• Americans at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after a disaster or other emergency. In these stressful circumstances, having access to personal financial, insurance, medical, and other records is crucial for starting the process of recovery quickly and efficiently.
• Being ready for a disaster is more than storing water and supplies. You also need to be financially ready. Starting early and having adequate insurance, a plan to pay your bills and access to your important records and accounts will help you get back on your feet faster and avoid problems with your credit when you need it most.
• The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit < Caution-http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/96123 > (EFFAK), a joint publication from Operation Hope < Caution-https://www.operationhope.org/hope-coalition-america > and the FEMA Citizen Corps < Caution-http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps > , can help you prepare now. Use the EFFAK to identify your important documents, medical records and household contracts.
• When completing the kit, be sure to include pictures or a video of your home and your belongings and keep all of your documents in a safe space.
Financial Emergency Preparedness and Financial Capability
• Prepare for the risks where you live. Personal financial planning helps families prepare for disasters both big and small.
• Create a rainy-day fund. Consider saving money for disasters by setting aside money for unexpected costs including hotel stay, food, gas and insurance deductibles.
• Check your insurance coverage. Having insurance for your apartment, home, or business property is the best way to be sure you will have the necessary financial resources to help you repair, rebuild or replace whatever is damaged.
• Take time to collect and secure critical documents such as personal financial, insurance, medical and other records now – before an emergency. That will give your family peace of mind that they have the documentation needed to start the recovery process without delay.
Week 1, April 1 – 7: General Financial Preparedness
Planning your financial future is important for all of us. Taking first steps is important to create your financial goals.
• April is National Financial Capability Month. Use this as a chance to check up on your finances. Learn how you can be financially prepared when disaster strikes.
• Learn how to prepare yourself and your family for an unexpected emergency or disaster by visiting Caution-www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness < Caution-http://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness >
• Consider saving money in an emergency savings account. You never know when a disaster will strike. Prepare by setting aside money in a rainy-day fund that could be used in any crisis.
• Saving is the best financial defense against disasters. A little bit at a time can goes along way. Learn more on how to save smart at Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec. < Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec >
• Have all the documents and digital copies you need to protect yourself after a disaster. Use the checklists in the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK < Caution-https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/96123 >) and see if you’re missing anything.
Week 2, April 8 – 14: Planning and Budgeting
• Know where your money is going. One step is to know how much you are making and what you are spending, then adjust your budget to set aside money for emergency savings.
• Track your costs and get smarter with your money, you never know when you will need it after a disaster: Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec. < Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec >
• Be ready for the unexpected, prepare for disasters now for peace of mind later. Create a budget that includes a savings and spending plan:Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec < Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec >.
• Just like saving, small spending can add up. Spend smarter to be ready for a disaster with these personal budgeting resources:Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec. < Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec >
• There is a tool to help you manage your budget, so you can make a plan and set money aside for an emergency fund and insurance. Download a budget worksheet < Caution-https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-1020-make-budget-worksheet.pdf > from USA.gov/flec.
Planning and Budgeting for Youth:
• Start talking with your children early about money.
• Helping your children gain financial knowledge, skills and habits can help youth be better prepared to make important financial decisions throughout adulthood, including having an emergency savings fund for when disaster strikes.
Week 3, April 15 – 21, 2019: Saving
• The best way to be financially prepared for a disaster is saving. Learn more: Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec < Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec >.
• Take small steps to be ready when a disaster strikes. Set aside a little bit each month for your emergency saving fund. Get more tips: Caution-https://www.ready.gov/financial- < Caution-https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness > preparedness. < Caution-https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness >
• Save for a rainy day because you never know when it may pour. Invest in your safety by setting aside money for emergencies. Learn more:Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec < Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec >.
• Regular saving can pay off in many ways, especially in case of a disaster or emergency. Learn how you can prepare your finances:Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec. < Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec >
• Encourage your kids to start building good money habits. Saving a little bit at a time helps them learn the importance of preparing for all kinds of emergencies:Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec < Caution-https://www.usa.gov/flec >.
• Learn how to prepare yourself and your family for the unexpected emergency or disaster by visiting ready.gov/financial-preparedness.
• For ways to help you save money, go to the Financial Literacy and Education Commission’s Mymoney.gov at Caution-https://www.mymoney.gov/save- < Caution-https://www.mymoney.gov/save-invest/Pages/saveandinvest.aspx > invest/Pages/saveandinvest.aspx < Caution-https://www.mymoney.gov/save-invest/Pages/saveandinvest.aspx > .
Saving for Youth
• Start talking with your children early about money.
• Helping your children gain financial knowledge, skills and habits can help youth be better prepared to make important financial decisions throughout adulthood, including having an emergency savings fund for when disaster strikes.
• Find links to information for youth on how to save money on Money.gov at Caution-https://www.mymoney.gov/Pages/for-youth.aspx < Caution-https://www.mymoney.gov/Pages/for-youth.aspx >.
Week 4: April 22 – 28, Insurance
• Before disaster strikes, review your insurance coverage. Insurance is the fastest way to recover after a disaster. Learn more steps you can take to be financially prepared: https://www.re < Caution-http://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness > ady.gov/financial-preparedness. < Caution-http://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness >
• Review existing policies for the amount and extent of coverage to ensure that what you have in place is what is required for you and your family for all possible hazards. Homeowners insurance does not typically cover flooding, talk to your insurance agent, you may need to purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program < Caution-http://www.floodsmart.com/ >.
• Where it rains it can flood. 1 inch of water in your home can cost $25,000 in damage. Do you have flood insurance? For more information, go toReady.gov < Caution-https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness >.
• Homeowners and renter’s insurance do not typically cover flood damage. Contact National Flood Insurance Program Help Center at 800-427-4661. Talk to your agent to find out what is covered by your existing policy and ask about flood insurance. For more information, go to Ready.gov. < Caution-https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness >
• Floods can happen anywhere. Ninety-eight percent < Caution-https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1526330298880-5907cb10cec3b2ae7184322a5d1b7a37/Why_Buy_Flood_Factsheet_0418_508.pdf > of counties in the United States have experienced a flood, but homeowners and renter’s insurance do not typically cover flood damage.
• Talk to your insurer about your car, home or rental insurance coverage today. Know what coverage you have and do not have … and what you might need to get.
Other Ways to Prepare Financial and Additional Resources
• Make a record of your personal property for insurance purposes. Take photos or a video of the interior and exterior of your home. Include personal belongings in your inventory.
• Obtain property (homeowners or renters), health, and life insurance if you do not have them. Review existing policies for the amount and extent of coverage to ensure that what you have in place is what is required for you and your family 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 < Caution-http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program >.
• Store important documents such as insurance policies, deeds, property records and other important papers in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box away from your Caution-home.
• 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 on hand because ATM’s and credit cards may not work during a disaster when you need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel or food.
• FEMA has worked with our federal partners from the Financial Literacy Education Commission < Caution-https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/consumer-policy/financial-literacy-and-education-commission > and whole community partners to compile resources that can help you get involved in strengthen your home, your job and your community’s ability to be financially prepared.
• Encourage people throughout your organization to be financially prepared. You can hold a brown bag meeting or make a presentation at an existing staff meeting to provide more information.
• The EFFAK is also available inSpanish < Caution-http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1415127512623-61a8196df3ee0bb443982264b1eaaf6b/2522_FEMA_EFFAK_v13_Forms-es-US_508.pdf >.
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2019 13:10 |
| Story ID: | 316780 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 45 |
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