American Red Cross Preparedness Campaign

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According to the American Red Cross, approximately 7 people die and 36 suffer injuries every day as a result of home fires. Fires cause an estimated $7 billion in property damage every year.

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Preferred Mutual Insurance Company is sponsoring the American Red Cross’ Home Fire Preparedness Campaign in the Southern Tier region.  The fire safety initiative, designed to help educate community members about the importance of having smoke detectors and a home evacuation plan, was launched nationally in October 2014.

According to the American Red Cross, approximately 7 people die and 36 suffer injuries every day as a result of home fires.  And with fires causing an estimated $7 billion in property damage every year, Preferred Mutual has a genuine interest in preventing these disasters.

“At Preferred Mutual, we help our policyholders live assured not only by providing financial assistance after a catastrophe, but also through education and awareness before disaster strikes,” said Christopher Taft, President and Chief Executive Officer at Preferred Mutual.  “We've seen firsthand that those people and organizations that are best able to recover from a disaster are the ones who have prepared in advance.” 

The American Red Cross hopes to reduce the number of fire-related deaths and injuries by 25% in five years through its Home Fire Preparedness Campaign.  For more information about the local initiative or to have a smoke alarm installed free of charge, Southern Tier community members can contact Jill Deskins at 607.785.7207 or jill.deskins@redcross.org.

Preferred Mutual Insurance Company provides property and casualty insurance coverage to more than 235,000 individual and business customers through a network of more than 450 independent agents throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  The mutual insurance company, in business since 1896, employs more than 270 employees and is headquartered in New Berlin, New York.