Get your finanicial grab-and-go kit together

Experts say it's a must-have to recover from a catastrophe

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – You may be ready when disaster strikes-but what about after? Most people know they need a disaster supply kit in their house filled with water and emergency supplies, but what about after the storm, a flood or even an evacuation?

With September being National Disaster Preparedness Month, Linda Beech, an expert in disaster preparedness at Kansas State University, says now is a good time to make sure you have a financial grab-and-go kit if you're really going to recover from a catastrophe.

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"I think one of the things people miss is how difficult it is to recover after a disaster and having good records, a home inventory, family financial records at your fingertips can make that recovery process so much easier," she explained.

Your kit should include a home inventory including pictures or video. Make sure you have copies of financial account numbers and passwords.  You can even store financial documents electronically on a flash drive you would keep locked in your kit. 

Also, you'll need copies of important cards like your drivers license, insurance cards or credit cards.  Having some cash in your kit is important, too.

Also important, copies of wills and trust documents, property titles (e.g., house and car), certificates (birth, marriage, divorce, death and/or adoption), children's records (e.g., immunizations), educational records, and passports.  Again, a lot of these records can be scanned and stored on a flash drive in your kit.

And remember, when putting your financial grab-and-go kit, it needs to be in a weatherproof container and somewhere you can easily grab it if evacuated.

Another thing to think about is: do you have a living will?  Experts say it's never too early to think about this legal document.  You can actually download the forms online from the Florida Attorney General's office or from the Division of Aging in Georgia.