With hurricane season upon us, now is the right time to get prepared. Hurricanes and other weather emergencies can bring additional stress and uncertainty, especially in flood-prone or coastal areas. Being prepared can help give you peace of mind and keep you and your family safe. Make sure you add these four tasks to your list before a storm:

1. Get physically prepared.

When it comes to riding out stormy weather, getting your physical supplies together is key, including gathering enough shelf-stable food and drinking water for your family. Generally, one gallon of water, per person, per day, with enough to last five to seven days is recommended. Don’t forget to know your evacuation zone and routes and to keep an eye on your area’s weather alerts before, during and after a major storm. (An emergency weather alert radio is smart to keep around, plus extra batteries.) It’s also important to review your family emergency plan together to make sure everyone knows how you will communicate, where you will meet and what steps you will take in the event of a hurricane or other emergency.

Generators are a great asset to have during a power outage because they can power critical appliances, like your refrigerator. If you’re considering getting a generator, start the process now to avoid the post-hurricane rush. For those in Florida, you may have taken advantage of the first of two disaster preparedness sales tax holidays from May 27 through June 9, 2023, where certain hurricane season preparation items were tax-free. If you missed it, there’s a second disaster preparedness tax-free holiday from August 26 through September 8, 2023! If you want additional advice about physical preparation, the National Weather Service has an excellent resource library with instructions about how to prepare for all kinds of weather emergencies, including how to prepare for hurricanes and tropical storms.

2. Stash an emergency fund.

As you’re preparing physically, remember to prepare financially, as well. It’s always wise to have at least three to six months of living expenses in a place you can easily access, such as a Grow Basic Savings Account, to cover the cost of any unforeseen situations. That’s especially true after an emergency. It’s also important to keep some cash on hand in a safe location. You never know when ATMs or terminals might be temporarily down after extreme weather, so stash some cash just in case.

3. Check your insurance coverage.

Review your current insurance policies, including homeowners, renters and auto, to ensure you’re sufficiently covered in case of damage or loss. Increase your coverage limits, if needed, and be aware of out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles. If you don’t already have it, consider adding a flood insurance policy. No one in the history of post-hurricane cleanup has ever said, “I wish I didn’t have that flood insurance.” In fact, it’s usually the opposite — don’t wait until it’s too late to add flood insurance coverage for your home. If you’re looking for insurance policies, check out our affiliated insurance services provider, Quorum Insurance, LLC, for a free, no-obligation quote.^*

4. Keep important documents safe.

It’s crucial to keep important documents safe and accessible — things like household identification, financial and legal documentation, and medical information — whether in a safe deposit box, secure cloud storage, or another safe place during a weather emergency. Use this FEMA checklist to learn more about safeguarding critical documents and valuables. In addition to these three essential steps above, we recommend reviewing the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit, a joint publication from Operation Hope and FEMA that will help you prepare financially and reduce the impact of disasters on you and your family.

By completing these essential tasks before a severe weather event, you’ll be well-prepared to face potential challenges and protect what matters most. Remember, preparedness is key!

To stay up to date with the latest financial literacy content, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

^*Quorum Insurance, LLC is an affiliate of Grow Financial. Insurance products purchased through Quorum Insurance, LLC are not deposits of Grow Financial and are not protected by NCUA. They are not an obligation of or guaranteed by Grow Financial and may be subject to risk. Business conducted with Quorum Insurance, LLC is separate and distinct from any business conducted with Grow Financial. Grow Financial is in no way responsible for the services provided through this program.

---

Posted In:

• General Education