What If I Lost Everything?

Rightfully so, all of our attention is currently turned to the aftermath of Katrina and how much damage Rita will do. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected.

Over the next few weeks, this blog will explore some of the questions one should be asking their Independent Agent in the coming weeks and months. Although currently our hearts and attention are turned to the South and Southwest coasts, last year there were 68 major disaster declarations in 43 states, including hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, flooding and wildfires. Disasters can happen anywhere. Individual tragic losses occur daily. Too often, we think all insurance is the same and the only variable is price. Price is actually the last consideration one should consider. A thoughtful discussion with one's agent about coverage options and individual needs is imperative, and cannot not be had with a website.

We hope you will ask questions as we highlight homeowners, umbrella, business interruption, earthquake, and other coverages.

As an aside, before Katrina it was predicted that homeowners insurance rates for southeastern coastal rates could rise 25% this fall, the largest jump in a decade, due to hurricane claims.

When who to my wondering ears should appear????

But- my former brother-in-law, Uncle Finis! Last week , interviewed from the Quarter in New Orleanson the O'Reilly Factor (FOX). Here's the story, initial background from Sally, confirmed last night.Apparently Finis chose to stay with his property and employees in the Quarter to defend both from nature and looters- not surprising if you know Finis. His building is next door to Antoine's and he seems to have had a good relationship with the owners. At any rate, rather than let their food spoil, he's been cooking it for both those hunkered down with him and the New Orleans Police who are holed up in theirstation across the street. At first he chose to stay and ride it out, but the lawless conditions worsened to the point where it was truly unsafe to leave the building and they had exhausted their supply of food and water. Yesterday morning he and others decided it was time to leave and scraped together enough money to hire a bus- where on earth from??!! The bus got there, they were trying to leave , and the Nat'l Guard came up and commandeered it, despite the attempted intervention by the Police. This was the tale he told on TV, emphasizing the lawlessness and total lack of cooperation between feds and local authorities.All this was confirmed by a surprise call from Finis himself later in the evening. He got all his employees out (one had a heart attack!) before it got so bad- now he and his friends (sans bus money) are more or less holed up with the police who are guarding their precinct building- no way to get out. How many times have we all said- "well, it seemed like a good idea at the time."?? I can't help but admire his spunk and determination,and I wish him safe and well.If you're so inclined, you can probably hear last week's interview at Bill O'Reilly.com- surely the only and last time I'll recommend anyone to a FOX news commentary!! (Sorry, Ellen!) If I've left anything out, Webb will fill you in- Guest Blogger Suzy Hubbell

The best comment of the night was by Finis...." Jesus will arrive in New Orleans, before we see the National Guard" Webb

Labor Day

It was FDR who said, " These unhappy times call for the building of plans... that build from the bottom up and not from the top down, that put faith once more in the forgotten man at the bottom of the economic pyramid." And FDR rephrased Thoreau and thus inspired his weary nation, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."