Hurricane Financial Preparedness

Make sure to have enough cash on hand to get you and your family through several days after an emergency. During and after a hurricane, power outages can make it difficult to access ATMs or use credit and debit cards. Make sure to keep your cash in a secure and accessible place, such as a waterproof and fireproof safe. Include smaller bills in case stores aren’t able to make change.

During an emergency, it’s important to have access to your financial and personal record, such as insurance policies, identification (driver’s license and passports), property deeds, financial account information, and medical records. Keep these documents in a secure, waterproof and fireproof container to protect from potential damage.

Keep physical copies of your important documents safe, and also make digital copies to ensure access to your documents. Scan or photograph all essential documents and save them to a secure cloud storage service or an encrypted USB drive. Make sure your digital storage method is secure and that only trusted individuals have access to these files.

Protect your valuables from damage. Unplug electronics and appliances to protect from power surges. Choose a secure location to store cars, boats, or RVs. Also, create an inventory of your possessions, their value, and photograph of each item. This documentation can be invaluable when filing insurance claims after the storm.

Mobile and online banking can be incredibly useful during a hurricane. Set up online banking and download the Navigator mobile app well before a hurricane hits. These services allow you to manage your accounts, transfer funds, pay bills and deposit checks remotely, even if you are unable to visit a bank branch.

In case of evacuation, you have the option to do your banking at any of 5,000+ CO-OP shared branches. To utilize shared branching, you must know your Navigator member number. Keep this number in a secure place. It is also available in your digital banking account under your account details.