Do You Have a Disaster Plan?

By Colleen Tressler

As the devastating flood Florence shows, extreme weather costs dozens of lives and billions of dollars in damage. What would you do if you were in the midst of a disaster? Are you ready to leave your home at a moment’s notice? Would you have all that you need? You can reduce your anxiety about these scary events by making sure you get your family, pets and property ready. You can, for example:

Organize your finances. When it comes to preparing for situations like weather emergencies, financial readiness is as important as a flashlight with fully charged batteries. Having your financial documents up-to-date, in one place, and portable can make a big difference at a tense time.

Replace missing documents. If you’re missing important documents, now’s the time to replace them.

Check your insurance. Find out if any of your home, health, or other insurance policies will pay for temporary shelter, replacement clothing, furniture, or other items if you are affected by extreme weather or a disaster.

Prepare your home. From floods to fires, earthquakes, high winds and tornadoes, take a look at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Protect Your Property. If you live where storms and flooding are likely, visit floodsmart.gov to learn about FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program.

Plan for your pets. If you’re like millions of animal owners nationwide, your pet is an important member of your household. A little planning today can help ensure safety for your pets during an emergency.

Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area. Public safety officials use timely and reliable systems to alert you and your family in the event of severe weather and disasters.

Monitor your medicine. Make sure your important medications are in one place.

If a weather event or disaster affects you, these tips will give you information about your rights in case of repair scams or identity theft.