Posted by Nancy Hecht, CFP®, AIF®
It is that time of year again, hurricane season. Each year, we prepare by stock piling water and canned goods, flashlights and batteries. What about your important papers? A little bit of water can cause a lot of damage. If your important papers are not protected, it is very hard to get help. Here are a few tips from the Chief Financial Office for the State of Florida:
Managing home repairs while evacuated or without power is never easy, but taking a few steps ahead of the storm can make a world of difference. That’s why I encourage all Floridians to use this week to put together an insurance and financial packet that you keep in a safe place and can easily take with you should you need to leave your home in a hurry.
This packet should include documentation associated with property and health insurance policies as well as financial account information and contact information for banks and insurance companies. Having these documents put together ahead of time allows you to have ready access to all of the information necessary to file an insurance claim, whatever your situation may be.
If you have questions, or simply don’t know where to begin, we’ve created a simple, easy-to-use financial preparedness toolkit. This toolkit provides a single place to jot down and keep track of all of your insurance information. In the event that a storm directly affects you and your family, this toolkit can help you keep a list of adjuster contacts, as well as a log of any calls you’ve made to insurance companies or agents about claims you may have to file.
In the aftermath of a hurricane or other emergency, you shouldn’t have to worry about searching for account information or trying to remember the details of all your possessions. Luckily, emergency financial documents are among the easiest things to prepare, ensuring you have everything you need readily available.
Click here to download a copy of the toolkit and to learn more about other resources we make available to help you become disaster ready.
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