during this time of year can help make alleviate the holiday stress.

Data Theft Becoming More Common in Small Businesses

While preparing your business for the possible influx shoplifters sifting through merchandise, another type of thief has become more prominent during the holidays. Although larger companies seem to be the most affected by this new trend, it’s good to stay aware according to the Experian Data Breach Resolution as it can lead to losing customers and time spent recovering losses to reputation.

Here a few tips to keep in mind and be aware of:

●     Making data security is a priority for your business as many companies who have failed to realize their security vulnerabilities no longer exist. 

●     Conducting a risk assessment is considering what cyber criminals are most likely going to be after such as customer credit numbers or banking accounts. When you have assessed and evaluated these issues establish security programs around them.

●     Developing an accident response plan is your next objective. Trying to prevent a data breach is only part of the strategy in combating cyber criminals. Before the event of a possible data breach take time to develop an incident plan.

Protecting Your Employees and Your Liability

Hiring new and seasonal employees is sometimes a must to prepare your business for the holiday influx, unfortunately accidents and injuries can follow suit.  According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission over 12,000 people nationally are injured but accidents involving dried-out Christmas trees, defective holiday lights, and other types of decorations. To avoid this potentially dangerous outcome, training new employees and keeping safety as the number one goal is a must.  These safety tips from the National Safety Council are some of the most prominent ways to protect your employees.

1.       Familiarize Employees: Whether they are new or seasoned workers it’s good to familiarize them with the store itself, their duties and, any equipment they will have to use if physical labor is involved. Proper training techniques and ladder safety are basic safety precautions that will help in the long run.

2.       Be Mindful with Decorations: There are many ways to show off your business’s festive side as well as boost morale and do so with employee safety in mind.

●     Use battery powered candles; this will help against a potential fire hazard.

●     If you can, avoid placing combustible decorations as not all plastic trees and wreaths are flame retardant.

●     Use extension cords thoughtfully, stringing together cords or running them under rugs can lead to falls and fire hazards. Also keep in mind not to overload the circuits.

●     Make sure decorations are carefully placed in areas that avoid heavy foot traffic or block emergency exits.

3.       Have Enough Hands on Deck: Under staffing during the holidays can lead to fatigue and increase injuries. If physical labor is involved the more employees to help with lifting, stocking, and holding ladders steady can be a greatly beneficial safety practice.

4.       Inventory and Store Maintenance: Remember to keep inventory at an appropriate level so it will not lead to overstocking and cause possible injuries. Look over your business as a whole on a daily basis and evaluate if it’s safe for both employees and customers.

Practicing these safety tips will keep your employees and business much safer and secured during this great but hectic time of year.

Protecting From Property Damage

Making sure your protecting your livelihood year round goes without saying, and during the holidays it’s just as crucial. $7 million in property damage and loss occurs from fire incidents and in many cases involving Christmas trees.  Many of the safety tips that keep employees and customers safe by extension will protect your property as well, but there are a few key things to keep in mind.

As fire hazards are one of the most physically detrimental as well as more statistically damaging during the holidays making sure smoke and fire alarms, as well as fire extinguishers are up to date and working is vital in protecting from property damage.

Small Business Insurance Protects Your Livelihood

Following these tips will help with avoiding possible accidents and damages that can affect your merchandise, employees, customers, and property. In the event that an unfortunate circumstance of the seasons does occur despite your precautions insurance coverage can be a vital asset to your business. AllState Burbank is also a great ally with a variety of coverage that will lessen the stress during this holiday season.

Here are few examples of what AllState Burbank’s insurance coverage can mean for your business:

1.       Protecting from Fire Damage:  Property coverage protects the actual building of your business, your inventory, equipment, and other furnishings housed there from fire damage that could destroy your business and make your equipment unusable. It may also cover other costs such as removing debris.

2.       Protecting Your Employees: Depending on the number of employees you have the employees practices liability coverage gives worker compensation to those who have injured on the job.

3.       Protecting Your Data: While shoplifting is a type of retail theft many business owners can prepare for in their own ways, data breaching is a new type of theft affecting many small business.  Data breach coverage helps protect against any legal or other costs in the event that personal data of employees or customers are stolen or accidentally released to the public.

Protection is Key and AllState is Here to Assist

Having a small business can be a joy to own even during the hectic season. At AllState in Burbank we want to help preserve that integrity and that passion. These tips keep in mind some of the unfortunate circumstances that can occur which we hope will prepare you in preventing any possible damages. In the event that it does occur our insurance coverage can help ease your worries so that you can focus on what’s important, your livelihood.