Financial Preparedness Tips
Many people at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after a disaster or other emergency. In these stressful circumstances, having access to personal financial, insurance, medical, and other records is crucial for starting the recovery process quickly and efficiently.
Taking the time now to collect and secure these critical records can give you peace of mind and, in the event of an emergency, ensure you have the documentation needed to start the recovery process without delay.
- Gather financial and critical personal, household, and medical information.
- Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that could be used in any crisis. Keep a small amount of cash at home in a safe place. It is important to have small bills on hand because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster when you need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel, or food.
- Obtain property (homeowners or renters), health, and life insurance if you do not have them. Not all insurance policies are the same. Review your policy to make sure the amount and types of coverage you have meets the requirements for all possible hazards. Homeowners insurance does not typically cover flooding, so you may need to purchase flood insurance.
Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), can help you prepare financially and provide tips to reduce the impact disasters can leave you with financially.
For organizations
Encourage people throughout your organization or workplace to be financially prepared. Here are some ideas to promote financial preparedness in your organization:
- Hold a brown bag meeting.
- Make a presentation at an existing staff meeting using Safeguard Critical Documents and Valuables to support your discussion.
- Include financial preparedness information in the staff monthly newsletter.
At home
Using the EFFAK as a guide, or by downloading a secure mobile app on your phone, store important documents either in a safety deposit box, an external drive, on the cloud to make it easy to access during a disaster.
Having your financial and medical records and important contact information will be crucial to help you start the recovery process quickly. Take time now to safeguard these critical documents.
Household identification
- Photo ID to prove identity of household members
- Birth certificate to maintain or re-establish contact with family members
- Social Security card if present
- Military service
- Pet ID tags
Financial and legal documentation
- Housing payments to identify financial records and obligations
- Insurance policies to re-establish financial accounts
- Sources of income to maintain payments and credit
- Tax statements to provide contact information for financial and legal providers and to apply disaster assistance
Medical information
- Physician information to provide doctors with health information if medical care is needed
- Copies of health insurance information to ensure existing care continues uninterrupted
- Immunization records
- Medications
Insurance information
Having insurance for your home or business property is the best way to ensure you will have the necessary financial resources to help you repair, rebuild, or replace whatever is damaged.
Household contact information
- Banking institutions
- Insurance agent
- Health professionals
- Service providers
- Place of worship
Get your benefits electronically
A disaster can disrupt mail service for days or weeks. If you depend on Social Security or other regular benefits, switching to electronic payments is a simple, significant way to protect yourself financially before disaster strikes. It also eliminates the risk of stolen checks
Last Updated 17/03/2020