Gather all your important personal and financial records, including banking information, personal identification, legal documents, insurance and emergency phone numbers, and ownership records. For a checklist of necessary information, check out the Federal Emergency Management Association’s (FEMA) Emergency Financial First Aid Kit.

• Documents: Make a copy of the documents and store them someplace safe and secure.
  • For physical copies, use a fireproof and waterproof container or rent a bank safe deposit box.
  • If you make digital copies, always password protect them and put backup copies on a USB flash or hard drive and secure it with your other important papers.
• Insurance: Double check your insurance policy to fully understand the scope of coverage.
  • Note that many homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies do not cover events like earthquakes, wildfires, or floods. Consider obtaining additional coverage for these risks.
• Valuables: Create an inventory of your valuables by taking photos of the expensive items to avoid disputes with your insurance company after a disaster.
• Small Businesses: For small business owners: develop an emergency plan, back up your computer systems regularly, determine how you plan to communicate with employees and customers, assemble a disaster supply kit including a portable generator, and identify community warning systems.
• Tax Information: If any tax information is lost, you can request a copy of your tax returns and other information from the IRS using Form 4506.
• More Information: Check out the disaster planning guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Internal Revenue Service, or the Federal Trade Commission.

• Be Prepared: Make a plan to prepare for emergencies and discuss it with your household. This includes:
  • Learning about emergency alerts,
  • Making a shelter plan,
  • Knowing your evacuation route,
  • Creating a family communication plan, and
  • Updating your emergency supply kit.
• Special Needs: Consider the specific needs of your household (e.g., pets, medical needs, disabilities etc.)
• Discuss: Review your plan and practice with your household annually.
• More Information: FEMA has created a list of advice and tips to prepare for all types of disasters.

• Sham Charities: Scammers create fake charities preying on consumers’ altruism after a disaster, or may ask for funds on behalf of a legitimate charity, but use it for nefarious purposes instead of giving it to the charity.
  • Consumers should look out for charities that are reluctant to provide information about their identity, costs, and how the donation will be used.
  • Before making a contribution, consumers should look up an organization on various charity evaluation websites:
    • IRS Charity Search
    • Charity Navigator
    • Give Well
    • Charity Watch
  • Fly-by-Night Contractors: Another popular scamming strategy is to show up to someone’s home as a repair person and offer to fix damaged property.
    • Scammers may claim to be roofers, carpenters, electricians or other tradesmen and demand payment upfront, then disappear.
    • Consumers should always ask for proof of contractor licenses, workers compensation insurance, written estimates, and scope of work in detail as well as a copy of the contractor’s ID before hiring them. Never pay in advance for work.