Check Your Financial & Legal Preparedness

The theme of this final week of National Preparedness Month is financial and legal readiness. There are three key elements to good financial preparedness:

1. Make sure that your insurance is appropriate for the sorts of incidents you and your property are most likely to face. Review FEMA's Document and Insure Property guide. Note that homeowners insurance does not typically cover flooding, so you may need flood insurance if your property is susceptible. See Floodsmart.gov to learn more.

2. Confirm that all legal documentation is up to date, with copies stored somewhere safe. This includes wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, any significant titles and deeds, and personal IDs, such as Social Security cards and passports. It is also advisable to have color copies of all of these documents, along with those of major credit cards, prescriptions, and drivers licenses, stored somewhere secure away from home or online.

3. Make sure that you can access all of this information quickly, easily, and remotely. Be able to grab key documents (e.g., passports, critical medical information) with five minutes warning. It is also helpful to have a small amount of cash ready to go, preferably in small bills, since ATMs and credit cards may not be reliable in a major disaster.

For more information on these and other recommendations, go to https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness. To be thorough, complete an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK).

The Weston Emergency Reserve Corps will be at the Fire Department’s open house during next month's Pumpkin Fest and at the Town’s flu clinic. Check out the materials available, and consider joining as a WERC volunteer. There is no obligation to serve in an emergency, but we will make sure that you have the knowledge and training you need to be ready and able. Information is always available through the Board of Health.

Disasters happen. Prepare now. Learn how.