When disaster strikes, it can be hard to know where to turn, what to do, and how to move forward.
Consumerfinance.gov can help.
Use the resources at consumerfinance.gov/recover to start your recovery process.
If your home, property, or car was damaged in a disaster, file a claim with your insurance company.
If you can't locate your insurance policy information,
you may have to contact your insurance company for a copy of your policy to verify coverage.
Make sure to take pictures and video of the damage.
And whenever you spend money on things like construction supplies, lodging, or food, save those receipts.
Next, you can apply for disaster assistance at disasterassistance.gov,
a website managed by FEMA to help disaster survivors find information and apply for assistance.
They also have assistance programs that can provide you money and grants for uninsured damages and things like
housing assistance, repairing your car, or renting a storage facility.
If your income is interrupted and you can't make your payments, call your mortgage servicer.
That's the company that sends you your monthly statement.
You should also call your credit card companies and any company that you get bills from.
And tell them you were involved in a disaster.
They may be able to offer you options to delay or reduce payments.
You can ask each creditor what your options are and figure out a plan that works for you.
It's important to know that even if your home is damaged you're still responsible for your mortgage payments.
But if you're having trouble paying, your mortgage servicer can work with you to help you avoid losing your property to foreclosure.
They might be able to offer something called forbearance, which would allow you to delay or modify your payments for a short amount of time.
Keep in mind you'll have to make up those missed payments later.
You can also contact a HUD-approved housing counselor to get free expert assistance on avoiding foreclosure.
If your home is damaged to the point that you can't live in it, contact your utility companies to suspend your service.
That could save you some much-needed cash.
Remember, if you've been in a natural disaster, you can get help.
To learn more about how to protect your finances and how to recover after a natural disaster,
visit consumerfinance.gov/recover
