Is your chapter house ready for winter?
Willis would like to remind you to take the proper precautions this winter.
During the winter of 2008-2009 (November January), 49 claims were reported under the FPMA property insurance policy resulting in over $3,000,000 in claim payments. There are three leading risks to a chapter facility during holiday breaks:
- Water freezing
- Fire
- Vandalism and theft
In many cases, the extent of the damage was exacerbated resulting from little to no oversight of the facility over the extended winter break. In one case, a facility was not inspected regularly during the break period. A passerby noticed water pouring out the front door from a leak on the second floor. Damage totaled more than $300,000 and would likely have been significantly less had the problem been identified earlier. In another case, the heat was turned off in a chapter house located in a part of the country where the weather does not typically dip below the freezing mark. Unfortunately for this chapter, the weather became unusually cold, leading to frozen pipes and water damage. There was no insurance coverage for this claim, as the owners failed to maintain heat in the building.
This list of precautions described in the checklist is not intended only for chapters in the Northern and colder climates. Even in states where freeze is not a concern, there still remains exposure to other perils such as vandalism, fire, and plumbing related water damage that require a facility to be properly prepared for winter break and daily oversight of the facility.
To learn more about winter preparedness, download this winter break checklist. Or, visit our housing blog, Within These Walls.