The National Hurricane Center has designated this week to remind people in hurricane prone areas to get prepared for possible hurricanes. Here are some safety and preparedness tips:

• Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.

• Locate a safe room in your home for each hurricane hazard (storm surge, flooding, wind etc.).

• Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet.

• Have an out-of-state contact person, so your family members have a single point of contact.

• Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.

• Post emergency numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.

• Check your hurricane insurance coverage.

• Make a disaster supply kit, and stock non-perishable emergency supplies.

• Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace the battery every 6 months, just like smoke detectors.

• Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.

• Check your Disaster Supply Kit--See if there's anything you need to add to your kit. Replenish your water.

• Activate your Family Hurricane Plan--Protective measures should be started, especially those that require extra time (securing a boat or leaving a barrier island, for example).

• Ready your Disaster Supply Kit for use--If you need to evacuate, bring your kit with you.

• Use your Family Hurricane Plan--Your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.

No one wants to think of a hurricane destroying their home. But if you have homeowners insurance, then you're already protected--hurricane insurance coverage is standard in most home insurance policies.

Home Insurance for a Pineapple?

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So our wedding was at a winery up here in Northern California. When I arrived there, on time, I was casually dressed in shorts and a tank top. Before I got into my tux, I was talking to my best man and a couple of friends of mine when I felt something sting my shoulder. I thought it was a bee sting until it really started to hurt.

I asked my best man if he would look to see if I had gotten stung and if maybe the bee's stinger was still in my shoulder. Upon closer inspection, he informed me that I was actually bleeding from a rather noticeable bump on my shoulder. After cleaning it up, he informed me that there were actually two distinctive puncture wounds that looked like fang marks on the bump on my shoulder.

Word soon got to the wedding party, including my future wife who was almost ready to call 911, about my mysterious bite when the jokes soon started. "Hope you have good life insurance policy, Matt," my best man said. "I guess Jackie gets the apartment now," echoed my soon to be brother-in-law. But then it hit me, I need to get life insurance.

Now that I am married and getting used to the ring on my finger, I have been talking to my wife about how much life insurance I should get. As of now, I am the primary source of income for our household. If the spider had gone for my jugular instead of my shoulder, Jackie would have a real hard time making ends meet. We all know that life insurance is meant to financially protect our loved ones in the event of our passing.

I obviously survived the wedding and my mysterious attack. But I am looking into getting a term life insurance policy to replace my income should I get attacked again.

Yes, we all are. Remember all those "Red Asphalt" movies we were forced to watch back in Driver's Ed? Remember how they said looking away from the road for 5 seconds was enough time for a kid to chase his ball out in front of your car? Changing the radio station, changing CDs or fiddling with an iPod takes our eyes off the road. So does taking a sip of your morning coffee, or texting your sister. Ever drive Fido to the park? Take the kids to grandma's house?

These are just the more typical driving distractions. How many infuriating times have you driven passed someone who is reading a magazine while driving? Or shaving, or putting on make-up? While these may sound ridiculous, they do happen, and these drivers put every other car around them in danger.

When you reach for a falling cup while driving, your risk of a car crash or near-crash increases 9 times. Talking on a hand-held cell phone only increases the crash risk 1.3 times, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). Driver distraction was involved in almost 80% of car crashes and 65% of near-crashes according to an April 2006 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds increases your chances of being involved in a car accident.

A major factor that goes into determining your car insurance rates is your driving record. With a good driving record you are seen by car insurance companies a safe driver, and as less of a risk--so you will pay lower car insurance rates. The opposite is true of a bad driving record. Having accidents and tickets on your record can increase your car insurance rates since the car insurance company sees you as more of a risk and therefore more expensive to insure.

Over 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs in the U.S. each year, causing a whole heck of a lot of financial losses for home insurance companies. In fact, dog bites cost home insurers over $300 million in 2005, and account for over one-third of all home insurance liability claims.

Nobody knows ferocious dogs better than the mailman. When a dog chases the mailman out of the yard, everyone has a good laugh. "Rover is such a goof!" everyone chuckles. But a week later when Rover gets a good jump and sinks his teeth deep into the mailman's backside, the situation isn't funny anymore--especially when you're the one held responsible for the damages. That's why it's crucial that dog owners make certain they keep an adequate level of home liability coverage.

Hoping to stem their tremendous losses, some home insurance companies have banned particularly aggressive dog breeds from coverage. If your dog's breed is a poodle or a Chihuahua, your home insurance company probably won't bat an eye. But a pit bull, Rottweiler or other "blacklisted" dog breed could cause you to be denied coverage altogether.

If you're having trouble finding affordable home insurance coverage because of your dog, there's another option: you can ask your insurer to exclude your dog, in which case you'll be financially responsible for any damage he causes. But that's a last resort, and it may be in your best interest to shop around for a home insurance policy that covers all your needs.

Whatever the situation, keep your dog on a leash while outside enjoying the warm spring air. Otherwise, you may end up pleading Rover's case on the next episode of Judge Judy.

The bubbly, yellow sponge lovingly known as SpongeBob lives in the underwater city Bikini Bottom in a pineapple with his pet snail Gary. (Oh, and in case you don't know: SpongeBob is the star of his own animated show on Nickelodeon.) But the sea can be a dangerous place, especially for underwater fruit homes. So how much home insurance would SpongeBob need to protect his pineapple house?

The current price of a whole pineapple is around $3.00 out here in California. Bikini Bottom is out in the Pacific Ocean so the California cost is a good estimate. The Insurance Information Institute recommends having enough home insurance to cover rebuilding your home, so SpongeBob should get a policy that covers at least $3.00. His typical home insurance policy will cover damage to his pineapple from hurricanes, hail, lightning or fire (which is not impossible in Bikini Bottom). The home insurance would also include liability coverage should an(other) accident happen around the pineapple.

SpongeBob works as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab diner. He doesn't make too much because the owner of the Krusty Krab, Mr. Krabs, is a real penny-pincher. SpongeBob might find it hard to afford a pricy pineapple home insurance policy. So SpongeBob should probably shop around for multiple home insurance quotes--make sure he's getting the right amount of coverage for his money.

One way to save on home insurance is combining a car insurance policy with home insurance. Unfortunately for SpongeBob, he doesn't have a driver's license, though he's been trying for years. Maybe someday!

Having a pineapple house may seem strange, but what about SpongeBob's friends? Best friend Patrick Star lives under a very nice rock, but that may not need a policy. SpongeBob's egotistical, clarinet-loving neighbor Squidward lives in an Easter Island head, and has quite a bit of self-made paintings and sculptures. So Squidward may want to look into home insurance policy that will cover his "art." What about penny-pinching Mr. Krabs? Well he will definitely want a home insurance policy that will not-only cover his lovely anchor-home, but will be as cheap as possible. Krabs will want to compare lots of home insurance quotes.

Who knew we could learn so much about home insurance from an innocent, jelly-fishing, karate-loving yellow sponge?

The logic behind the evidence is not clear. It may be that uninsured patients have untreated underlying medical conditions due to a lack of routine care and are therefore more difficult to treat, or perhaps hospitals are simply less willing to treat those without health insurance.

Whatever the reason, a health insurance policy represents a patient's ability to pay for health care, and is crucial not only to a person's health and physical well-being but also for their ability to receive quality health care in a timely manner.

In an emergency situation, health insurance all but guarantees a patient access to adequate health care services. In non-emergency situations, it offers patients affordable access to routine care and checkups, both of which help medical professionals catch and treat potentially major conditions before they progress--a crucial component for overall health and wellness.

Over 46 million Americans--roughly 16% of the population--are without health insurance. Find affordable health care by comparing free health insurance quotes with InsWeb.com.

Here in the InsWeb hometown of Sacramento, CA, it is Bike to Work Day. And even though I haven't been on a bike since the 5th grade (traumatic incident, don't ask), I can see the benefits of biking to work. First, you save on gas--who doesn't love that? Second, you reduce the amount of green house gasses put into the air. Third, you are getting exercise. And forth, you are putting fewer miles on your car which means lower car insurance rates.

Lower car insurance rates, you ask? Many people don't realize that the fewer miles put on your car, the lower your car insurance rate can be. You see, car insurance companies see more miles on a car as more chances for accidents--therefore, more money to insure that car. Biking to work means less miles added to your odometer, and a possible lower car insurance rate.

Did you know that most bikes are covered by homeowners or renters insurance policies? Of course, if you're an avid bicyclist like our fellow blogger Matt, then you may have a fancy/expensive bicycle. In that case you may want to see about getting a renters insurance rider (no pun intended) for your home or renters insurance policy to cover the added value of your bike.

So what if you are like me and can't (won't) bike to work. Is there something we can do to lower our car insurance rates? Sure! We can try public transportation like buses or metro rails. We can carpool. Or we can just hop on the freeway like normal, but take some time to compare car insurance quotes.

The majority of these travelers will be hitting the nation's roadways taking a weekend road trip. And with more cars on the roads comes this increased risk of getting into an accident. So here are some tips to stay safe on the roadways this Memorial Day weekend.

Don't Speed

Speeding is an obvious factor in many accidents and at the least will result in you getting a ticket. In fact, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, speed is a factor in nearly one-third of motor vehicle crashes.

Remember the 3 Second Rule

While it's ok to eat something after it fell on the floor in 5 seconds or less, it is important to remember to keep a 3 second cushion between you and car in front of you. This will help you avoid accidents if that person stops quickly or swerves to avoid an obstacle.

Allow Yourself Plenty of Time to Get Where You're Going

If you're rushing to get somewhere, then you are more likely drive aggressively. Give yourself some leeway and leave a little earlier. Besides, there is nothing wrong with arriving early?

Check the Tires Before You Hit the Road

Before you head out on the highway, check your tires for wear and tear and that they are properly inflated. This will help avoid a blowout out on the road, improve your handling as well as increase your fuel economy. It's also a good idea to check your oil and other fluid levels before embarking on a long trip.

Don't Use Your Cell Phone If You're Driving

Cell phones are very distracting. Whether you're looking for a new app for your iPhone or just calling a loved one, cell phones take your attention from the road. Driving distracted has been compared to being as bad as driving under the influence in many studies.

Also, more and more states are banning the use of using a cell phone while driving unless you use a hands free device. If your travels are taking you across state lines, check to see if your destination has any cell phone restrictions.

The last thing you want to go through this Memorial Day weekend is to get a ticket or have to file a car insurance claim. If you are traveling keep these tips in mind while you're planning your trip as well as when you're out on the road.

"Dogs are protective and they may perceive letter carriers handing mail to their owners as a threat," said USPS Vice President and Consumer Advocate Delores J. Killette. "For the same reason, we also ask parents to make sure their children don't collect mail from our carriers in the presence of their pets. Employee safety is always our number-one concern."

So how can we prevent dog bites? Simple, says Hollywood dog trainer Bob Weatherwax, son of Rudd Weatherwax of "Lassie" fame.

"Responsible dog ownership is the key to responsible dogs," said Weatherwax. "National Dog Bite Prevention Week is a valuable campaign that will heighten awareness and educate the public about responsible dog ownership. I applaud all the organizations leading this important mission."

• Don't run past a dog. The dog's natural instinct is to chase and catch prey.

• If a dog threatens you, don't scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.

• Don't approach a strange dog, especially one that's tethered or confined.

• While letter carriers are prohibited from petting animals, people who choose to pet dogs should always let a dog see and sniff them before petting the animal.

• If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between you and the dog, such as a purse, a backpack or a bicycle.

• Obedience training can teach dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dogs.

• When a carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, away from the door in another room.

• Don't let your child take mail from the carrier in the presence of your dog. Your dog's instinct is to protect the family.

• Spay or neuter your dog. Neutered dogs are less likely to bite. Statistics from the Humane Society show that dogs that have not been spayed or neutered are up to three times more likely to bite.

• Dogs that receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time frequently turn into biters.

Remember, the type of dog you own could affect how much you pay for homeowners insurance. Owning certain dog breeds known for more frequent bites such as pit bulls or Rottweilers can increase your home insurance rate. Make sure you're getting the best home insurance rate possible by comparing home insurance quotes at InsWeb.com.

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The program offers up to one year of medication to those who have lost their job since Jan. 1 and have been taking a Pfizer drug for at least three months.

To become eligible, applicants are required to complete a statement claiming financial hardship and must provide an employer pink slip or similar notice.

But the program doesn't apply just to Viagra and Lipitor. A number of antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungal treatments, diabetes drugs and supplies, contraceptives, and stop-smoking aids are also available to eligible patients--over 70 drugs in all.

As of May 14, consumers can call a toll-free number, 866-706-2400, to sign up. And beginning July 1, sign-up is available through Pfizer's Web site at http://www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com.

It's important to remember though that the 8% rate cut is from the statewide average. Individual policyholders rates will differ depending on State Farm's rating factors. The average State Farm policyholder will now see an average savings of $66 per policy year.

If you are looking to save money on your car insurance, start by comparing multiple car insurance quotes using InsWeb.com's online quote form.

10 Worst Cities for Allergies

1. Louisville, Ky.

2. Knoxville, Tenn.

3. Charlotte, N.C.

4. Madison, Wis.

5. Wichita, Kan.

6. McAllen, Texas

7. Greensboro, N.C.

8. Dayton, Ohio

9. Little Rock, Ark.

10. Augusta, Ga.

Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

The rankings take into account the area's pollen score, the amount of allergy medications used, and the number of local allergy specialists.

If your allergies are significantly impacting your life, consider discussing your problems with your family doctor and/or allergist. He may prescribe you a stronger allergy medication, in which case you'd want to be covered with a quality health insurance plan to lower your prescription drug costs.

If you don't have coverage, you can shop and compare free health insurance quotes with InsWeb.com.

Instead, 81 percent of consumers said they plan to pay closer attention to routine car care and maintenance to keep their current vehicle running longer.

If you own a used vehicle, you'll likely get a break from your insurance company with a cheaper car insurance premium. Since used vehicles are generally worth less than new vehicles, it will cost the car insurance company significantly less to replace a used vehicle in the event of theft or major collision, hence the lower car premium.

However, liability rates will likely be the same, as a used vehicle can cause as much damage to other vehicles, pedestrians, and objects as a newer one.

If you own a used vehicle, it may make sense to reduce your car insurance premium by raising your deductible. Because most used cars have some degree of cosmetic wear and tear, an owner may find it easier (and cheaper) to skip minor repairs or fix them out-of-pocket instead of filing a claim.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, raising your car insurance deductible from $250 to $1,000 could reduce your comprehensive and collision premiums by up to 40%.

Each year the Social Security Administration releases the 1000 most popular baby names according to birth records. This year's big upset is new number one name for girls: Emma. Emma knocked Emily out of the number one spot which she's held for 12 years. The top girl's names were Emma, Isabella, Emily, Madison and Ava. Jacob topped the list for boy's names for the 10th year in a row, followed by Michael, Ethan, Joshua and Daniel.

Names on the list range from the common (David--14), to the traditional (Walter--393), to the exotic (Leilani--278), to the stylish (Victoria--27). Some Disney Princess names (Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine) showed up on the list, as did some sports figures (Payton, Kobe, Brett).

Whether you name your new baby after her grandmother (Marie--546), or after a favorite movie star (Angelina--69), you want to make sure you're able to take care of them. Now might be the perfect time to review your life insurance coverage. You also should make sure you have enough health and car insurance now that you've got your little one.

Wonder where your name ranks? Check out the Social Security Administration name popularity site. And in case you're wondering--Elvis is number 713.

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For the mother who has everything, here's the ultimate Mother's Day gift idea: a low-cost term life insurance policy!

Skip the fruit baskets, designer handbags and other typical Mother's Day gift ideas--they're sweet, but the sentiment won't last more than a few days. In these times, no American can take a chance with his or her financial future, and term life insurance makes a lasting impression.

Term life insurance may seem like an odd Mother's Day gift idea, but it's one of the most sensible. After all, what could be more compassionate than rewarding your mother with peace of mind that will last for 10, 20, or even 30 years?

Be aware, though, that Mom may not be thrilled about the prospect of facing her own demise, especially on Mother's Day. So, if she's a bit put off by the idea of being worth more dead than alive, warm her up to the idea with a few pointed questions:

• "Mom, what would happen to your mortgage if the unthinkable should happen?"

• "How would our family be able to remain financially stable without you?"

• "If tragedy struck and something happened to you, how would your final expenses be paid?"

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the term life insurance premium for a healthy 40-year-old woman with $500,000 in coverage can be as low as $25 per month.

Imagine the joy your mother will feel when she unwraps her beautiful Mother's Day gift and finds what she's always wanted: a low-cost term life insurance policy.

Your mother took the time and energy to comfort and nurture you--shouldn't you do the same for her? This Mother's Day, make sure Mom has a gift that keeps on giving.

But in the post I wrote about wedding insurance , I decided that the product would work for some, but not for us. However, there is one coverage my fiancée and I do need to purchase: liability insurance.

We are getting hitched at a local winery in a little gazebo they have on the grounds. As we were signing the contract to reserve the winery about a year ago, the woman told us that we will need to have a $1,000,000 liability insurance policy for our event. No sweat.

Well a lot of planning has gone on and the insurance portion of the planning, which fell to me, slipped my mind. I was too preoccupied on finding a DJ who doesn't feel that the Chicken Dance and the Macarena is a "must have" at every wedding.

So now that we are 18 days away from "I do", its time for me to fulfill my task. But how? Do I buy a wedding insurance plan or do I add a one day special event liability rider to my renters insurance policy? Hmm, I still think this will be easier than deciding on whether to serve chicken or fish at the reception (we went with tri tip and chicken in case you were wondering).

A wedding insurance policy will cover just about everything, except for a change of heart. So if we were to have inclement weather and we couldn't fit 125 guests into the gazebo and had a wedding insurance policy, we would get some of our deposits back. However, the winery we are using also has an indoor facility so we already have a plan B. I also learned while researching wedding insurance policies at Wedsafe.com, that they won't cover cancellations due to a swine flu outbreak.

So we don't need all the bells and whistles that come with the wedding insurance policy, but I did find a liability coverage only option through Wedsafe.com where a million dollars worth of liability coverage is only $100 from the quote I got. Not too bad.

But there is still the option to add a special rider to my renters insurance policy or one of our parents homeowners insurance policies. So when I get home from work today, I will need to look through our renters insurance policy and see if I can add the liability coverage the winery requires.

So while my fiancée is busy deciding how many flowers we need, I will be looking into securing the liability insurance coverage we need. I think this deal works in my favor!

Compared with first quarter numbers from 2008, first quarter of 2009 demonstrate a significant uptick in insurance fraud cases:

• Hail damage - up 407%

• Fire/arson damage - up 27%

• Residential claims due to slip-and-fall injuries - up 60%

• Fraudulent workers' compensations claims - up 71%

One homeowner attempted to use a natural disaster to cash in. Following a hailstorm, the shingles on the homeowner's roof sustained limited damage and, seeing an opportunity to have a new roof paid for by his insurance company, he deliberately caused more extensive damage.

Those convicted of insurance fraud may face fines, jail time, and--perhaps most ironic of all--higher insurance premiums.