Rebuilding your life after a disaster may be a challenge. Having access to personal, financial, insurance, medical and other records is crucial for starting the recovery process and easing the stress.
- Gather financial, personal, household and medical information. Store these and other important documents either in a safety deposit box, a fireproof box at home, an external drive, or on a cloud to make it easy to access during a disaster.
- 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 homeowners or renters insurance, 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 type 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 separately.
Be cautious about sharing personal information such as bank account, social security, or credit card numbers, and be aware of scammers who might try to take advantage of you during stressful times.
By: Brenda Langdon
