| In August 2005, the people of the gulf coast United | | | | into the specific types of insurance designed to |
| States suffered record losses of life, homes and | | | | financially protect you from the danger most common |
| businesses from Hurricane Katrina. Merely months | | | | to your area.3. Know what you own.If you are a victim |
| before, thousands lost their homes and lives in | | | | of a disaster or emergency and you place an |
| Southeast Asia during a reckless Tsunami. Although it | | | | insurance claim on property or belongings, your |
| is hard to imagine the threat of natural disasters and | | | | insurance company will want to know exactly what |
| emergencies until we find ourselves involved in one, it is | | | | was lost. It is important to keep track of your most |
| always smart to plan ahead. Use the following three | | | | valuable belongings as well as proof such as photos |
| tips to help gauge whether you and your family are | | | | and deeds to property. Make a list of all of your |
| financially prepared for an emergency situation or | | | | valuables, and be specific. Be sure to take pictures of |
| disaster:1. Start an emergency savings fund.Many | | | | the current state of each of these belongings, like your |
| individuals and families find it difficult to save for the | | | | car and the different facets of your property, as proof |
| future. While it is important to save for your retirement | | | | of damage should a disaster strike. Make copies of |
| or your child's higher education, you cannot forget to | | | | your photos, as well as your family's important |
| plan ahead in case of an emergency. Insurance can | | | | documents. Keep these items in a locked safe or |
| help during a time of crisis, but very rarely does an | | | | safety deposit box where at least one copy is out of |
| insurance claim cover 100% of the damages incurred | | | | harm's way at all times.ABOUT ACCC: American |
| from a natural disaster or other emergency. By putting | | | | Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit |
| away small amounts of money each week, month or | | | | 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering |
| pay period, saving for an unexpected event can be | | | | consumers to regain control of their lives through |
| very easy. Plus, with automatic online transfers and | | | | education, counseling and debt management. ACCC |
| direct deposit, banks and credit unions can | | | | provides individuals with the practical solutions for |
| automatically transfer money from your paycheck | | | | solving financial problems and recognizes that |
| each week to make your emergency savings much | | | | consumers' financial difficulties are often not the result |
| easier to swallow.2. Stay insured.Disasters do happen | | | | of poor spending habits, but more frequently, from |
| and it never hurts to be prepared. While it is easy to | | | | extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As |
| think, "it'll never happen to me," the monthly insurance | | | | one of the nation's leading providers in consumer |
| cost will seem like pennies should you find yourself in | | | | financial education and credit counseling services, |
| an emergency situation without any insurance helping | | | | ACCC works with consumers to help them with the |
| to repair or rebuild your home. If you live in a region | | | | best plan of action to reduce their debt and regain |
| traditionally prone to certain natural disasters such as | | | | financial stability. |
| earthquakes, floods or hurricanes, it is important to look | | | | |