Disasters Don’t Wait. Are You Ready?

September is National Preparedness Month, an annual outreach campaign sponsored by FEMA’s Ready Campaign to empower Americans to prepare for natural and man-made disasters. t is the perfect time to evaluate your family’s safety plans before severe weather or emergencies strike.

Some disasters strike without any warning, and family members may not all be in the same place. How will you get in touch with each other? Where will you meet? How will you get out of your house in case of a fire? What if your neighborhood is being evacuated? It’s important to make a plan, now, so that you will know what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency.

Disasters don’t plan ahead. You can. Know what disasters and hazards could affect your area and learn what to do before, during, and after each type of emergency. Here are a few essential resources we’ve compiled to help you create an emergency preparedness plan for your family:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an online portal dedicated to Preparedness Month >

Ready PA is a website built for the public by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency >

Ready PA has also created an online “Get Emergency Alerts” guide >

Ready.gov has tips and games for kids to help them learn what to do to be ready for an emergency or disaster >

The City of York Department of Economic and Community Development has put together an emergency preparedness guide and information for our local area >

When there is a weather emergency, the National Weather Service is ready to report the latest to keep you informed >

FEMA has a free mobile app you can download to receive real-time weather alerts, locate emergency shelters in your area, prepare for common hazards, and more >

When emergency hits, the American Red Cross is ready to take action >

Financial preparedness for disasters should include: 

1. Check your emergency fund and make sure that you’re on-track with your savings goals.
2. Prepare a mixture of payment methods with cash on-hand and credit cards with a sufficient credit limit to cover necessary expenses,
3. Review and update your insurance policies to cover any potential damages from natural disasters.
4. Secure your financial documents in a waterproof and fireproof safe so you can quickly reach them when needed, aiding in faster recovery and claims processing. 

Here are a few additional resources for financial preparedness:

Large or small, unplanned expenses often feel like they hit at the worse times. Take a few minutes to read this guide to building an emergency fund published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau >

An emergency fund cushions you against surprise financial setbacks. Use Nerd Wallet’s emergency fund calculator below to help you pinpoint your savings goal >

The best way to plan for unexpected expenses that may result after a disaster is to start saving today according to tips from MyCreditUnion.gov >

Build a Strong Financial Foundation With Heritage Valley

Preparing for financial emergencies is a proactive step that we can help you take. Here at Heritage Valley, we’re dedicated to helping our members build a strong financial foundation for any situation. You can stay financially savvy and ready—no matter what challenges come your way. If you haven’t opened a savings account or certificate, do so today.