Financial Preparedness

Short-Term Strategy

• Withdraw enough cash to make purchases for at least 7 days - Hurricanes may close stores and disable ATM machines for days or weeks based on the severity of damage.
• Fill your vehicle with gas. If you have a generator, it is best to stock up on extra gasoline in secure containers and store it in a safe place so you can fuel your generator if the power goes out.
• Secure important documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, passports, insurance paperwork, and other items that you may need to make claims after the storm. Review the terms of insurance claims and ask questions before the storm if possible to save time afterwards.
• Speak with your supervisor to understand anticipated hours of work before and after the hurricane. This will assist with evacuation decisions to minimize time missed from work.

Long-Term Strategy

• Establish an emergency account with a goal to deposit enough to pay expenses for 3 months. Do not take out money from this account unless an emergency comes up and you need funds.
• Obtain insurance coverage for items of importance. This would include things such as renter's insurance to cover te cost of damage to items in your residence hall or home.
• Create a hurricane kit with food, water, solar charger, and other items needs for 7 days. You can buy one item a week to make this manageable.
• Identify likely hazards for your home - create an annual or longer term schedule to mitigate the issues related to these hazards. For example, if you have large trees, have them trimmed just prior to hurricane season.