Author: edcantui

ARE YOU Ready?

The 2018 Hurricane season begins June 1st but the first named Storm already caused havoc along the upper Gulf of Mexico coast. Now is your time to act since professional forecasters are expecting another active hurricane season. So, are you ready?

Hurricane Harvey is proof a small tropical wave can turn into a full blown Category 4 Hurricane and 130 mph winds or more with little warning. Do yourself and your family a favor and start your plan now!

Your Checklist of what You need to do first:

• Review and improve your Windstorm Insurance

Do you or someone you know still have a policy with the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association?  Do you know that the Texas Department of Insurance fears TWIA is financially unstable so they’ve encouraged insurance agents like me to help them depopulate TWIA’s policyholders?

Think I’m am kidding?

When a KRIS 6 news reporter asked TWIA… “What happens if a hurricane hits Texas this year?  Will TWIA have the money to pay back to back claims?”  The TWIA representative’s reply will send chills up you spine… “It remains to be seen.  There are things obviously that we need to consider?” Click below and watch for yourself!

Don’t risk everything you’ve worked so hard for and hope that TWIA will find the money to replace your home and precious belongs!  We offer an alternative Windstorm, Hurricane and Hail policy with a financially sound company at rates that are up to 15% less than TWIA’s rates!

My team of professional home and windstorm insurance specialist are ready to help you determine your best protection and offer alternative protection to save up to 37% on your home, wind, and flood insurance!  Call us today at (361) 991-3575 or click https://www.edcantuinsurance.com/windstorminsurance.php#quote  now for your personal protection review.

Because we care,

Ed Cantu

P.S. Windstorm, Hurricane and Hail protection is the first step you must take to make sure you are ready for Hurricane Season.  I will keep you abreast throughout the season.

Are You Ready for New Flood Maps and the new insurance rates they bring?

In case you missed the front page of the Caller Times last Sunday or if you weren’t aware of the proposed Preliminary flood map changes to our area, my office and I are here ready to help you better understand the upcoming changes and how they will affect your income.

Most of the changes effect areas along water ways like Oso Creek and Oso Bay (The Lakes, Colony Creek, Lago Vista, Reflections Kings Crossing and others). Some areas will get a better rating but most changes mean higher rates and more will soon require flood insurance when it was optional before. Our goal is to help you better understand how the changes effect you. Our agency has spent hours studying the preliminary flood maps so call us at (361) 991-3575 for help or if you choose, you can click this link  http://maps.riskmap6.com/TX/Nueces/ to compare yourself.

Here is the quickest way to use this site if you choose to learn by yourself:

*Go to  http://maps.riskmap6.com/TX/Nueces/
*Click I Agree
* In the upper left hand section of the page, type in the address you are interested in (Search by Address) and then click search.
*Click Ok button.

The red Star on this map is the address that you selected.

A blue shaded color area means the flood zone is “A”, “AE” or worse and is prone to flooding. Your mortgage company will most likely require you to secure flood insurance when the home is in this area. 

Note that it is possible to be in a “C”, “B” or “X” Zone today, which qualifies for the Preferred Flood Program and preferred rates, and have the new preliminary maps change to an “A”, “AE” or worse.

Compare your old flood zone with new zone by clicking the i-image (Identify feature properties) on top of web-page. After you click on the i-image icon, click on the Red Star that marks the property & click on “View Detailed Flood Report”

Example: W. Bar-Le-Doc in Kings Crossing. Property is “X” zone now which qualifies for preferred flood program and preferred rates today. $450 for $250,000 protection. Preliminary Map shows Zone “AE-17”. Assuming home is built at that base elevation, the new rate would be $2,212 for $250,000.

If actual Base is one foot above at 18 feet, the revised rate would be $1,170 (Elevation certificate required). Each additional foot above base will reduce your rate further.

The new rates will be based on that Zone and that elevation above sea level but will be “Grandfathered” if you have a policy in place at the time that the new zone Maps are adopted. “Grandfathered” definition no longer means rates are fixed forever. The new definition is that the rate increases gradually (15-18% each year). Your rate could be less than the maximum “Grandfathered” rate when you provide a flood elevation that shows your home is higher than the base zone determination.

As you can see, this vital information is complicated and is difficult to explain in text so call us at Ed Cantu Insurance Agency today. We’d love to help you we are just a phone call or email away. Call (361) 991-3575 today or reply to my email now.

Because we Care

Ed Cantu
Trusted Insurance Advisor

See what your neighbors say about Ed Cantu Insurance:

“Ed Cantu is a great resource to have on your side. If you have a question about Auto, Home, Business, Health or Life ask Ed. He is a local favorite and Ed Cantu Insurance Agency delivers outstanding service to their clients.” Chris Duff, Broker/Owner RE/MAX Associates, Corpus Christi, TX

“I like recommending Ed Cantu Insurance Agency as they are always prompt and hunt for the best insurance policy to cover your needs. They are very competitively priced and get you the most for your money”. Lora Marksbury, Coldwell Banker Pacesetter Steel, Corpus Christi, TX.

Here are 5 Tips that will help you start the New Year off Safe!

Plan your evening in advance.  Did you know that driving accidents rise during the holidays?  This is true especially for New Year’s celebration so it’s vital to have a safe ride on the night when so many people are celebrating.  Don’t assume you’ll be able to hail a cab or even find a Uber driver.  Know your options in advance and decide whether you’ll take public transportation, use a ride-sharing service or carpool with your friends.

Don’t leave your car overnight.  New Year’s Day is the second most active holiday for car thefts. If you are in the Corpus Christi area, here’s a way to get you and your vehicle home safely if you’ve indulged in too much celebrating…. Call Apollo Towing Service who offers free towing for anyone in the Portland, Robstown, or the Corpus Christi. It’s part of their “NO Excuses” anti-drunk driving campaign.  Their service continues through New Years Day at 6 pm. so if you need a tow, just call Apollo Towing at (361) 853-0003 for details and requirements.

If you must leave your car somewhere overnight, be sure it’s locked and that you pick it up as early as possible the next day, after you are sober.

Plan for your guests’ safety.  If you’re hosting a party, you’ll want to be sure your guests get home safely. One option might be to hire a driver for the evening to provide them a way to get home, or if you are in Corpus Christi, you can call Green-N-Go Cabs and Yellow Cab Company who offer free rides home to residents from 9 pm. to 3 am. on New Year’s Eve. Call or text (361)299-9999 with your location and home address. Free cab rides are offered from 9 pm.-3 am.

Don’t use fireworks or firearms.  Both guns and fireworks frequently make celebratory appearances at New Year’s Eve parties. Both are bad ideas and against the law within the City limits.

Don’t forget about your pets.  Pets often bolt when they hear loud noises. Dogs have run through glass windows. They’ve run away, never to be found again.  And although it is against the law to use fireworks within the City, you know they will be used so help comfort your pets and keep them indoors to avoid them form running away.

All of us here at Ed Cantu Insurance Agency hope you enjoy your New Year’s celebration so do it carefully and avoid starting the new year off in trouble with the law or worse.  We hope these 5 safety tips help you and your loved ones and we hope to see you soon in the new year.  Share these important tips with someone you care for… I just did!

Because we Care,

Ed Cantu

www.edcantuinsurance.com