National Preparedness Month: Financial Preparedness

Access Compliance

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"Financial Preparedness

Financial preparedness means having money and important papers ready before a disaster happens. It is important because it helps your family buy what you need and recover more quickly.

The Albany County Department of Health ( https://www.albanycountyny.gov/health ) recommends the following:

Before the disaster:

Start an emergency savings account. Saving even a little money each week, like $5 or $10, is a great start.

Review your insurance coverage, including flood, health, homeowners, or renters insurance. Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start. Remember to renew your insurance every year.

Keep important records and documents safe. Save them on a computer or phone and store original copies in a waterproof/fireproof container.

Keep cash in a secure place. ATMs may not work during emergencies; have cash on hand.

Protect your property by taking pictures and videos of your household items. This helps you know what you have if you need to fix or replace things after a disaster.

After the disaster:

File a flood insurance claim and work with your insurance adjuster and agent.

Make a list of all property damage and call your insurance company right away.

Contact community organizations, like food banks or faith groups, to help with daily needs and other resources.

Visit DisasterAssistance.gov to get support from FEMA and local groups.

Be cautious of scams. Do not share your personal information or ID numbers.

Turn off utilities in your home to save money if you cannot stay there.

More Information & Resources

Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) Checklists and Forms: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/ready_emergency-financial-first-aid-toolkit-checklists-and-forms.pdf

Be Prepared for a Financial Emergency: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/fema_be-prepared-financial-emergency.pdf

Ready.gov: Financial Preparedness: https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness

(Source: FEMA. (2020). Be prepared: Financial emergency kit. https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/fema_be-prepared-financial-emergency.pdf ) "