Financial Preparedness

Americans at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after a disaster or other emergency. In these stressful times, having access to personal financial, insurance, medical, and other records is crucial for starting the recovery process quickly and efficiently.

1. Gather financial and critical personal, household and medical information.
2. 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 onhand because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster when you need topurchase necessary supplies, fuel or food. 
3. 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 from the National Flood Insurance Program.
4. For more helpful financial preparedness tips, download the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) to get started planning today.

Be Safe

• Be cautious about sharing personal financial information, such as your bank accountnumber, social security number, or credit card number.
• Do not click on links in texts or emails from people you don’t know. Scammers can create fake links to websites.
  • Remember that the government will not call or text you about owing money or receiving economic impact payments.
  • Be aware that scammers may try to contact you via social media. The governmentwill not contact you through social media about owing money or receiving payments.

• Keep in mind that scammers may try to take advantages of financial fears by calling withwork-from-opportunities, debt consolidation offers, and student loan repayment plans.

• Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaintif you receive messages from anyone claiming to be a government agent.

Emergency Financial Resources

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), a joint publication from Operation Hope and FEMA, can help you prepare financially and provides tips to reduce the financial impact of disasters on you and your family.

Document & Insure Your Property

Safeguardy Critical Documents & Valuables

All information courtesy of ready.gov.