BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana State Treasurer John M. Schroder urges residents to make financial disaster plans as part of their hurricane season preparations.

Schroder shares the following tips:

  • Grab some cash if you can since banks and ATMs may not work after the storm.
  • Keep your financial records safe – housing payments, insurance policies, bank accounts, tax statements, and pay stubs.
  • Make sure your insurance coverage will meet your needs to deal with all possible hazards. Check your property, health, life, and homeowners policies, and keep in mind that homeowners insurance does not typically cover flooding.
  • Start an emergency savings account for use in any crisis.
  • Before evacuating, take a video of the inside of your house, including your closets. This video serves as a record of your belongings should your home suffer damage.

Schroder emphasizes the importance of having a financial disaster plan before a storm hits.

“Unfortunately, we know it’s not a matter of if another hurricane will hit,” Schroder said. “It’s a matter of when and how many. It’s our job to be as prepared as possible before they head our way. If your financial disaster plan is in place when disaster strikes, you can focus on recovery right away.”

For more information about hurricane preparedness, visit ready.gov/hurricanes.