The news is dominated by headlines of Natural Disasters. Whether it is the wildfires in California to the disastrous hurricanes of 2005. Natural disasters can happen at any time and in almost any place. While some disasters will give a warning, such as severe thunderstorms before a flood, others like earthquakes, do not. Once the disaster has happened, your time to prepare is gone. All that you are left with is the ability to handle the situation. What you do today can help you survive during a crisis.

First, take care of you and your families’ personal well-being. To do this, be sure to have an emergency kit available. The kit should contain the following items:

¨ a three day supply of water, which equates to one gallon of water per person per day

¨ food that will not spoil and can be eaten without having to be cooked or heated

¨ at least one change of clothing and shoes per person

¨ a first aid kit that includes any prescriptions that family members need

¨ a small tool kit

¨ a battery powered radio and flashlight along with a supply of spare batteries

¨ an extra set of car keys

¨ cash, at least $50.00 in tens, fives, and ones, as well as a roll of quarters

¨ personal grooming and hygiene supplies for each family member

¨ an extra pair of eyeglasses

¨ important documents such as insurance policies, wills, and birth certificates

¨ also, create a smaller version that can be stored in your car

Now that you are physically safe, what do you do with your finances? This is an area where many people are under-prepared, but it is almost as important as your physical safety. You may be thinking that your finances are not your most important concern at this time, but it is necessary for you to think about it before it is too late. Start by keeping all of your important paperwork and phone numbers together in one convenient location. The ability to access this information can help prevent additional stress when dealing with a disaster. In addition, you should have a duplicate copy of the information stored in a safety deposit box or some other location that is accessible. You may not be at home when a disaster strikes.

Now that you are safe, you should start by calling your insurance companies about policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Keep in mind you may have claims on your homeowners/renters policy as well as your automotive policy. You will need a list of items covered under your policy to start the process. If you lost the policies, ask your insurer for copies. If you do not have a list, call anyway.

If you do not have insurance, or if your insurance does not cover the cause of the damage, call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 to inquire about federal disaster assistance. Typically, FEMA will help with emergency shelter and other immediate needs. Later, there may be federal grants and loans provided to some victims.

If you have a mortgage, call your mortgage company immediately. Your lender is likely to offer some concessions to assist you, but you must initiate the contact.

If you have other debt obligations, such as, personal loans and credit card debt, contact those companies as well. In many situations, they are willing to offer assistance due to the circumstances.

Natural disasters are a frightening experience to live through. Since you cannot prevent
them your only alternative is to be as prepared as possible if they do occur. These simple
tips can help you if you ever find yourself in this situation.