Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that in Fargo, ND, with a population over 90,000, less than 600 homeowners have flood insurance. Many in the area have not seen a catastrophic flood, and felt no pressing need to purchase flood insurance.

FEMA doesn't require homeowners to purchase flood insurance unless they live in a designated flood plain and own a federally backed mortgage.

For the past few days, residents along the Red River valley have scrambled to pile sandbags along miles of dikes and around their homes, hoping the levees will hold and prevent catastrophic flooding.

The Red River reached a record-high level of 40.82 feet on Saturday in Fargo, ND, and has since begun to recede.

Flood insurance is not covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, and must be purchased as a separate policy. Limited federal help may be available for the uninsured who lose their homes, but it's usually a loan that must be repaid.

Two deaths and 50 injuries have been attributed to the flood.

But don't worry: Legacy Locker's one-of-a-kind "life insurance policy" for computer passwords is looking to change that.

The idea is simple. With Legacy Locker, your computer passwords are accessible even after you're six feet under. You store passwords in the system and, in the event of your demise, it provides those passwords to those you designate as "beneficiaries."

Legacy Locker's service includes financial accounts, online banking accounts, online bill-pay programs, e-mail, instant messaging programs, social networking profiles--any account with a password.

This may be important for your survivors to reach out to your friends to let them know you're gone (though I think they would figure it out eventually). Or, if you pay your mortgage or bills online, it allows your spouse to continue making mortgage payments or pay bills even after you've become worm food.

Legacy Locker can even send a final farewell letter to your friends and family after you're gone. If you're a social media fanatic, you can arrange for a Legacy Locker representative to publish (or "tweet" for all the Twitter groupies out there) your final farewell on your profile.

Otherwise, how will the Facebook, MySpace, Digg or Twitter world be notified of your demise?

Why not simply store your passwords in a safe deposit box or with a lawyer? First of all, that's low-tech. Second, Legacy Locker is proactive. It periodically attempts to log on to systems for you; if you've changed your password, it alerts you to update your password in their system.

The service claims to be highly encrypted. Passwords will only be provided to beneficiaries who confirm your death with a copy of the death certificate.

Legacy Locker costs $29.99 per year or $299.99 for a lifetime subscription.

Presently, InsWeb.com does not offer life insurance specifically designed for computer passwords. We do, however, provide free term life insurance quotes to consumers looking to secure the financial futures of their loved ones (which we feel is a bit more important than life insurance for computer passwords).

Nobody wants to think about what would happen to their computer passwords after they're gone. But in the age of technology, the "computer password life insurance discussion" is a necessary part of life.

Don't take your secrets to the grave. If you use the Internet, iPhone, video game console or any piece of technology that requires a password, talk to your loved ones about insuring your computer passwords--before it's too late.

Why would California ban black cars, you ask? It's simple: to reduce pollution.

Dark colors reflect less sunlight than lighter colors, which means dark-colored vehicles absorb more heat. Therefore, air conditioning systems must work harder to lower the temperature of black cars, and a busy air conditioner results in increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Beginning in 2012, the California Air Resources Board has mandated that new vehicles sold in California must meet a 20% solar reflectivity standard. Unfortunately, when reflective chemicals are added to black paint, the resulting color is a mud-puddle brown--not exactly the sexiest color on the road. And that's exactly where the rumor started.

These "cool vehicles" will help reduce California meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) to 1990 levels by 2020.

Experts estimate that the effects of the national peanut butter recall could cost America's peanut industry roughly $1 billion in lost production and sales. Sales of peanut butter products have fallen off dramatically since the outbreak was announced.

The salmonella outbreak has been tracked to Peanut Corp.'s plant in Blakely, Georgia. Salmonella was also found in products that originated from the company's plant in Plainview, Texas.

The Center for Disease Control reports that as many as nine deaths may be attributed to the outbreak.

Those who filed lawsuits against the company are holding on to one last hope: the company's insurance policy.

The Peanut Corporation of America has a separate insurance policy that covers up to $12 million in personal injury coverage. Whether or not the policy will include damages tied to the salmonella outbreak, however, is currently being argued in court.

Even if the court rules in Peanut Corporation of America's favor, the $12 million in personal injury coverage may not be enough to cover the monumental losses.

According to the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness (yes, this is a legitimate organization) at the University of Georgia, peanut farmers are likely to reduce their peanut-growing acreage by at least one-third to compensate for decreased demand.

The losses for restaurants, grocers, candy manufacturers, ice cream vendors and other small businesses have yet to be tallied.

Salmonella bacteria can cause fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms appear within a few days of ingestion, and typically last four to seven days. Most people make a full recovery, but salmonella can be serious in elderly, infants, and others with weakened immune systems. If you've ingested a few too many bad peanuts, you need a health insurance policy to gain access to affordable medical care.

The lesson here is simple: if your company screws up badly enough, even $12 million in personal injury coverage may not be enough to keep your business afloat.

But if you own a business and run it properly, business insurance can help keep it protected.

Since this would be my first time in another country, I decided to stay open minded and leave my American way of thinking back home. This turned out to be difficult since most thoughts and actions are ingrained into us, like not walking down the middle of a street or assuming I'm safe from motorized vehicles while on the sidewalk.

In Florence, however, these everyday factors are not the same. I was very surprised, and fearful at first, to see everyone walking down the middle of streets. Everyone. People strolled along passed coffee bars and gelato shops, right down the center of the road. And when you came to a cross street hardly anyone paused to check both ways before crossing. I did out of habit, but my friend whom I was visiting just kept on walking. She has adapted to the Florentine way.

There is a slow and almost musical give and take between cars and people in this Tuscan city. If you hear a motor you drift to the sides closer to the shops and buildings; if not, keep walking down the center. If you are standing in the Piazza della Signoria with crowds of people, don't assume you are safe from cars.

Perhaps even more shocking was the number of people who rode their Vespas on the narrow sidewalks. Numerous times I had to jump off into the street to let a scooter rider pass by. Italy is known for Vespas and scooters. Though environmentally scooters are better than cars because they use less fuel, playing chicken with one on the Italian sidewalk is another thing altogether.

So should you visit Florence keep your ears and eyes open--not just to take in the sights--you don't want to get plowed down by a Vespa.

Dream Vacation: La Dolce Vita on a Budget

Dream Vacation: Why I Bought Travelers Insurance

Mood disorders, especially major depression, are a red flag for life insurance companies.

Postpartum depression is treatable if recognized, but insurers tend to see new mothers suffering from depression as elevated suicide risks. If you apply for a term life insurance policy after you're diagnosed with depression, you'll likely be offered a far less affordable premium.

If you're being charged more as a result of postpartum depression, enlist your therapist's help in writing a letter to the insurer requesting a better deal. A number of life insurance companies will consider appeals and sometimes reward you with a lower rate, especially if your treatment is complete.

Women should avoid the problem altogether by shopping for a term life insurance policy before they conceive. This way, they can secure coverage while rates are still low.

Msnbc.com is reporting that Lohan was in the passenger seat while an assistant drove Lohan's new Maserati, hitting a Subaru in Glendale, Calif. The police were not called and no one was injured.

The reports claim that Lohan's Maserati cost $100,000. Now that's an expensive car to insure!

Anna Nicole Smith's Boyfriend, Dr., Arrested for Prescription Drug Conspiracy

The Octuplet Mom and the Monumental Cost of Motherhood

Body Part Insurance

Does Your Favorite Athlete Have "Ankle Insurance"?

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) said that ash clouds from the volcano reached 60,000 ft above sea level and are drifting north-northeast. Ash has fallen in the cities of in Skwentna, Talkeetna, Wasilla, and Trapper Creek. The ash from Mount Redoubt, and any volcano, is very abrasive and can damage car and plane engines, as well as cause skin irritation and breathing problems. People in the area of Mount Redoubt have been advised to stay indoors and wear masks if they have to go outside.

The AVO said that more eruptions and explosive activity could occur with little or no warning, and could occur intermittently for weeks or months. For more information on getting prepared for volcanoes or other disasters, check out Ready.gov.

Volcanoes Covered by Most Homeowners Insurance Policies

The world's cheapest car has been revealed in India. Tata Motors' latest car, the Tata Nano, will sell for Rs. 300 or $6.00! Billed as the world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano has a 2-cylinder engine, and a top speed of 105 kph (about 65 mph). The Nano seats 4 adults, though how comfortably is up to debate.

The Tata Nano isn't just a cheap car--it just may be the epitome of the smart car. With a fuel efficiency rate of 23.6 km/liter--or about 55.5 mpg--the Tata Nano puts even the Toyota Prius and Smart for Two to shame (Smart for Two only gets 41 mpg highway; the Toyota Prius gets 46 combined highway/city according to their websites).

The new cheapest car comes in 3 variations: Tata Nano Standard; Tata Nano CX (which comes with heating/ air-conditioning and fold-down rear seat); and the Tata Nano LX (which includes front power windows, fog lamps, electronic trip meter, cup holder, and rear spoiler among other options).

"The Nano represents the spirit of breaking conventional barriers," said Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, Ratan N. Tata at a Press Conference. "I hope it will provide safe, affordable, four-wheel transportation to families who till now have not been able to own a car. We are delighted in presenting the Tata Nano to India and the world."

So scrounge around for some loose change and buy yourself a Tata Nano, heck buy two by flipping over the couch cushions! You'll save yourself some money and get a green car, who would want more?

By the way: only 100,000 Tata Nanos will be sold for the $6.00 amount, chosen by lottery. But if you can find $6.00 in your sofa you're already pretty lucky so I'd say you've got a good chance!

We all know that smoking is bad for our health, but do you know how bad smoking is?

• Smoking accounts for 438,000 deaths (1 out of 5) in the U.S. each year.

• More people die from smoking and other tobacco use each year than die from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, auto injuries, suicides, and murders combined.

• Smoking almost doubles your risk for stroke.

• Smoking causes heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Cigarette smokers are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease than non-smokers.

• Your risk of dying from lung cancer goes up 23% if you're a male smoker, up 13% if you're a woman who smokes.

If the numerous, frightening health issues don't scare you into flushing the smokes, then maybe the coming tax hike will. Anytime is the right time to quit smoking, but this April might be more perfect to call it quits. April 1st the federal tax on cigarettes will increase to $1.01 a pack from $0.39. That is an increase of almost 160%!

Maybe you think that you can handle the tax increase, but you might already be paying more for things your non-smoker friends pay less for:

• Smokers pay more for renters / home insurance--smoking accounts for over 20,000 residential fires each year, so insurers charge smokers more than non-smokers for a homeowners or renters insurance policy.

• Smokers pay more for life insurance--if you smoke you have a higher risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and other health problems (see above), and life insurance companies will charge you more than a non-smoker for a life insurance policy.

If you decide to kick the smoking habit, you do not have to go cold turkey. Many health insurance plans cover smoking cessation products and plans and many offer support groups. Also check out groups like the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society or Smokefree.gov for information on how to quit smoking. It will not be easy, but the life you save will be your own. Good Luck.

Your best friend, brother, parent has decided to quit smoking and you are so happy for them. But remember that this is a very difficult time for them, nagging or belittling a smoker who is trying to quit does nothing to help them. Be supportive and check out the American Cancer Society's Helping A Smoker Quit: Do's and Don'ts.

Kick the Habit for Fluffy's Sake!

Are You a Smoker?

With Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and other wild celebrities running amok in the L.A. area, every Los Angeles auto insurance policy should include an adequate amount of collision coverage. After all, a standard Los Angeles auto insurance policy may not carry enough coverage to repair the pricey Bentleys and Aston Martins driven by so many So-Cal celebs.

Los Angeles auto insurance should include comprehensive coverage, too. There are over 100,000 cases of property crime each year in L.A. And though adding comprehensive coverage to a Los Angeles auto insurance policy isn't required by law, it's a necessity for vehicle owners who want to protect against vandalism, car theft, or other non-collision damage.

So when you're leaving the Lakers game and find your car has been vandalized by a group of rowdy Celtics fans, comprehensive coverage makes certain your Los Angeles auto insurance policy will keep you covered.

If you're looking for more ways to save on Los Angeles auto insurance, check out InsWeb's 10 Ways to Save.

Few drivers fully understand the impact of a DUI conviction. Not only will offenders face jail time and a possible prison sentence, but the financial impact could be devastating: first-time offenders are responsible for an average of $10,828 in out-of-pocket expenses.

On top of that, car insurance rates skyrocket following a DUI conviction. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a non-profit organization dedicated to sober driving, reports that a first-time DUI offender can expect their car insurance rates to range between $3,600 and $6,600 a year.

Depending on how long a DUI conviction remains on your driving record, these astronomical car insurance rates can continue for up to seven years. Furthermore, if any accidents and tickets (past or future) are on your record, your car insurance rate could triple. And in this economy, a pricey car insurance rate is the last thing you need.

Some cities are offering unique ways to combat intoxicated driving on St. Patrick's Day. In and around Washington D.C., the St. Patty's Day SoberRide program provides free cab rides to citizens of the nation's capital. Residents can dial 800-200-TAXI to take advantage of this service. Over 200 people used the service last year.

If you're planning on hitting the town this St. Patty's Day, keep the streets safe by drinking responsibly and bringing along a designated driver.

Earlier in the season, the King's rookie (Greene) forgot to bring in the team's breakfast. So the Kings' veterans decided to fill Greene's car with popcorn. However, Greene's response to the prank was to put a mixture of dog food, soy sauce and other condiments all over the outside of Bobby Jackson's white Mercedes.

See the "prank" here.

I don't know for sure, but I think that prank pretty much ruined Jackson's car. During my time of playing high school and college baseball, I participated in a prank or two, but none of them resulted in either party having to file an insurance claim.

I wonder if now the King's will start to focus more on practicing?

"These individuals repeatedly and excessively furnished thousands of prescription pills to Anna Nicole Smith, often for no legitimate medical purpose," California Attorney General Edmund Brown said in a statement. "There is ample evidence that Doctor Eroshevich and Doctor Kapoor violated their ethical obligations as physicians, while Mr. Stern funneled highly addictive drugs" to Anna Nicole.

The Attorney General says that over a period of three years, Eroshevich, Kapoor and Howard K. Stern furnished thousands of prescription pills to Anna Nicole Smith, including opiates, benzodiazapines, and other controlled and non-controlled substances.

Dr. Eroshevich and Dr. Kapoor falsified prescriptions and prescribed unwarranted amounts and combinations of highly addictive medications. Howard K. Stern, as Anna Nicole's attorney and boyfriend, served as a vital link in obtaining, delivering, and administering these prescription drugs to Anna Nicole Smith.

In an Associated Press report, when she died, investigators found 11 prescription medications in Anna Nicole's hotel room, most prescribed in Howard K. Stern's name.

Americans Skipping Necessary Prescriptions Due to Cost

The Octuplet Mom and the Monumental Cost of Motherhood

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, "Most cases were found to relate to life insurance. In one instance, a man with a faulty gene linked to a greater risk of breast and prostate cancer was denied income protection and trauma insurance that would have let him claim if he developed other forms of cancer."

Well it turns out that this is a form of insurance discrimination in Australia.

Under industry guidelines, insurers cannot compel people to have a genetic test, but those who have been tested must reveal their results.

It is only legal for companies to use this information if they can justify their decisions.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, cold sufferers who engage in moderate exercise experience less severe cold symptoms and get over their colds faster than their sedentary counterparts.

Those who engage in regular exercise tend to catch fewer colds. In fact, a series of studies in the '90s found that moderate exercise reduces the duration of the common cold by 50%.

Not everyone who has a cold should exercise, though.

Medical professionals use a rule of thumb known as the "neck rule." If your cold symptoms are above your neck--stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, headache--you should be okay to exercise. But if you're running a fever or feel congestion in your chest, you should skip the treadmill and stay in bed.

If you do decide to exercise while fighting a cold, moderation is the key. Strenuous exercise can actually weaken your body's immune system, keeping you sick longer.

For tips to avoid getting sick, check out InsWeb.com's Staying Healthy This Flu Season.

The Frankenstein-esque project was pioneered by Dr. Jeff Steinberg, who played a role in creating the first test tube baby in 1978.

The first "cosmetic medicine" newborn is expected to be delivered next year. The cost for the procedure is estimated to cost upwards of $18,000. And no, the procedure probably won't be covered by your health insurance plan.

Has modern science finally lost its marbles? Will "designer children" become a standard of the 21st century?

Whatever the case, this story proves that anything's possible in L.A.--even a generation of genetically-engineered cookie-cutter children.

Let's just hope they're not all named Ken and Barbie...

Superstar athletes like Alex Rodriguez, who makes $27,000,000 per season playing baseball for the New York Yankees, are assets far too valuable to leave uninsured. When a player gets injured and misses games, he or she continues to receive a paycheck--it's the team that is left footing the bill for lost revenue.

That's why professional teams shell out big bucks to insure the health of their players.

When a star player misses significant time, team performance usually declines, ticket sales sag, apparel declines--all of which cost the team money. If a franchise athlete like LeBron James or Peyton Manning goes down, it could cost the team millions of dollars in losses.

In the United States, insurance policies for professional athletes cost roughly 2 to 3 percent of the athlete's salary. Factors that contribute to insurance premiums include the sport, player's age, and history of injury. In the case of A-Rod, the annual insurance premium could top $800,000.

But insurance policies aren't exclusive to sports franchises. Insurance is sometimes purchased by athletes themselves, usually to insure their future earnings, including loss of endorsements and the additional cost of marketing themselves while injured.

So when Kobe Bryant breaks your favorite player's ankles on a strong drive to the basket, don't lose too much sleep over it--he's probably got insurance.

Barbie is truly a Renaissance woman. She's been a doctor, a police officer, U.S. Navy Officer, and of course a teenage fashion model. She has her pilot's license, and she even ran for president in 2000, way before Hillary Clinton!

With so many careers, Barbie is one valuable asset. With 6 little siblings (Skipper, Todd, Stacie, Kelly, Krissy and Cecilia) and long-term boyfriend Ken to think of, Barbie might want to consider protecting them in the future. Who is going to pay the mortgage on the Dream House if something happens to Barbie? What about the Barbie Corvette payments?

Could Barbie get a reasonable term life insurance policy? She has some risky professions including astronaut and NASCAR driver, so she might pay a little more in term life premiums. But Barbie looks fab for 50, so it's a safe bet she eats right and exercises--and no self-respecting doctor would smoke--so Barbie shouldn't have too many health issues to increase rates.

With a term life insurance policy, Barbie can rest assured that her little siblings will be taken care of should her next UNICEF Ambassadorial trip take her into extra-dangerous territory.

Daylight saving works as a great reminder to check our smoke detectors. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends changing the batteries in smoke detectors at least once a year, and to use Daylight Savings as a good reminder.

It is also a good time to think about your home's safety. Do you have the proper number of smoke detectors in your home (at least one per floor, especially near sleeping areas)? Do you have fire extinguishers? How about a home escape plan? Do you have a carbon monoxide detector? Have you thought about installing fire sprinklers in your home? Many homeowners insurance providers offer discounts on insurance policies when you install safety features.

So take this time as we Spring Forward to check your smoke detectors and think about home fire safety.

Heart Attack Risk Drops at End of Daylight Savings

Want an Insurance Discount? Just Ask!

Fire Prevention Week

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

With a can of Campbell's in hand it was time to drive back home, make my soup and put my head under the covers. But my car had other ideas. The battery was dead. D-E-A-D, dead. Not even a sliver of power. With a tissue in one hand, and my cell phone in the other, I called my road service to get a jump start or a new battery, whichever would get me home quicker.

Things went smoothly, this isn't my first experience with a dead battery or car problems. But I should have known the battery wouldn't be around much longer. I have been having trouble getting my car to start for about 2 months. But it always turned on, eventually, so I just ignored it.

I was home in about an hour, much longer than the 5 minutes I had planned. The moral of this story is that if you have trouble starting your car, have it looked at, and if you take a sick day, stay home and eat crackers.

That New Car Smell Saga

The Healing Power of the Mighty Chicken

Basketball Superstar LeBron James

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James was clocked driving 101 mph on his 23rd birthday. His punishment? A speeding ticket worth $259, plus court costs. At least he didn't mail his fine in like Michael Jordan.

Music Legend Eric Clapton

While in France, the 16-time Grammy Award winner was clocked doing 216 kilometers (equivalent to 134 mph here in the U.S.) on a French motorway--53 mph over the speed limit. Afterwards, had his United Kingdom driver's license revoked, but still made time to pose for photographs with French police. Definitely a step in the right direction for Anglo-Franco relations.

Al Gore III, Son of Former Vice President Al Gore

In 2006, former Vice President Al Gore explored the issue of global climate change in his documentary An Inconvenient Truth. The year following, his son Al Gore III was cited for driving over 100 mph in--get this--a blue Toyota Prius hybrid.

A hybrid reaching triple digits? What's next, rally car racing in a SmartCar?

Worst Offender - NBA Forward Kenyon Martin

The absolute worst case of celebrity driving has to be Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin. In January 2006, he was ticketed driving 101 mph in a 30 mph zone. A few months later, he was stopped again for reaching 103 mph. And, as most celebrities do, he got off with a slap on the wrist.

Driving 101 in a 30 mph zone--who does he think he is, Jeff Gordon?

Honorable Mention - Basketball star Jason Richardson

While he didn't quite reach triple digits, Phoenix Suns guard Jason Richardson still deserves acknowledgement for bonehead driving. J-Rich was clocked by Scottsdale police driving 90 mph in a 35-mph zone. The worst part of the story, however, is that the vehicle was occupied by Richardson's three-year-old son, who was left unrestrained in the backseat.

If you're tagged for reckless driving (laws vary by state) you may be forced to purchase high-risk car insurance, which can cost two to three times more than a standard policy. And you could be subject to misdemeanor criminal charges in some areas. Repeat offenders are often sentenced to jail time as punishment.

And it's not like most celebs cruise around in old beaters--except for Morgan Freeman, who flipped a 1997 Nissan Maxima into a ditch in Mississippi last year. Could you imagine the cost of high-risk car insurance for a brand new Bentley? Paris Hilton can...

Filthy rich celebrities can afford sky-high car insurance rates. For everyone else, InsWeb offers money-saving tips for drivers who need affordable car insurance.

The cost to provide home insurance depends on the home's value and perceived risk of natural disasters. Oregon is considered at low-risk for tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Oregonians can get a great deal on renters insurance, too. The average renters insurance policy in Oregon costs $162 annually--less than the phone bill in most households. That's $27 less than the national average.

For money-saving tips and insurance policy information, visit the InsWeb Learning Center.

Also known as halitosis, bad breath is a condition that affects tens of millions of Americans. Caused by millions of gas-forming bacteria that build in the mouth, most cases of bad breath can be eliminated with toothpaste, mouthwash or tongue scrapers--but it's not always that simple.

In extreme cases, odor-causing bacteria forms in clumps and becomes jammed in tiny tonsil folds in the back of the throat, and no amount of brushing or flossing will dislodge it.

Until now, the prescription for eradicating the odorous bacteria has been simple: remove the tonsils. But tonsil removal surgery is a major surgical procedure that often requires a hospital stay. And with the price tag reaching upwards of $10,000, it's not the most feasible option for most cash-strapped Americans.

Instead, Dr. Krespi has devised a simpler, more cost-effective approach: use a tiny laser beam to zap away the clumps. The outpatient procedure lasts only 20 minutes, leaving the patient with only a mild sore throat. Most patients can return to work the same day--usually with cleaner, fresher breath.

To date, over 500 patients have had the procedure.

According to an article in the New York Post, the procedure will cost roughly $2,000 without insurance, but as lasers have been used for treating tonsils for over a decade, it's covered by most dental insurance plans.

Talk about a breath of fresh air.