Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Lynda Jensen Column – 04/20/09



When fire strikes a home, the family loses everything in it, plus the home (if it’s bad enough), and insurance covers only major items that are remembered or documented in the house.

Some insurance covers less than this, extending only to items of documented value.

Pretend that you lost it all, and then go home tonight and tell yourself that your insurance company will compensate you for the crockpot your mom gave you, a favorite blanket, and your best pair of high heels. The answer is I don’t think so.

Aside from this, it is my firm belief that 80 to 90 percent of the public doesn’t know what their insurance covers in the event of a house fire; since everyone thinks it will happen to someone else. You find out when it all burns down.

Two years ago, I ran home after three fires struck homes within three months of each other in the area, and frantically asked how much insurance we had, and exactly what was covered.

I received a parcel in the mail from our agent that was about one-inch thick, and made no sense whatsoever. I didn’t get the answer to my question and still don’t know now.

I wrote a follow-up about the three families about six to eight months after those fires years ago, and the headline read, “Good, fair and poor. Winsted families struck by fire vary greatly in how they’re doing.” This was based directly on their insurance coverage, and what they settled with their insurance companies.

This reflects the population-at-large when it comes to insurance, I think; “good, fair and poor.” About one third of us actually search out insurance plans and make sure that we have what we need. Everyone else says “I feel sorry for that guy,” thinking it won’t ever happen to them.

Ready to lunge into spring

Spring is here, and that means there are treasures to be found during local community- wide garage sales.

Luckily, four area cities are hosting citywide garage sales on the same weekend – this weekend, Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25.

This means the following cities will offering treasures to be found: Howard Lake, Cokato, Waverly, and Montrose.

The community-wide sale for Winsted is set for the weekend of Friday and Saturday May 15 and 16.

Quote of the week

“Badness is only spoiled goodness.” – CS Lewis, “The Case for Christianity”

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