Natural disasters can happen anywhere.
You can protect yourself by planning ahead.
Consumerfinance.gov has the information
you need to make a plan and help safeguard
your financial future in the event of a disaster.
Whether you’re at risk of hurricanes, tornadoes,
blizzards, wildfires, or earthquakes, here
are three steps you can take right now to
protect yourself financially
and weather any storm:
Step one: download FEMA’s      
Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
and fill it out.
Gathering all of the paperwork and filling
out the forms may take some time
but it'll be worth it if disaster strikes.
Once you complete the kit you will have everything
you need in one place.
You’ll have gathered important documents
like your ID and your social security card.
You’ll have written down the phone numbers
and account numbers to your credit card companies,
utility companies, insurance companies, and
more.
If you need to apply for disaster aid or contact
your insurance company
you’ll want this info on hand.
Step two: find a safe space to store
the kit and the documents you gathered.
Consumerfinance.gov recommends that you
make a copy, and store the original and the
copy in separate places.
If it’s digital, password protect it, and
if it’s printed or on a thumb drive, make
sure to store it in a waterproof and fireproof
container.
Step three: make sure you understand your
insurance options, and the extent of your
coverage in case of a disaster.
Renters, homeowners and auto insurance
policies generally don’t cover all aspects
of a disaster.
You may need to look into specialized coverage
like earthquake insurance and flood insurance.
A weekend of prep now can save you months
of frustration and lots of money if your property
is damaged in a disaster.
For more information on how you can protect
your property and finances, and to download
an emergency financial first aid kit before
disaster strikes,
visit consumerfinance.gov/prepare.
