What to complete after a winter storm

You have survived a terrible winter storm in Atlanta, and managed to remain out of harm's way and keep dry, but don’t rest yet! When the storm is over and you can safely venture outdoors, your next steps are to clear away ice and snow, make your house accessible for emergency services, and avoid the chance of flooding when snow melts. It’s also important to examine your property for storm damage and get in touch with your Atlanta insurance agent or provider to report any damage that could result in a home insurance claim.

• Clear snow and ice so there’s a clean path between your house and the street.
• Clear ice and snow from nearby fire hydrants so that they are easily accessible.
• Make sure that your house number is clearly visible from the street.
• Clear any garbage from drains avoiding blockages and flooding when snow and ice thaw.
• Check roof gutters and make plans for any debris to be removed.

It’s crucial to look after your physical safety while you’re working outdoors. Wear layers of warm clothing, stay hydrated, and don’t get overtired or overheated. Take great care if you are attending to matters on a slippery roof. Atlanta insurance may provide compensation if your home was damaged by a storm, but that could be little consolation if you are injured while clearing up after the storm.   

Where to find Knoxville tourism information online

Do you know where to find Knoxville tourism information online? I get asked this question a lot. In addition to this blog there are several good resources. Here are a few of my favorites:

Knoxville.org
Knoxville Tourism and Sports does a wonderful job with this one. It is one of my go-to sites for general information. Lots of things can change with listings. Specific details still need to come from the venue or event themselves. This is still one of the best sites to use when you want to find Knoxville tourism information online.

Knoxnews.com
Love it! Our local newspaper is chock full of great information. Sometimes to the stories come out the day of (or day after) an event. Look in the community section called Your News to find out what's on tap around
the city.

City of Knoxville
This site is great to help you find Knoxville tourism information online. It's also the perfect place to find out where to park for downtown events, closures, openings and lots of details about the city. This Knoxville website has the scoop on all parks, pet friendly patio dining or other events and lots of details about visiting Knoxville.

Why I review car insurance quotes when spring cleaning

To me, spring cleaning is more than sprucing up our home. It's time to compare car insurance quotes or at least review our insurance policy. I do a lot of traveling in the summer and always feel better after reviewing the policy.

It only takes a few minutes to get quotes and the results can make me happy. Two years ago, I found out that a speeding ticket dropped from my record and so did part of the monthly car insurance premium 

We moved last spring and I'm always anxious about what it will do to the car insurance. This past year I received a happy surprise. The car insurance quotes for the new address were lower that what we had been paying. More motorists carry insurance in our new town, than in the previous one. It turns out that reduces the cost for everyone.

I also review our AAA membership in the spring. There are several levels of membership. It's not exactly a car insurance quote, but it pays to review coverage before travel season. Instead of blindly paying premiums I decided to go talk with an agent. Was that ever a good move! Adding RV coverage only added $30 to the price. For me, travel season and summer vacation made adding the coverage a no-brainer.

Reviewing policies and getting annual car insurance quotes help. A few dollars saved here, means a few dollars more in the gas tank. Or, in the case of my travel passion, it means being able to put a few more miles on the car. The open road is always calling my name. I have to take another road trip like our little Etowah drive.

Chattanooga Megabus stop has moved

The Chattanooga, Megabus stop has moved. As of the date of this article, the bus stop is no longer in the South Terrace shopping center. Instead, Megabus has moved the Chattanooga stop over to the  east side of the Eastgate Complex. It's at the I-75 / I-24 split. The parking lot is at 5600 Brainerd Rd, 37411.

Eastgate Complex was once a tired shopping mall. A multi-million dollar renovation project gave it a new facelift   and other upgrades. Restaurants include China Moon is a buffet and a food court offers free WI-FI. The International Market puts a world of tasty dishes within reach of the Megabus stop. Sharon's Cafe and Jenn and Joe's Bistro are inside near the waterfall.

The new Megabus stop in Chattanooga is on on the Chattanooga Area Regional Transport Authority (CARTA) route. The system goes almost everywhere in the city. The Downtown Shuttle is free and stops every few minutes at the aquarium. Fares are reasonable. Adults are $1.50. Discounts are available for senior citizens, the disabled and schoolage children (ID required). Kids 5 and under ride for free.

It looks like the Chattanooga Megabus stop has made it easier to visit the city. This may make a fun overnight trip from Knoxville or Atlanta. Low fares of $1 on every route make it impossible to beat the price. I've found the buses to be comfortable and enjoy the view from the upper deck (read more).