Are you prepared?

Be prepared!

🌪️ 1. Build a Disaster‑Ready Emergency Fund

Your emergency fund is your first line of defense. Authoritative guidance recommends 3–6 months of essential expenses, and 6–12 months if you have variable income or live in a high‑risk area .

Essential expenses include:

• Housing

• Utilities

• Food

• Transportation

• Insurance premiums

• Medications

• Minimum debt payments

Where to keep it:

• High‑yield savings account (4–5% APY)

• Money market account

• Split across two banks for redundancy

• Not in stocks or volatile investments (they can drop right when you need the money)

Start in stages:

• First: $1,000

• Then: 1 month

• Then: 3 months

• Then: 6+ months

💵 2. Keep Cash on Hand

During disasters, ATMs and card systems often fail due to power outages or network disruptions . Ready.gov recommends keeping small bills in a safe place at home for fuel, food, and supplies when electronic payments are down .

🏠 3. Review and Strengthen Your Insurance

Insurance determines how quickly you recover.

Review annually:

• Homeowners or renters insurance

• Auto insurance

• Health insurance

• Life insurance

Important notes:

• Homeowners insurance does NOT cover flooding — flood insurance must be purchased separately through the National Flood Insurance Program .

• Ensure coverage includes replacement cost, not just market value.

• Consider coverage for temporary housing, which is often needed after disasters .

📁 4. Protect Critical Documents

Ready.gov emphasizes that access to financial, medical, and identity documents is crucial for fast recovery after a disaster .

Store documents in three places:

• A waterproof, fireproof safe at home

• Secure digital backups (encrypted cloud storage)

• A portable “grab‑and‑go” folder

Include:

• IDs, Social Security cards

• Insurance policies

• Bank and investment info

• Medical records

• Home and vehicle titles

• Wills and powers of attorney

The FEMA/Operation HOPE Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) is the gold standard for organizing these documents .

🏦 5. Ensure Banking Access During Disruptions

Disasters can temporarily shut down bank branches or limit services. The FDIC notes that banks may switch to drive‑thru only or rely heavily on digital channels during emergencies .

To stay functional:

• Set up direct deposit so income continues even if mail is disrupted.

• Enable online banking and mobile check deposit.

• Know your bank’s disaster procedures.

• Keep accounts at an FDIC‑insured institution (coverage up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank) .

🛡️ 6. Protect Yourself From Scams

Disasters bring out scammers. Ready.gov warns:

• The government will never call, text, or DM you about payments or debts.

• Avoid clicking unknown links.

• Be cautious of “work‑from‑home” or debt‑relief offers during crises .

🧭 7. Create a Financial Recovery Plan

A disaster plan should include:

• Where you would go if displaced

• How you would pay for temporary housing

• A list of emergency contacts

• A plan for accessing cash and accounts

• A checklist for what to grab if you must leave quickly