Preparing For A Disaster

It is important that your family knows how to find each other after a disaster. 

• You should talk with your family members ahead of time. 

• You should have a place to meet in the event of a disaster. 

• Make sure that each member has contact information for other family members. 

• Pick a relative or friend who lives in another town to be your emergency person. 

• Your family members can call that person to leave messages for each other in the event of a disaster.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Other Emergency Issues After a Disaster 
• Disaster-Related Family and Education Issues 

It is important to have insurance coverage to replace or repair what has been damaged. Review insurance policies regularly. Ensure you have the right types and amounts of coverage. 

• If you are a homeowner, you should have a homeowner’s insurance policy in place. Review your policy to make sure that you have coverage for the disasters that are likely to occur in Iowa. Homeowner’s insurance will not cover flood damage.
• If you live in a flood plain or other area that is likely to flood, you should buy flood insurance. If you are a renter, you should have a renter’s insurance policy that covers your personal property if it is damaged in a disaster.
• Your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover your belongings.
• Renter’s insurance will also not cover flood damage.
• If you live in a flood plain or an area that is likely to flood, you should buy flood insurance. You should speak with your insurance agent if you have questions.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Disaster Insurance Claim Guide 

It will be important to prove your identity after a disaster. It can take a long time to get new cards. 

• Make sure that all your important documents and records are located together so you can grab them quickly.

• You should protect documents as much as possible from fire and water.

• Important documents include; driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, passports, immigration papers, and insurance cards.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Replacing Lost Documents 

A disaster can happen anytime. Take the time to document financial information and contact information before a situation occurs. You can create a disaster emergency plan that includes a checklist to keep track of account numbers, valuables, medical information, and more. Start or keep building your savings to have an emergency savings fund. You can pay for expenses when they come up during a disaster event without taking on expensive debt. 

You will need to continue to pay your bills. It will be important to have bank statements (checking and savings numbers), mortgage statements or leases, insurance cards (policy numbers), car loan statements, and credit card statements.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Replacing Lost Documents 
• Finance Issues After a Disaster 

To prepare for a disaster make sure you can safeguard any information so that you can easily access your medical information. This includes your physician information, copies of health insurance information, immunization records, and medications. 

The American Red Cross recommends that everyone have a “Go Bag” with three days worth of supplies.

• The goal is that when a disaster happens, you can just grab your bag and go.
• The Red Cross suggests that your “Go Bag” contains clothes, medications, important papers, cell phone and charger, flashlight and batteries, and snacks and food.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Preparing for a Disaster 
• Other Emergency Issues After a Disaster 

If you are in a custody arrangement, then you can prepare for a disaster by learning what you need to do in the event of a disaster.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Disaster-Related Family and Education Issues 
• A Guide to Child Custody in Louisiana 
• Modifying or Changing Child Custody Arrangements in Louisiana 

Individuals who are renters can prepare before a disaster strikes. Before a disaster, renters can assure that their lease documents are kept in a safe place. Renters can also take an inventory of their homes and personal belongings. By taking an inventory that may include photographs, renters can show damages to their personal belongings or the property if a disaster occurs.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Renters Affected By Disasters

Individuals who are homeowners can prepare before a disaster strikes. Before a disaster, homeowners can take an inventory of their property and belongings including photos and descriptions of the condition. If a disaster occurs, then a homeowner has an inventory and record of their personal belongings and property before any damage occurs as part of a disaster. Homeowners can also check insurance information and assure they have adequate insurance coverage in the event of a disaster. Homeowners who have a mortgage should understand what they must do and how they should continue to pay their mortgage even if damage occurs.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Mortgage Help for Homeowners Affected by Disasters

Individuals who are part of a disaster often need a multitude of contractors to help repair homes and other property. Unfortunately in part from the demand and need for contractors, many individuals can take advantage of the situation. Individuals can be aware of the increased frequency in contractor fraud if there is a disaster and they need to make repairs.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Avoid Contractor Fraud 
• Disaster Fraud 

If you are preparing for a disaster you may consider preparing or executing a power of attorney document. Make copies of your document and keep it in a safe place in the event of a disaster. If you have to evacuate, take the documents with you. 

To learn more about powers of attorney visit the resource: 

• Power of Attorney (POA)

Many people receive bank statements and documents by e-mail. This method is an outstanding way to secure financial records. Important tax records such as W-2s, tax returns, and other paper documents can be scanned in an electronic format.

Be sure you back up your electronic files and store them in a safe place. Making duplicates and keeping them in a separate location is a good business practice. 

When choosing a place to keep your important records, convenience to your home should not be your primary concern. Remember, a disaster that strikes your home is also likely to affect other facilities nearby, making quick retrieval of your records difficult and maybe even impossible.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Disasters and Tax Relief 

If you are preparing for a disaster you may consider preparing or executing a will to ensure that all your property is divided according to your wishes after you die. Make copies of your will and keep it in a safe place in the event of a disaster. If you have to evacuate, take the documents with you.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Legal Guide to Wills
• Introduction to Successions

If you are preparing for a disaster and do not already get SNAP benefits then you can still pre-register for Disaster Supplement Nutrition Program (DSNAP) benefits. This means you can be ready if DSNAP becomes available in your parish because of a disaster declaration in your parish. 

To learn more visit the resources: 

• About Emergency Disaster SNAP Benefits & Disaster Food Stamps

You can prepare for a disaster by updating your DSNAP information (including contact and household information). Ensure that your information stays up to the state to get important updates and apply if a disaster occurs and DSNAP is approved for your parish. 

To learn more visit the resources: 

• About Emergency Disaster Benefits and Disaster Food Stamps 

A disaster can disrupt the mail service for days or weeks. If you depend on Social Security payments or other regular benefits, switching to electronic benefits is a simple and significant way to help yourself financially before disaster strikes. This also eliminates the risk of stolen checks. 

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Disaster Programs and Benefits 

Look into assistance options after the disaster by logging on to DisasterAssistance.gov, visiting a Disaster Recovery Center in your community, or dialing 211 for a referral for community-based resources.

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Disaster Programs and Benefits 

Disasters can lead to financial emergencies. A financial emergency is any expense or loss of income you do not plan for, such as a missed paycheck, unemployment, medical treatment, or property damage like a damaged roof. Take action to protect yourself in the event of a financial emergency. Start emergency savings account to prepare for unexpected financial emergencies or disasters. 

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Finance Issues After a Disaster 

For homeowners, one of the most important documents to keep with you during a disaster is the documents that show that your home is indeed your home. For homeowners, that document is the title or the deed to the home. The title is the legal word for legal ownership of property. The deed is the written document where this is written down. It is best to take care of title or complex ownership property questions before a disaster strikes. Problems come up when more than one person owns the property, which can happen with heirs property when property passes down to heirs through generations without recording legal title ownership. Disaster survivors may need to access FEMA or SBA funds after a disaster and may need to show clear title ownership to the property. Before this creates a legal challenge, homeowners can take care of title or complex ownership property questions and issues before a disaster strikes. 

To learn more visit the resources: 

• Protect your Property: Heir Property in Louisiana 
• Avoiding Legal Problems Associated with Owning Property