Tips and Free Materials on the Perils of Wildfire from MetLife Auto & Home
Warwick, RI — August 23, 2006 — To help the public safeguard loved ones and personal property against the threat of wildfire, MetLife Auto & Home® offers free safety materials, including a coloring and activity book featuring the PEANUTSTM characters and a comprehensive brochure of fire safety tips. The coloring and activity book for children is "Learn About Fire Safety with the PEANUTS Gang." The fire safety brochure, "About… Fire Safety," is part of MetLife’s popular, award-winning Life Advice® series. It provides useful information, including how to plan an escape route, seasonal safety tips, and safety information related to heating your home. The information is available by calling 1-800-MET-LIFE (1-800-638-5433) or online at www.metlife.com (choose "Disaster Preparation" under "Life Advice").
"With fire safety, it's always best to play it smart," said Mike Convery, Vice President and Chief Claim Officer of MetLife Auto & Home. "The more educated people are about fire hazards, the more likely they are to take measures that could very well protect property and—more importantly—save lives."
Fortunately, there are many things homeowners can do to protect their property and minimize the threat of wildfire. One of the most important is to create a zone around the house that will slow the wildfire down, by creating a "survivable space" within 30 feet of the home (or 50 feet if you live in a heavily wooded area). This can be accomplished by:
• Pruning all trees and shrubs.
• Keeping branches on taller trees at least a minimum of six feet from the ground.
• Removing dead leaves and branches, especially around the roof and chimney.
• Clearing roofs, gutters, and eaves of debris.
• Moving firewood and storage tanks 50 feet away from the home.
• Storing flammable liquids properly.
Due to drought and dry conditions in much of the country, the threat of wildfire has been severe this year, according to a recent report issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with the National Interagency Fire Center. Many parts of the United States are at risk for the threat of wildfire, including the Southwest and central and southern Plains. In fact, several million acres of forest and grassland have already been destroyed this year, including highly publicized wildfires in California, Arizona, and Oregon.
MetLife Auto & Home®, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is one of the nation’s leading personal lines property and casualty insurance companies, insuring over 3.8 million autos and homes. MetLife Auto & Home has developed a reputation for innovation in product design, being the first insurer to introduce certain product enhancements that provide greater value to consumers, including Identity Theft resolution services to both its auto and home insurance customers, offered at no additional charge. Identity theft resolution services are not available in all states, such as Massachusetts (available homeowners only) and North Carolina. The company was named among the industry’s leaders in customer service according to J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Auto and Homeowners Insurance StudiesSM. For more information about MetLife® and its affiliates, visit www.metlife.com.
MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates, Warwick, RI.
