News & Stories

January 2025

Disaster Plans Don’t Need To Be Costly

In a world where natural and man-made disasters are increasingly common, disaster preparedness is crucial. Being prepared doesn’t have to be expensive. Creating a disaster plan can save money and provide peace of mind.

• Know what kind of disasters and emergencies are most common for where you live.
• Create an emergency communications plan that you can use to conveniently record important contact and medical information about your family. Share with others and store copies both digitally and on paper.
• Make sure you store important phone numbers somewhere besides just your cell phone.
• Sign up for emergency alerts in your area to receive life-saving information from your state and local municipality.
• Build your emergency kit over time. Start with items you can easily find in your home like a flashlight, extra batteries, copies of important documents, water and non-perishable food.
• Talk with family or household members about where you will go if told to evacuate. Having a plan before disaster strikes can help you save precious time and money.
• Store important documents and items like passports, birth certificates, and electronics in a safe place. Most documents can also be kept electronically. You can find more detailed information about financial preparedness for natural disasters HERE.