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WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2004--The weather outside's expected to be frightful this winter, at least for much of the country, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which reports a great likelihood of cooler-than-average temperatures in much of the East, Middle Atlantic, and South. Bitter cold can lead to serious problems for property and vehicle owners, but an ounce of prevention can help significantly reduce the chance of damage to your auto or home this winter, according to leading insurer MetLife Auto & Home.

"The best defense is preparation," said Bob Smith, chief claim officer at MetLife Auto & Home. "Experience has shown us that many winter-related claims are avoidable, which is why it's important to take precautions to ensure the safety of your property and, most importantly, your loved ones."

Among the problems are frozen pipes. A frozen pipe can burst and flood a room, or even a whole house, in minutes, destroying irreplaceable possessions and sometimes making a house unlivable. Likewise, with heavy snowfalls and ice, ice dams may form on roofs, or weak tree branches can become coated until they break and crash into the house. Fortunately, taking just a few minutes to prepare as the storm and cold approaches can avoid some uncomfortable situations.

Here are some simple tips to avoid damages from winter weather:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf_joKpENJ4

-- Keep sidewalks and entrances to your home free from ice and snow.

-- Keep the house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees, even when you are not home. If it were any lower, the temperature within the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq1by3meAC4