Preparing for disasters and emergencies

Plan ahead to avoid money stress in an emergency

We all hope to avoid experiencing life-changing events like earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires. But creating a financial plan before disaster strikes can save you money, stress, and time if an emergency happens.

Keep track of valuable information

Take the time to document your financial information and contact numbers before a disaster or emergency. Use a checklist to keep track of account numbers, valuables, medical information, and more.

Emergency planning resources

• First steps to secure your finances after a natural disaster
• Your Disaster Checklist (Español | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | Tagalog | Pусский | Kreyòl Ayisyen | العربية )
• FEMA Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (available in multiple languages)

Start or keep building your savings

Being prepared financially might mean having an emergency savings fund. With a cash cushion, you could potentially weather a storm without taking on expensive debt. If you use a credit card or take out a loan to pay for unexpected expenses, your one-time emergency expense may grow significantly larger than your original bill because of interest and fees.