Another long, hot summer: Is your business prepared for drought?

A lot of Americana Insurance clients are farmers, and that forces us to pay close attention to the weather.  But it occurred to us that other business owners might not be thinking about summer weather yet.

The news in farm country last year was dominated by drought.  While a few farmers in unaffected areas were able to take advantage of high commodity prices, many more found themselves facing yields and revenues that were much lower than expected.

This year, it looks like the drought is back. According to forecasts from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the 2013 growing season will not be much better than last year.  NOAA’s February through May forecast predicts that only the very eastern regions of Minnesota and Iowa can expect to see any relief.  Farmers in central and western Minnesota and Iowa can expect that drought conditions will be the same as last season.   (The forecast is here: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html )

Under circumstances like these, most farmers understand that it is essential that they do some wise planning when it comes to their crop insurance.

But what if you’re not a farmer?  Have you planned on how your business might be impacted by a dry summer? 

If you own a lawn-care company, for example, how will dry weather hit you? Your clients may be asking you to mow only once a month rather than once a week.  Do you know how else you might generate revenue?  If you operate a golf course, are you ready for the possibility that you may face a water shortage that will interfere with your watering and maintenance plans?  Have you budgeted for the possibility that you may have to truck in water? Do you have plan in place? 

At Americana insurance, we’re known as “the insurance guys”, but insurance is a lot more than just a policy you buy.  It can also just mean planning ahead: knowing that you’ve taken the time to think through all the possibilities so you’re ready to deal with the challenges that crop up.

A prolonged drought will be a game changer for many business people, not just farmers. Of course, whenever circumstances change, it’s never a bad idea to sit down and have a talk with your insurance agent and explore insurance policy possibilities that you may have overlooked…but it’s even MORE  important that you set aside a little time for planning ahead, so that you know your bases are covered.

Burglars Breaking In

Albert Lea is a pretty nice place to live…full of great people…but we all know that no place under the sun, no matter HOW nice, is perfect.  In 2011, there were 50 Burglaries in our city.  On a per-person basis, that’s less than the national average. On the other hand, if you are one of the victims, it’s still pretty unpleasant.  It would be just as nice NOT to become a statistic.

With that in mind, here’s something to think about:

 9% of burglars get into your house through the garage. Did you know that?  It’s the third most popular entry point for crooks, right behind the front door and the downstairs windows. (You DO lock those, right?) A lot of people keep their remote garage doors closed, but don’t bother to close the deadbolt between the garage and the house- and a lot of times, that’s all the chance a slick thief needs.

Let’s face a fact:   Being burglarized just stinks.   Sure, you’ve got insurance. But no matter how good it is, your insurance can only compensate you for the value of what you lose; it can’t replace grandma’s wedding ring or the set of 1987 Twins baseball cards you gave to your son.  Plus, even in the best of situations, it takes time to return your life to normal.   

So, let’s just agree that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Keep your stuff.  Lock your garage door, okay?