Do You Know Where the Next Hurricane will make Landfall?

Neither do the experts but one thing is certain… September is Texas’ peak Hurricane Season!  The Houston Chronicle recently wrote “Since 1980, 23 hurricanes have at least brushed the Texas coast in September, compared with seven in July, 19 in August and 13 in November.” As the month of August comes to an end this week, our Corpus Christi area and the entire Texas Coast heads into peak hurricane season, so the most important questions is… Are you Ready?

Retired Lt. General Russel Honore with Ed Cantu

Retired Lt. General Russel Honore (Leader of Hurricane Katrina Aftermath Task Force) says that “Preparedness is the key” and that you must have a Hurricane Emergency Pack!

We suggest that your Pack includes the following:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Cash before the banks close and ATM’s run out.
• Copies of important papers.
• First aid kit.
• Whistle to signal for help.
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place.
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
• Manual can opener for food.
• Local maps because you may be without internet.
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger.

In addition to getting your family, pets and homes safe and prepared, there are various state websites for hurricane preparedness and evacuation, including telephone numbers. Some important contacts include the Texas Statewide Road Conditions which can be called at 1-800-452-9292.

Another great source to help with your hurricane preparedness is the National Hurricane Center (NHC) because being prepared for a hurricane in our coastal region is very important.  And last but not least, when was the last time that you reviewed your personal home, windstorm and flood insurance?  Do it as soon as possible before it’s too late or better yet, call me at 361 991-1493 so that we can help review your protection with you.

 Because We Care!

 Ed Cantu                                                                                     

Are you Ready for the new school year?

The end of summer vacation came too quickly for most children and not soon enough for some.  With summer vacations being over and the first school day for CCISD here, the increased traffic means different driving patterns and being extra careful when driving near schools!

According to a report by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, back-to-school time is the most dangerous time of year for pedestrians with 29 percent of pedestrian-related fatalities.  We’ve included 5 tips below to help keep you and kids safer as they head back to school.

Use these tips to set the example for others on the road.

1.  Respect the big yellow bus- Imagine being in a large car with 40 noisy 6th-graders.  Could be pretty stressful.  Do your part and make the bus drivers’ lives easier.  Yield when they are attempting to merge and maintain a significant distance behind them as they often make unexpected stops.  Make sure children know to walk in front of – never in back of – buses.

2.  Get in the zone- Speed limits in school zones are typically 15 mph. Abide by the limits and look out for pedestrians by keeping your foot ready to brake. (It goes without saying that school zones are home to newly licensed teenagers who are largely inexperienced).  Speed limits aren’t just for during school hours either – consider after-school marching band practice, late night football games and other events.  When dropping kids off, remember that curbs are reserved for buses and emergency vehicles so you shouldn’t loiter.

3.  Walk better- Drivers aren’t the only ones who need to obey the rules of the road.  A major driving pet peeve is pedestrians who jaywalk, cross at a red light, or text while walking.  More than an annoyance, this is a danger, especially in school zones.  According to the Safe Routes to Schools organization, 33 percent of youth pedestrian crashes are attributed to kids darting out into the road.  Remember to be a good pedestrian — cross at corners/marked crosswalks and in clear view, never between parked cars.  Remind your kids to do the same.

4.  A different kind of pool safety-  If you’re part of a carpool it’s up to you to remind your children/passengers that seat-belts are a must – no matter who they are driving with.  Not only are seat-belts the law, they save thousands of lives a year.

5.  Go back to school yourself- Even if you’ve been driving for 30 years, make time for a refresher course in safe driving…  Make it a family fun night with a quiz or lessons on things like making full stops at stop signs and red lights and other good habits.  Remember that distracted driving unfortunately didn’t end with the summer either so turn off/put down your cell phone while in the car.  While it’s an exciting time, getting back to school can be stressful, too.  Tolerance and defensive driving will get you everywhere you need to go safely.

6. Bonus Tip- Leave for work or school early and don’t be in a rush!

All of us here at Ed Cantu Insurance Agency wish you and your family a safe and fun back-to-school day. Post your best back-to-school photos on Facebook this week and tag Ed Cantu Insurance for your chance to win a $50 gift card for your back-to-school supplies.

Because we Care!

Ed Cantu

Where were you 46 years ago today?

I know that plenty of you will say… “I wasn’t even born yet”.
It is especially for you, and for everyone else who was not in Corpus Christi, TX on that day that I share my story. You see, there are events in our lives that effect us forever so that even decades later, we can recall in detail what happened on that day and can tell our friends exactly where we were and what we saw!

Events like the Kennedy Assassination, Neil Armstrong first walking on the Moon and the all too recent collapse of the Twin Towers. I’m a 5th generation Corpus Christian so if you lived in Corpus Christi on August 3rd in 1970, you know that today is the 46th Anniversary of such an event.
Her name was Celia and she was the only hurricane to strike US. soil in 1970! Hurricane Celia pounded our Coastal Bend with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and gusts of wind up to 175 mph. The National Weather Service reported gusts reaching 160 mph and she caused more than $450 million in damage (more than $7 Billion in today’s money) to thousands of homes and businesses in Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Portland, Ingleside and Rockport..

I was still in elementary school but what I saw that day and more importantly, what I saw and felt the next several weeks following that day, made me aware of how important it is to be prepared during Hurricane Season. Thank God for me, my family knew what to do and how to prepare. After all, my Grandparents and Great Grandparents survived Corpus Christi’s infamous storm of 1919 and my Mom and Dad had seen their share of storms prior to Celia.

Back then, very few folks evacuated before a Hurricane but those who stayed knew what to do and were well equipped to handle the hard life without electricity, air conditioning and some times water for two weeks or more after the storm. I will never forget how hot and humid it was so if you thought the recent water boil was an inconvenience, you’ve got a lot to do to prepare yourself before our next big storm strikes!

That being said, there is a storm soon to enter the Gulf of Mexico and the heart of Hurricane Season is almost here so if you have not done so already, now is the time to prepare and to know what precautions are necessary:
Have a Weather Radio.
Fill your Hurricane Kit.
Plan your evacuation route and decide now what will trigger your plan into motion.
Discuss your Plan with your family, friends and loved ones.

Don’t think it can happen to you, Check out this home movie on youtube of “Her Name was Celia”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCZUCJMiZvA&feature=youtu.be

This video can’t duplicate the fear, heat and humidity that we felt nor the smells that we experienced from the thousands of tons of debris that Hurricane Celia left behind but you can see second hand the destruction that she left and you can get a feel for how important preparedness is and how important it is that you have the right windstorm and flood insurance protection. He heart of Hurricane Season sill soon be here so call Ed Cantu Insurance Agency today at 361 991-3575 for help before it’s too late!

Because we care,

Ed Cantu

p.s. check out www.edcantuinsurance.com for additional Hurricane Preparedness information including a special report from Hurricane Expert Dr. Steve Lyons