Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 Americans are hospitalized due to CO poisoning.

As I write this article, the first big snowstorm of 2016 is on its way, already causing problems throughout many parts of the country. The Insurance industry offers these few tips to help protect you and your property from winter weather-related damage.

Yes and No.  As usual in the Insurance Business, it depends.  Generally, a Homeowners or Renters Policy covers personal property, usually subject to your deductible. However, many policies limit the amount of coverage or insurance they provide for Personal Computers, silverware, valuable item collections, fine art and jewelry.  So if your house or apartment is filled with expensive gifts, you may want to consider additional coverage to make sure that these gifts can be replaced if something happens to them.

For most people, the holiday season is a time for family, friends and shopping. But for others it’s an opportunity to steal everything from your identity to the gifts under the tree.

According to the Insurance industry, fire and theft claims rise dramatically during the holiday season. Many are crimes of opportunity and can be prevented with some simple steps.

Here are five types of theft home and business owners should guard against during the holiday season.

The Holidays are nearly here and you know what that means.  The kickoff to the holiday travel season is about to begin.  Nearly 63.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Christmas holidays.  And more than 82% of all holiday travelers intend to travel by car.  Here are some road safety tips for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Make sure your car is well equipped for travel.  Check the tires, battery, antifreeze and brakes.  Check that your spare tire is properly inflated and that your cell phone is fully charged.