Kate Ashford

Yeah, so saving is the, again, the number one thing. If there's only one thing people do, savings is the thing I would encourage folks to do. But the other piece is understand what options are available for the debts that you have in the event of a disaster. So for instance, if you are a homeowner, most mortgage companies offer some kind of after disaster assistance.

Same thing with credit cards, with auto loan companies, and they're usually happy to tell you kind of general terms about what they do. Finally, minimizing credit card debt is also a great way to be prepared for disasters. It's good for you financially anyway, right, to minimize credit card debt.

Same thing with credit cards, with auto loan companies, and they're usually happy to tell you kind of general terms about what they do. Finally, minimizing credit card debt is also a great way to be prepared for disasters. It's good for you financially anyway, right, to minimize credit card debt.

Same thing with credit cards, with auto loan companies, and they're usually happy to tell you kind of general terms about what they do. Finally, minimizing credit card debt is also a great way to be prepared for disasters. It's good for you financially anyway, right, to minimize credit card debt.

But in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, once machines are back up and you're able to use credit cards and you're able to use your bank cards, whatever, having available credit can be a real lifesaver. For most folks, when they go through a disaster, there's a period where they aren't working and they may or may not be getting paid.

But in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, once machines are back up and you're able to use credit cards and you're able to use your bank cards, whatever, having available credit can be a real lifesaver. For most folks, when they go through a disaster, there's a period where they aren't working and they may or may not be getting paid.

But in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, once machines are back up and you're able to use credit cards and you're able to use your bank cards, whatever, having available credit can be a real lifesaver. For most folks, when they go through a disaster, there's a period where they aren't working and they may or may not be getting paid.

There's also just a lot of expenses that are unexpected and the cost of things, everything rises quickly in the aftermath of a disaster. And so having some available credit can make you more resilient in those first couple of months. So we encourage people, maintain a low amount of credit card debt if you can.

There's also just a lot of expenses that are unexpected and the cost of things, everything rises quickly in the aftermath of a disaster. And so having some available credit can make you more resilient in those first couple of months. So we encourage people, maintain a low amount of credit card debt if you can.

There's also just a lot of expenses that are unexpected and the cost of things, everything rises quickly in the aftermath of a disaster. And so having some available credit can make you more resilient in those first couple of months. So we encourage people, maintain a low amount of credit card debt if you can.

Yeah, absolutely. So after, you know, I just mentioned after a disaster, there are just a ton of expenses. But one of the ways that you can sort of overcome those expenses is with borrowing. And so the Small Business Administration offers disaster recovery loans for consumers. It sounds a little crazy.

Yeah, absolutely. So after, you know, I just mentioned after a disaster, there are just a ton of expenses. But one of the ways that you can sort of overcome those expenses is with borrowing. And so the Small Business Administration offers disaster recovery loans for consumers. It sounds a little crazy.

Yeah, absolutely. So after, you know, I just mentioned after a disaster, there are just a ton of expenses. But one of the ways that you can sort of overcome those expenses is with borrowing. And so the Small Business Administration offers disaster recovery loans for consumers. It sounds a little crazy.

Small Business Administration, they're lending to people who aren't small business owners in this case. But that is based on your credit score. They look at credit worthiness and they're not the only ones. So having a really strong credit score makes a big difference in how much you can borrow and the terms of those loans.

Small Business Administration, they're lending to people who aren't small business owners in this case. But that is based on your credit score. They look at credit worthiness and they're not the only ones. So having a really strong credit score makes a big difference in how much you can borrow and the terms of those loans.

Small Business Administration, they're lending to people who aren't small business owners in this case. But that is based on your credit score. They look at credit worthiness and they're not the only ones. So having a really strong credit score makes a big difference in how much you can borrow and the terms of those loans.

Your insurance company should be your very first stop. Let them know there's going to be a long line for having someone come out and look at your property and sort of do that evaluation. So getting to them very quickly is important. After your insurance company, I would say FEMA is really your next stop to put in that FEMA application.

Your insurance company should be your very first stop. Let them know there's going to be a long line for having someone come out and look at your property and sort of do that evaluation. So getting to them very quickly is important. After your insurance company, I would say FEMA is really your next stop to put in that FEMA application.

Your insurance company should be your very first stop. Let them know there's going to be a long line for having someone come out and look at your property and sort of do that evaluation. So getting to them very quickly is important. After your insurance company, I would say FEMA is really your next stop to put in that FEMA application.

And I will say those applications can be really complicated in the aftermath of a disaster. It is going through a disaster, particularly one that fully destroys your home, right? That is incredibly traumatic and it is hard to overstate how much of a barrier that can become to your recovery. So my next piece of advice would be to ask for help if you need it.