For many, the winter months are a welcome time to escape the short days and chilly temperatures by heading on vacation to Galveston, Florida, Mexico, or beyond. And is there a better way to celebrate the end of winter than to take a spring break?
 
Whether you’re going to hang out at Kemah or the Galveston boardwalk, bask on a sunny, white-sand beach in the Caribbean or hit the slopes for some skiing or snowboarding, you have to take precautions to ensure your home stays safe while you’re away. After all, what could be worse than returning from a relaxing break or an active adventure to find a disaster has occurred, such as a break-in, or water or fire damage?
 
To ensure your vacation doesn’t end in tragedy, follow these tips before you go.
 

• Check for any leaks and fix them. For example, ensure your refrigerator ice maker is not leaking!
• Set your heater at approximately 50 degrees to ensure pipes and appliances don’t freeze. But if you have pets and they are going to be in the house, set it closer to 72 degrees.
• If you have pets, make arrangements for their comfort and safety: either board them or have a friend come over daily to care for them.
• Turn furnace and hot water heaters down.
• Unplug all appliances, such as coffee makers, toasters and exercise equipment.
• Leave a light or two on so the house doesn’t appear deserted at night.
• Lower blinds and close curtains so that passers-by can’t view your valuables.
• Leave a key with a trusted friend or neighbor so they can enter the home in case of emergency.
• Have a friend or neighbor bring in newspapers and mail or cancel delivery for both during  the time when you’ll be away.

 
If you have the opportunity to get away for_spring_break, we wish you happy trails, and hope you come home to a safe and welcoming home!
 
Contact Us!
 
At First Community Financial Group, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at 936-327-4364 or send us a note at [email protected] (please use the contact buttons at the top of the page). We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!
 
Content provided by Safeco Insurance

In most places in the United States, March 12, 2023, is Daylight Saving, when clocks are moved forward one hour. We here at First Community Financial Group want to remind you it’s also a great time to improve your family’s safety.
 
Be safe in your Texas home
 
Health and safety agencies often use the approach of Daylight-Saving Time to remind people to change the batteries in their smoke alarms. The American Red Cross suggests you test your smoke alarms and talk with your family about your fire escape plan. Whether you live in  Texas or elsewhere, practice the plan too – at least twice a year.
 
Daylight Saving is a great time to check your emergency preparedness kit to make sure it’s fully stocked with fresh supplies.
 
Carbon Monoxide a concern too
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 people die annually in the US from carbon monoxide poisoning. The CDC recommends changing the batteries in your CO detectors when moving your clocks forward this Sunday.
 
The CDC says the most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
 
See the CDC’s site for more ways to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.
 
We here at First Community Financial Group hope these tips help and that you’ll consider sharing them with the people you care about so they can live safer lives too.

If you’re a beauty industry professional, you might feel challenged when you start your search for the right commercial liability insurance benefits. Many in the industry automatically assume that they wouldn’t have a reason for a customer to file a lawsuit. But the fact is that this risk exists in all aspects of all businesses at all times. Here are a few things to know about purchasing business liability insurance as a hairdresser or beautician. 

Professional Liability Insurance for the Beauty Industry Professional liability insurance isn’t just for doctors or lawyers. It helps those in the beauty industry protect themselves in any situation where a customer sues due poor treatment or service. 

For instance, imagine a situation where a hairdresser leaves a chemical on a customer’s hair for too long. This can cause significant and long-lasting damage. It’s the day before the woman’s wedding, and she sues for emotional distress. Your professional liability insurance would pay for attorney’s fees and court costs to defend against the lawsuit. Additionally, if you have to settle with the impacted individual, your liability insurance can provide the settlement money. This example shows the importance of carrying professional liability coverage.  

General Liability Insurance for the Beauty Industry It’s imperative for beauty professionals to carry a high amount of general liability insurance. This coverage helps in the event of an incident that causes a client to sue you for property damage, slander or bodily injury. 

Consider, for example, a customer who burns themselves on a hot curling iron while at your salon. Or perhaps there’s a situation where you’re helping a bride get ready for her big day, and a hair straightener malfunctions, causing a fire that damages the venue. General liability insurance protects you against lawsuits and claims in these instances. 

Deciding How Much Coverage You Need 

When purchasing insurance for your salon, determining how much coverage you actually need is essential. The professional liability and general liability policies should be sufficient in most cases, but extra coverage may be beneficial. Talking with an agent can help you choose the coverage to fit your particular needs best.  

Do you own a hair salon, beauty parlor or makeup studio? Contact us today at First Community Financial Group 936-327-4364 to discuss your business insurance needs and options. 

Livingston, TX parents, March 2 was Read Across America Day! We here at First Community Financial believe there are so many reasons to encourage children to read.
 
First of all, it’s fun! It’s also an activity that promotes learning and independent thought. But, perhaps most important, becoming a reader can mean the difference between success and difficulty later in life.
 
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, children who read proficiently by the end of third grade are more likely to graduate from high school than those who don’t. They also are more likely to be economically successful as adults.
 
The National Education Association (NEA) is well aware of the impact that literacy can have on a young person’s life. That’s why the organization started Read Across America in 1998. Held on the school day closest to the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss (March 2), the event goes beyond promoting reading for just one day. It also provides tools for educators and parents to create lifelong readers.
 
We here at [insert agency name] want you to have a few tricks up your sleeve to promote reading at home. After all, one of the most crucial factors for the success of young readers is parental involvement. According to the U.S. Department of Education, when involvement is low, reading scores are 46 points below the national average.
 
So how can you encourage your child to read? Here are some tips from the NEA and the Public Broadcasting Service’s “Between the Lions” show:

• Be a reader yourself. Set a good example by letting your kids see you reading every day.
  
  
• Make reading and literacy fun. Have the family read together, and encourage a love of words by playing rhyming and word games and singing silly songs. You can even write poems and stories as a family.
  
  
• Take part in Read Across America on March 2 every year. Check in with your local school, education association, library or bookstore to find out what they have planned. Or plan your own event for the families in your neighborhood.
  
  
• Make it convenient. Carry a few children’s books or magazines wherever you go, whether it’s a car ride, the doctor’s office, etc.
  
  
• Go to the library. And make sure you let your children choose some of their own books.
  
  
• Find used materials. Inexpensive books and magazines are often available at yard sales and secondhand stores. Dedicate a small corner of your home to creating your own library.
  
  
• Give (or get) the gift of reading. Try to incorporate reading into gifts for birthdays and other events. If relatives or friends ask for gift ideas, suggest magazine subscriptions and books.
  
  
• Show why reading is important in everyday life. Read other things with your child, from street signs to restaurant menus, so they see what reading means in the “real world.”

 
Too often, our hectic schedules mean we take less time to do the things we enjoy. So, remember, reading with children isn’t just fun for them — it should be fun for you, too! After all, as Dr. Seuss himself wrote, “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.”
​

If you love the water, few things are better than boating season.  Summer just wouldn’t be summer without spending those long, hot days on Lake Livingston, cooling off with a lazy dip in the water, dropping a line in hopes of catching a “big one,” or having an action-packed day of waterskiing and tubing.

Boating is not without its share of pre-summer preparation.  If you’re not on the ball early, it’s easy to find yourself midway through July still on dry land.

​At First Community Financial Group, we want to ensure you’re first in line at the boat launch at the first sign of the season change, so here are a few tips for being ahead of the game.

• Tune it up. It’s always a good idea to have your boat winterized at the end of each season, but whether you did or didn’t get it done last year, make sure to get a full tune-up before you hit the lake this summer.
  
  
• Charge it. Make sure your battery is fully charged.
  
• Clear it out. If there’s a chance any bit of gas from last season is still in your tank, fill it up with fresh gas as well as a stabilizer; this will prevent buildup in the gas lines and injection system.
  
• Give it a test. Before you get the boat all the way into the water and off the trailer, lower your motor into the water and make sure it will turn over.
• Plug it up. Ensure your drain plug is in and the bilge pump is functioning properly.
  
• ​Double- and triple-check. The last thing you want is to be turned away at the ramp for not having an updated registration or missing your ski flag or life vests.  Double check that your documents are updated and that your boat is fully stocked with everything you need.

We at First Community Financial Group wish you a fun-filled and safe boating season on all of the beautiful waters of the State of Texas! Call us today to get a boat quote or check your coverage. We'd love to help!