By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Zombies are not speedy or particularly agile. But what those pesky flesh-eaters lack in athleticism is compensated for with a shuffling walk that makes mayhem in the well-appointed home. China, crystal, stained-glass windows? All are fair game to the errant undead.
If you toss in bed at night fearing home destruction by zombies, simply ring up Dunn Insurance at 931-647-6400. This Madison Street agency has opened up the zombie-coverage topic through its well-known sign, which currently says, in capital letters, “ASK US ABOUT ZOMBIE INS.”
Yes, just in time for Halloween the employees at Dunn Insurance will walk you through the finer points of zombie coverage.
“In homeowner’s insurance, zombies are not excluded,” manager Dana Dunn Dewberry explains. “In any insurance policy the word ‘zombie’ is not excluded – which usually means it’s included if it is not excluded. That’s just the FYI footnote, if you’re worried about it. Just know that zombies are not excluded.”
So if you’ve got zombies, Dunn Insurance has got your back.
Afraid this guy might damage your home? No worries: Zombies are covered by homeowner’s insurance./Photo submitted by Rick Habyan.
Of course, a primer on your policy is not the only reason the sign says, “ASK US ABOUT ZOMBIE INS.” Obviously, it’s season-appropriate. And, in recent years, pop culture has been increasingly populated with the shuffling undead, including AMC’s zombie-apocalypse series, “The Walking Dead.” People seem more fearful than ever of zombies’ viral bite.
“Everybody seems to be watching that show ‘The Walking Dead’ and that type of thing,” Dewberry says. “So we thought it was funny just to tie that in.”
Dewberry explains that in an office where employees “sit around talking about insurance and contracts,” creativity is a welcome escape from dry details. The sign has been used as a creative outlet since 1984, its letters spelling out everything from humorous to inspirational messages.
Dewberry says her father, Jimmy Dunn, is the main force behind the creativity.
So if – or when – a few erratic zombies burst through your sliding glass doors, you can repair and adjust. As for a total zombie apocalypse? You’ll have to watch “The Walking Dead” for ideas on that type of adjustment.
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.