Bob Dreizler's Resources: How to Prepare Financially for a Disaster
Most of us know the basics on what supplies to gather for a natural disaster (water, food, prescription meds, first aid kit, flashlights, battery-powered radio, etc.). But, not many of us have thought about what we should have ready financially for any kind of disaster. So let's think a moment about financial preparation for a disaster.
After reading multiple articles on the subject, I have distilled the sage advice down to the following main items to keep in your "evacuation box." In Sacramento a flood is the most likely disaster to happen, so don't put your evacuation box in the basement.
- Put at least $300 cash in the box, including $1, $5 and $10 bills. "Sorry, no change" scams run rampant in times of catastrophe.
- Keep a booklet of checks in your box. Checks may still be written for large ticket items (rent, mortgage, insurance premium payments).
- Keep copies of your house deeds, insurance papers, medical cards, birth and marriage certificates, social security cards, and passports. Make sure you understand ahead of time what losses are covered with your insurance.
- Make a photographic inventory of your possessions. Keep the negatives and a digital copy on CD. If you have a camcorder, take a walk through your house now and film each possession of value and give your insurance agent the film (get a receipt).
- Maintain a list of all your credit card accounts, the companies' contact numbers and mailing addresses for payments.
Arrange ahead of time an emergency out-of-state contact person for your family to call to check in, and possibly stay with. The bottom line-realize that you may be on your own for more than a week if a true disaster strikes. But, with the right preparation, it won't feel like the world has ended.
A comprehensive source of booklets and information is available by visiting the Los Angeles Community Emergency Response Team's website at: http://www.cert-la.com/education/Preparedness.htm