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Washington, D.C.
(Sept. 1, 2018)—Hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires can destroy property and wreak financial havoc on families and communities. During September, which is National Preparedness Month, The Farmers Bank and the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) remind consumers that they can help alleviate financial concerns by planning in advance of a natural disaster or emergency.
The Farmers Bank and its employees are here to support our customers and neighbors in their time of need. We consider it our civic duty to be prepared and resilient in the face a disaster, and will continue to serve as a cornerstone of economic recovery in our communities and provide critical information to help customers adequately prepare and quickly recover from an unforeseen event.
ICBA and The Farmers Bank offer the following tips to help consumers prepare for the unexpected and offer greater peace of mind following a natural disaster.
- Prepare backup communications plans if both cellular and landline service fail. You may want to be fully informed ahead of time of your cellular and satellite communications options.
- Store digital and paper copies of critical documents in a safe deposit box. These include a driver’s license, passport or military ID, bank and investment account information, proof of occupancy, a mortgage deed, insurance policies and three years of tax returns. Consider placing these items in a waterproof bag.
- Make additional copies of personal documents—marriage license, birth certificates, adoption papers—for safekeeping and alert a relative, trustee or attorney of their location.
- Print out contact information for trustees, guardians and executors and store it in a safe deposit box or give a copy to a trusted family member or friend.
- Create an inventory of personal and household valuables and use photo or video documentation to help assess their value and determine replacement costs.
- Contact your insurance agent or visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website, www.fema.gov, to determine if you need a flood insurance policy. FEMA also offers a guide with checklists to help prepare for emergencies and natural disasters.
“Natural disasters prompt people to take stock of what they have and what they have lost,” said ICBA Chairman Tim Zimmerman. “Your local community bank can work with you on evaluating your financial preparedness prior to these unexpected, stressful events and help protect you and your loved ones from the long-term effects of lost, damaged or destroyed financial documents.”
For more information on crisis preparedness visit ICBA’s website at www.icba.org/news/crisis-prepardness.
