Financial Preparedness Is Essential for Hurricane Season

PEARL, Mississippi, May 8 -- The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency issued the following news:

On the third day of Hurricane Preparedness Week, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency wants to remind everyone that financial preparedness is just as important as physical preparedness.

Many people think once a big hurricane hits, FEMA will be there to make them whole again. That is not the case. In a major disaster the maximum federal amount a household can receive is $33,000. Is that enough to replace your house and all its contents? Certainly not.

It is essential for homeowners and renters to have some level of insurance.

"We have seen it time and again that an insured community will recover faster than one that is not," said MEMA Executive Director Lee Smithson. "We need to manage expectations that government cannot provide enough assistance to restore you to pre-disaster accomodations."

Flood insurance is also important for the entire state of Mississippi. Most water damage in not covered under general homeowner policies. If you don't think you can flood, think about Texas during Hurricane Harvey last year. Can your neighborhood withstand five feet of rain in a three day period? The average FEMA payout to people in the Houston area was less than $5,000. In contrast the average National Flood Insurance Program payout was $80,000. Insurance is the the key to peace of mind and more efficient recovery.

Here are some other helpful tips to keep your finances ready for hurricane season:

Start an emergency savings account. Most experts recommend having a minimum of three to six months of living expenses in an emergency fund, if possible. These funds can be used to make disaster repairs, cover insurance deductibles or pay monthly bills if your income is interrupted by job loss. Keep some cash on hand, because if the power is out in your area, it is likely that credit card machines and ATMs will not work.

Review your insurance coverage. Review your policy and make sure you have the proper amount of coverage to repair or replace your home and belongings. Pay special attention to deductibles that apply to specific events, such as hurricanes, which can be a percentage of your home's value. Also, review your flood coverage, because it is not included in most homeowners insurance policies.

Secure critical documents. Make sure that your critical documents are in a safe, secure place and could be taken with you if you have to evacuate. Documents you will want to secure include driver's license, green card, passport, social security and tax information, titles, deeds, and registrations for property and vehicles owned; insurance policies, credit cards, bank and investment records; birth certificates, marriage certificates and wills. Invest in a water and fire-proof box or safe-deposit box to keep these records secure. You could also keep copies of them electronically on portable drives or make hard copies.

Review your "what if" scenarios and make a plan. What if your place of employment is damaged and will close either for a few weeks or indefinitely? The rebuilding effort following a storm often creates new job opportunities. What if schools are closed and you don't have a place to bring your children? What if your home is damaged and no longer safe to live in? Talk to friends and neighbors about sharing the childcare responsibilities until schools reopen.

Gov. Phil Bryant declared May 7-11, 2018 as Hurricane Preparedness Week in Mississippi.

You can download the 2018 MEMA Hurricane Preparedness Guide at http://www.msema.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-HurricaneGuide-ONLINE2.pdf.

You can also download the free MEMA Mobile App in the Apple or Andoid stores under "Mississippi EMA". The best way to get up-to-date information is to "Like" MEMA on Facebook, or "Follow" us on Twitter and Snapchat.