Fillable Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK)

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Emergency Financial
First Aid Kit (EFFAK)
Strengthen Your Financial Preparedness
for Disasters and Emergencies
March 2018
FEMA P-1075/March 2018
The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit is available for free from FEMA.
Call () – and ask for publication number . It is also available as a free
download online at: www.ready.gov/financialpreparedness and at www.operationhope.org.
© , ,  Operation HOPE Inc.
Strengthen Your Financial
Preparedness for Emergencies
Big and Small
When it comes to emergencies, Americans face more than just earthquakes, tornadoes,
and hurricanes. We also deal with flat tires, broken water heaters, and sudden medical
expenses. Both big disasters and unexpected bills take time, money and resources away
from other priorities. So why aren’t we doing more to get prepared?
Studies tell us income is often the most important factor in individual and family
preparedness. Research shows that as an individual’s income goes up, they are more likely
to take action to prepare. However, we also know that as a person’s income decreases,
they are less likely to set aside money for emergencies. So, it is clear that a lack of income
and savings is a major obstacle to building a rainy day fund, stockpiling supplies, or
buying insurance.
Since , Operation HOPE and FEMA have been regularly collaborating to build
financial preparedness through the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK). We
listened to the feedback we received from families, community leaders, and financial
experts to make this document as useful as possible. The EFFAK can help you start to
prepare by oering guidance on organizing and securing important documents. This new
edition of the EFFAK also provides important advice on managing finances, oers insights
on dealing with credit scores, and describes what to expect should a disaster strike your
community. All of this will help families prepare today for both the big incidents and
minor emergencies.
As individuals and as a nation, we have to do more to prepare for the disasters and
emergencies we face. This includes learning basic skills that could save someone’s life after
an accident, or practicing emergency communications plans with loved ones. It means
talking to co-workers about how to get back to business quickly and safely after a disaster.
But it all starts with each of us knowing how to manage our finances. Individuals and
families must have a financial plan to face emergencies, big and small. Only then can we
build a true culture of preparedness in every home and community across America. We
thank you for being a part of this eort.
Brock Long
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
John Hope Bryant
CEO and Founder
Operation HOPE, Inc.
§ Fothergill et al, : .
§ Zapata, : .
§ The Pew Charitable Trusts, .
Contents
I. Overview .................................................................................................................................... 1
Financial Wellness .................................................................................................................... 2
Four Simple Steps to Financial Preparedness ............................................................................ 2
II. EFFAK Checklists and Forms ..................................................................................................... 5
Household Identification.......................................................................................................... 6
Financial and Legal Documentation........................................................................................12
Medical Information............................................................................................................... 20
Household Contacts ............................................................................................................... 22
III. Protecting Your Information................................................................................................... 26
Keeping Your Electronic Records Safe .................................................................................... 26
What To Do If Your EFFAK Is Stolen...................................................................................... 27
IV. Other Steps for Preparing ....................................................................................................... 28
What Else Can You Do To Prepare?......................................................................................... 28
V. Support Community Resilience ...............................................................................................31
VI. If Disaster Strikes ...................................................................................................................31
Beware of Scams..................................................................................................................... 32
VII. Additional Resources............................................................................................................. 33
Helpful Organizations and Resource Pages ............................................................................. 33
Additional References and Tools ............................................................................................. 33
VIII. EFFAK Partners ....................................................................................................................35
About Operation HOPE, Inc. .................................................................................................. 35
About the Financial Literacy and Education Commission ....................................................... 35
IX. Notice .................................................................................................................................... 36
1
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Overview
If a disaster or other emergency strikes your community, you
may only have seconds or minutes to react. In those critical
moments, your focus will be on your family’s safety. Once
the threat of harm has passed, having your homeowners or
renters insurance policy, bank account information, and other
household records and contacts will be very important as you
begin the recovery process. The Emergency Financial First Aid
Kit (EFFAK) can help you be ready.
The nonprofit organization HOPE Coalition America, in partnership with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), created the EFFAK in  to help individuals
and families collect and organize critical financial, medical, and household contact
information.
After completing the EFFAK, you will have a centralized record of essential household
information whenever you need it. This will give you peace of mind, knowing that you
will be able to rebuild your life more quickly if you ever find yourself in a disaster.
The EFFAK has four sections, each of which includes a checklist of important documents
and forms to complete your relevant information:
§ Household Identification
§ Financial and Legal Documentation
§ Medical Information
§ Household Contacts
This guide also oers suggestions on safeguarding and storing your EFFAK, as well as in-
formation on protecting your family, property, and other resources. If you have questions
or need assistance completing your EFFAK, please call () –HOPE (). For more
information on HOPE Coalition America, please visit: www.operationhope.org. For infor-
mation on personal disaster preparedness or FEMA disaster assistance, please visit: www.
ready.gov and www.disasterassistance.gov.
2
Financial Wellness
Before you take the first steps to becoming financially prepared, you should have basic
knowledge of your finances. Financial literacy is the ability to make informed decisions
in managing your financial resources and making smart choices on how to spend your
money. Being educated about your personal finances and how to manage them can
empower you to plan for emergencies and disasters.
The best way to plan for the unexpected expenses that may result after a disaster is to
start saving today. Saving money can help you and your family avoid taking on more debt
to respond to the costs of rebuilding your life after an emergency. To learn more about
saving visit: ww w.mymoney.gov/save-invest.
Four Simple Steps to Financial Preparedness
1. Assess and Compile: Gather your important documents and contacts.
§ Complete and date all the forms in the EFFAK.
§ Use the checklists to understand the documentation that you should collect.
§ If you do not have an original version of a document, contact the correct company or
agency to obtain a copy.
§ If you receive paper checks for any of your Federal benefits, consider enrolling in
automatic benefits through Go Direct (www.fiscal.treasury.gov/GoDirect/).
§ If you receive paper checks from your employer, consider requesting direct deposit or
prepaid debit cards.
§ Print or download statements of any bills that you pay automatically, such as rent or
mortgage payments, utilities, loan payments, and memberships.
§ Download any banking or bill pay mobile applications to your smart phone or device
for any bills that you pay online. This will allow you to consider these costs without
the need to refer or sort through paper statements.
§ Take photographs or record a video of the rooms in your home and any valuable
belongings as well as the important documents listed in your EFFAK. Include copies of
these records with either your paper or electronic versions of the EFFAK.
§ Keep some cash in the same safe location as your EFFAK to pay for emergency
purchases in the event that ATMs are not functioning or banks are closed. The amount
of cash should be based on the basic needs of your family, including food, gas, and
other things you use on a day-to-day basis.
§ Know your FICO Score, which is a type of credit score that lenders use to determine
the risk of oering credit to a borrower. Knowing your FICO score will allow you to
take action if it needs to be improved in order to prepare for emergency borrowing.
2. Review: Review your insurance policies and financial paperwork to be sure that they
are still accurate and current.
§ If you own a home or a car, ensure that your homeowners and auto insu
rance coverage
is enough to support you in an emergency.
§ If you rent, ensure that your lease reflects your current rent and verify that your renters
insurance is up-to-date.
§ Please visit www.usa.gov/property-insurance for additional tips on homeowners and
renters insurance.
3
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
§ The EFFAK will help you to identify any important personal documents or types of
insurance (such as a will, living will, life insurance policy, or health insurance plan)
that you do not currently have. Consider taking the steps to set up these items.
3. Safeguard: Store paper and electronic copies of all files in safe locations.
§ Every year, consider storing paper copies of important documents at home in a fireproof
and waterproof box or safe, in a bank safe deposit box, or with a trusted friend or
relative. If you are using a safe deposit box, you may want to ask your bank or check
state laws to confirm who can and cannot access the safe deposit box if the owner dies
or cannot access it themselves due to illness.
§ For electronic copies of important documents, store them in a password-protected format
on a removable flash or external hard drive in your fireproof and waterproof box or
safe. You can also consider using a secure osite storage service.
§ For more steps on how to address your financial needs after a disaster, visit
the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at: www.consumerfinance.gov/
hurricanefinancialtoolkit.
§ If you bank or pay your bills electronically, we recommend printing your account
records to include with your EFFAK or download your bank’s banking app to keep
track of statements every few months.
§ Living wills and advanced directives should also be filed with hospitals and primary
care doctors.
§ If you have a lawyer, financial advisor, or trusted family member or friend, you may
want to provide him or her with a paper copy of your EFFAK in a sealed envelope to be
opened only with your approval or the approval of someone whom you have chosen in
the event you cannot make decisions on your own. These trusted people can be your
next of kin or someone you have allowed to act on your behalf (known as power of
attorney).
4. Update: Revisit and update your EFFAK often. Updates are especially important when
certain changes in your life occur.
§ Suggested times when you should review your EFFAK:
» During tax preparation time
» At the start or end of daylight saving time
» Around your birthday
» At the start of a new year
§ Times when you will need to change your EFFAK as soon as possible:
» When you change your insurance provider
» When there is a change in residence
» When you purchase a home or rent an apartment
» When you open or close bank accounts
» When you have a change in marital status
» When you have a child
» When your child changes schools
» During retirement planning
» When there is a death within the household
4
5
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
EFFAK Checklists and Forms
The EFFAK contains the following four sections of key records and contact information:
§ Household Identification
§ Financial and Legal Documentation
§ Medical Information
§ Household Contacts
Each section includes checklists and contact forms to help you collect and assemble your
relevant documents and information. Each checklist includes the following columns:
§ Type of Document: This column provides a list of the specific documents for the
category (for example, driver’s license, bank statements, and health insurance cards).
§ Have: Check the box in this column if you have either a paper or electronic c
opy of
the listed document.
§ N/A (Not Applicable): Check the box in this column if you do not need this document
or if it does not apply to you, your family, or your household. Remember to review
your checklist and update documents if your household circumstances change.
§ Date Added/Updated: Enter the date in this column when you add the paper and/or
electronic copy of a document to your EFFAK. This information will serve as a handy
reference point to remind you when it is time to review or update the document. You
can then enter the new date in this column when you do a recheck or update.
§ Tips and Links: This column provides additional details on your documents, as well as
suggestions and links on how to contact agencies or organizations to request paper or
electronic copies of your documents.
Things to consider in using the EFFAK checklists:
§ When you complete the first two sections, Household Identification and Financial
and Legal Documentation, you will have the information needed to apply for FEMA
Disaster Assistance. For information on personal disaster preparedness or FEMA
disaster assistance, please visit: www.ready.gov and www.disasterassistance.gov.
For more information on how to prepare your small business for disaster, please visit:
www.sba.gov/emergencypreparedness and www.ready.gov/business.
§ Not all documents listed in the EFFAK may be needed by you, your family, or your
household.
§ If you identify an important document that you do not currently have, please contact
the correct company or agency to obtain a copy of the document.
§ If the document is an item that you normally carry with you (for example, an
insurance card or military ID that you keep in your wallet or purse), make a copy of
the item and store that copy with your EFFAK.
Household Identication
Use this section to write down important information for your household. This information
can help you to:
§ Prove the identity of all household members after a disaster strikes;
§ Maintain or re-establish contact with your family or other members of your household;
§ Maintain contact with your employer or the employers of others in your household; and
§ Apply for FEMA disaster assistance, if eligible (along with the information contained in the
Financial and Legal Documentation section).
Checklist of Important Documents: Personal and Family Information
TYPE OF DOCUMENT
HAVE
N/A
DATE ADDED/
UPDATED
TIPS AND LINKS
IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS
Driver’s license
Photocopy front and back
Other photo ID
Photocopy front and back
Birth certificate(s)/
adoption papers/
child custody documents
Marriage license
Divorce Decree
You can get copies of b
irth,
adoption, deat
h, marriage
,
and divorce certifica
tes from
your state health or social
services administration
oce for a small fee. The
Centers for Dis
ease Control
and Prevention (CDC)
maintains a state-by-state
contact list at: www.cdc.
gov/nchs/w2w.htm.
Social Security card(s)
If you need a new card or
a replacement card, call
your local Social Security
Administration (SSA) oce
for assistance at ()
– and tell the
ope
rator where you live. To
lo
cate a nearby oce, visit:
https://secure.ssa.gov/
ICON/main.jsp.
Child identity cards/
dental records/
DNA swabs
6
Make sure that you
have your children’s
identification records,
including recent
photographs, child identity
cards with fi
ngerprints,
dental records (typically
stor
ed by dental care
providers), or DNA swabs.
7
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Checklist of Important Documents: Personal and Family Information
TYPE OF DOCUMENT
HAVE
N/A
DATE ADDED/
UPDATED
TIPS AND LINKS
Passport/Green Card
Photocopy the first two
p
ages of your passport or
front and back of your
Green Card. Having a copy
of your passport or Green
Card will make getting a
replacement quicker, if
needed. Information about
applying for a
nd renewing
a passport is available at:
https://travel.state.gov/
passports, or you can
call the National Passport
Information Center at ()
–. Information
about applying for,
renewing, and replacing a
Green Card is available at:
www.uscis.gov/greencard.
Naturalization
documents
Information on U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration
Services is available at: www.
uscis.gov. Naturalization
documents are the only
acceptable p
roof of
citizenship for ind
ividuals not
born in the United States.
MILITARY/SERVICE INFORMATION
Current military ID
Military
discharge record
(DD 214)
If you are a veteran, keep
copies of your DD , which
is your military discharge
form. You can find copies by
contacting the U.S. National
Archives and Records
Administration at (
) –
, or by accessing Veterans
Records online at: www.
archives.gov/veterans.
PETS
Pet ID tags
Proof of pet ownership
(photos of owners with
pets, registration papers)
Pet microchip
information
Ensure that you have a copy
of your pet’s ID tag numbers
and microchip account
information, if your pet has
one.
Emotional support letter
Certification for
service animals
Individ
uals are not
required by law to have this
documentation. However,
keep in mind that in the event
of an emergency, s
helters
may need paperwork to tell
the dierence betwee
n pets,
emotional support animals,
and service animals you have
with you.
Household Information
Because every household is dierent, these forms will need to be customized to meet
your needs. Only you can know the information that is important for your household. For
example, if someone in your household has more than one job, be sure to write down
contact information for someone at each job.
YOUR NAME
Last Name First Name Middle Name
Date of Birth Place of Birth
8
RESIDENCE
Address Apt.
City State ZIP
Home Phone Cell Phone Work Phone
Email Other
CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS OR P.O. BOX
Address Apt.
City State ZIP
NAME OF SPOUSE/PARTNER
Last Name First Name Middle Name
Date of Birth Place of Birth
Cell Phone Work Phone
Email Other
9
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
YOUR EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
Company/Firm
Address Suite
City State ZIP
NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR OTHER WORK CONTACT
Last Name First Name Title
Work Phone Email
Home Phone Other
YOUR SPOUSE/PARTNER’S EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
Company/Firm
Address Suite
City State ZIP
NAME OF YOUR SPOUSE/PARTNER’S SUPERVISOR/WORK CONTACT
Last Name First Name Title
Work Phone Email
Home Phone Other
10
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION
On this page, please list trusted family members, friends, or neighbors who should be
notified in the event that something happens to you or your spouse.
Contact #1 Relationship
Work Phone Email
Home Phone Cell Phone
Contact #2 Relationship
Work Phone Email
Home Phone Cell Phone
LIST ALL CHILDREN AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE RESIDENCE
Person #1 Last Name First Name Middle Name
Email Cell Phone Date of Birth
School/Employer Contact Name/Supervisor
Contact Phone Email
Person #2 Last Name First Name Middle Name
Email Cell Phone Date of Birth
School/Employer Contact Name/Supervisor
Contact Phone Email
11
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Person #3 Last Name First Name Middle Name
Email Cell Phone Date of Birth
School/Employer Contact Name/Supervisor
Contact Phone Email
Person #4 Last Name First Name Middle Name
Email Cell Phone Date of Birth
School/Employer Contact Name/Supervisor
Contact Phone Email
11
11
12
Financial and Legal
Documentation
Please use this section to record information on your key accounts, including but not
limited to:
§ Housing payments
§ Other financial obligations (for example, utility bills, credit/debit card accounts,
receipts from child support payments)
§ Financial accounts (for example, checking, savings, or retirement accounts)
§ Insurance policies
§ Sources of income
§ Tax statements
§ Estate planning
This financial information is important because it can help you to:
§ Identify your financial records and responsibilities (you may need to show proof of
income when you apply for disaster assistance);
§ Re-establish your financial accounts if checks are destroyed or your regular online
access methods are unable to be used;
§ Maintain payments and credit;
§ Be able to speak to companies and individuals who can help you to start recovery. This
information will allow you to contact your insurance company to discuss damages and
repairs, contact utilities regarding outages and solutions, etc.; and
§ Apply for FEMA disaster assistance, if eligible (along with the material contained in the
Household Identification section).
Important Reminder
In the event of an emergency or disaster, you are still responsible for paying your mortgage
regardless of the condition of your house or whether or not you can live in it. You are
also responsible for paying your credit card bills. If you do not pay your bills, this can
negatively aect your credit at a time when you need credit the most.
If an emergency or disaster causes you to lose income and you are unable to pay your bills,
we recommend that you call your credit card issuers as soon as possible and explain your
situation. Many card issuers will work with you to create a schedule that works for you
and your personal situation in times of emergency. For more information on the impact of
natural disasters on banking, please visit: www.fdic.gov/news/disaster/consumers.html.
13
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Checklist of Important Documents: Financial Information
TYPE OF DOCUMENT
HAVE
N/A
DATE ADDED/
UPDATED
TIPS AND LINKS
HOUSING PAYMENTS
Lease or rental
agreement
Proof of housing rental
may be required to receive
Federal disaster assistance.
If you need a copy of your
lease or rental agreement,
ask your property owner for
a copy.
Mortgage or
real est
ate
deeds of trust
Proof of home ownership
may be required to receive
Federal disaster assistance.
If you need a copy of
your mortgage or deed of
trust, contact your le
nding
institution. NOTE: You
must con
tinue to pay your
mortgage even if your home
is destroyed or unlivable
due to a disaster. Failure to
pay your mortgage could put
your loan in default, which
could cause a foreclosure.
Second mortgage/
private mortgage
insurance
Include documentation of
all mortgages on your home.
Home equity line of
credit (HELOC)
Include copies of other loans
or financial responsib
ilities
tied to your home.
OTHER PAYMENTS/FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Include statements from all your accounts. These documents will include the name of the financial institution,
the name of the account holder, the account number, and contact phone numbers.
Utility bills (electric,
water, gas)
If you do not have a copy
of your lease, having proof
of utility payments is very
important for showing
proof of residence.
Loan payments
for vehicles
Inclu
de copy of loan
agreement.
Credit card
Credi
t card
Credit card
Include account number,
routing number, verification
codes and phone numbers
to report lost or st
olen
cards.
Student loan
Include copy of loan
agreement.
14
Checklist of Important Documents: Financial Information
TYPE OF DOCUMENT
HAVE
N/A
DATE ADDED/
UPDATED
TIPS AND LINKS
OTHER PAYMENTS/FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Include statements from all your accounts. These documents will include the name of the financial institution,
the name of the account holder, the account number, and contact phone numbers.
Alimony payments
Include copy of payment
agreement
Child support
payments
Include copy of payment
agreement and any
check stubs or receipts of
payments.
Elder care facilities
Include copy of payment
agreement.
Automatic payment
s
(such a
s gym
memberships)
Inclu
de copy of payment
agreement.
Other
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS/OTHER ASSETS
Bank/credit union/
debit card/prepaid
debit statements
Retirement accounts
(K, TSP, IRA)
Investment accounts
(stocks, bonds,
mutual funds)
Many people do most of
their ban
king and other
financial business online.
If you bank electronically,
download electronic
copies of your account
statements on a removable
flash or exter
nal hard drive
every few months. You
can also print and store
hard copies of account
statements on a regular
basis (for example, every
three months). The main
goal of this is to keep proof
that you have an account,
your account number, and
the institution’s contact
information.
Vehicle registration/
ownership papers
If you do not have your
car ownership papers,
you should be able to get
a reissued vehicle title or
registration from your
local Department of Motor
Vehicles
.
Other
15
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Checklist of Important Documents: Financial Information
TYPE OF DOCUMENT
HAVE
N/A
DATE ADDED/
UPDATED
TIPS AND LINKS
INSURANCE POLICIES
Prop er t y/
homeowners/renters
insurance (including
riders)
Copies of photos of
property and contents
(including photos of
any valuable items
that are separately
covered)
Auto insurance
Life insurance
Professional appraisals of
personal property
Pet insurance
Flood insurance
Call the claims numbers
on your insurance policies
to verify that the policy
numbers are correct. Retain
a copy of the claims call
number with your records.
Many insurance policies
are not active until  days
after paperwork is signed.
Review your policies’
coverage to be sure they are
still enough to support you
and your family. For more
tips on how to insure your
home, visit: www.usa.gov/
property-insurance.
Funeral insurance
Other
SOURCES OF INCOME
Recent pay stubs
for all sources of
income
Consider including one or
two recent pay stubs for
reference.
Government
benefits (Social
Security, Temporary
Assistance for Needy
Families, Veterans
benefits)
Having proof of your income
sources will be important if
an emergency interrupts your
income. To learn more about
government benefits, grants,
and financial aid and to obtain
any needed documentation,
please visit: www.benets.
gov. If you receive paper
checks for any of your Federal
benefits, consider signing up
for automatic benefits through
Go Direct (www.scal.
treasury.gov/GoDirect/).
Alimony income
Child support
income
Rewards accounts
(frequent flyer
programs, hotel
rewards)
Other
16
Checklist of Important Documents: Financial Information
TYPE OF DOCUMENT
HAVE
N/A
DATE ADDED/
UPDATED
TIPS AND LINKS
TAX STATEMENTS
Previous year’s tax
returns (Federal,
state, and/or local)
Tax returns from the
previous three years may be
needed to apply for some
new loans. You may need to
check whether or not you
are eligible for income-
based assistance. Tax experts
also recommend keeping all
tax returns and records for
seven years.
Property tax
statement
Personal property
tax (for example,
car tax)
ESTATE PLANNING
Will/Trust
A will is a legal document
that specifies who will
receive your property after
your death. A trust holds
the property transferred
to it and can be given
to a trusted loved one
before your death. These
documents can help reduce
family conflicts, legal time,
and financial costs during
the stressful time of losing
a loved one. Most financial
planners can help you create
a will or trust, or you can
contact a local legal aid
oce for help. Remember
to file living wills and
advance directive with
hospitals and primary care
doctors.
Power(s) of attorney
(personal/property)
Giving someone “power of
attorney” allows another
person to act on your
behalf. This person does not
need to be an attorney to
be given power of attorney.
You can give someone
complete authority or
authority that is limited to
certain acts and/or certain
periods of time. This is
a legal document, and
it should be written and
reviewed by a lawyer.
Other
17
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Financial Account Information
Note: Safeguarding your documents means keeping an extra copy in a safe place that you
can access if your main copy is damaged or misplaced
FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INFORMATION (Banks, Credit Unions, Retirement Accounts)
Name of Institution Type of Account
Last Four Digits of Account Number
Institution Phone Number
Website
FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INFORMATION (Banks, Credit Unions, Retirement Accounts)
Name of Institution Type of Account
Last Four Digits of Account Number
Institution Phone Number
Website
CREDIT/DEBIT CARD INFORMATION
Card Type (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, etc.)
Issuer of the Card
Card Cancellation Phone Number
Website
CREDIT/DEBIT CARD INFORMATION
Card Type (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, etc.)
Issuer of the Card
18
Card Cancellation Phone Number
Website
INSURANCE POLICIES
Firm/Institution Name
Name of Policy Holder
Policy Number Claims Phone Number
Type of Policy Value Coverage Period
Website
INSURANCE POLICIES
Firm/Institution Name
Name of Policy Holder
Policy Number Claims Phone Number
Type of Policy Value Coverage Period
Website
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS (Annual, Quarterly, and Monthly Payments)
Payee Account/Policy Number
Name of Account Holder
Payment Amount Due Date(s)
Date of Final Payment (if applicable)
Website
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS (Annual, Quarterly, and Monthly Payments)
Payee Account/Policy Number
Name of Account Holder
Pa
yment Amount
Due Date(s)
Dat
e of Final P
a
yment (if applicable)
Website
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS (Annual, Quarterly, and Monthly Payments)
Payee Account/Policy Number
Name of Account Holder
Payment Amount Due Date(s)
Date of Final Payment (if applicable)
Website
19
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Medical Information
Please use this section to store information relating to the health and medical needs of
your household.
Checklist of Important Documents: Medical Information
TYPE OF DOCUMENT
HAVE
N/A
DATE ADDED/
UPDATED
TIPS AND LINKS
20
MEDICAL
Physician
Pediatrician
Medical specialist
(e.g., dentist, optometrist)
You may wish to put a
copy of your physician’s or
specialist’s business card or
paperwork from your most
recent visit.
Copy of health insurance
ID card(s), including
Veteran Health
Identification Car
d(s)
Y
ou can get a copy of
your health insurance
cards from your insurance
provider or the Department
of Veterans A
airs.
Copy of pharmacy
ID card(s)
Medicare card
Medicaid card
Record of
immunizations/
allergie
s
Caregiver agency
contract or service
agreement
List of medications
you take on a regular
basis
Copies of current
presc
riptions
(including glasses)
Lis
t mode
ls, serial
numbers, and suppliers
for med
ical
equipment
(pacemakers, feeding
pumps, home IV units,
suction machines,
wheelchairs, Braille or
lower vision equipment)
Disabilities
documentation
Living will/power of
attorney (medical)
A living will is a legal
document t
hat explains
the type of care and degree
of medical attention you
would want in the event of
a life-threatening medical
condition. These can be
obtained free of charge.
Discuss this with your
health care provider.
Other
21
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Checklist of Important Documents: Medical Information
TYPE OF DOCUMENT
HAVE
N/A
DATE ADDED/
UPDATED
TIPS AND LINKS
PETS
Veterinarian contact
information
You may wish to put a
copy of your veterinarian’s
business card or paperwork
from your most recent visit
in your EFFAK.
Pet immunization
records
Copies of current pet
prescriptions
21
22
Household Contacts
It is important for you to have contact information for all your financial advisors, health
professionals, and service providers. You may wish to put a copy of a business card in
your EFFAK or add these contacts to your smart phone contact list. This information will
serve as a backup in case your address book or contact lists are lost or destroyed during an
emergency or disaster. These contacts could include, but are not limited to, the following:
§ Landlord or mortgage representative
§ Doctor, dentist, or other health care providers (for example, audiologists, kidney
dialysis centers)
§ Insurance agent
§ Person in charge of your military benefits
§ Social services representative (for services such as the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), Aid to Family programs, Supplemental Security Income,
and Social Security Disability Insurance)
§ Local disability service provider or case manager
§ Assistive technology or Durable Medical Equipment provider
§ Lawyer
§ Financial advisor
§ Banking institution(s)
§ Neighborhood, civic, and house of worship contacts
§ Household service providers (for example, plumber, electrician, roofer, carpenter)
POINT OF CONTACT #1:
Contact Type
Last Name First Name Title
Company/Firm
Street
Suite
City
State ZIP
Work Phone Email
Home Phone Fax
Additional Information
23
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
POINT OF CONTACT #2:
Contact Type
Last Name First Name Title
Company/Firm
Street
Suite
City
State ZIP
Work Phone
Email
Home Phone
Fax
Additional Information
POINT OF CONTACT #3:
Contact Type
Last Name
First Name Title
Company/Firm
Street
Suite
City
State ZIP
Work Phone Email
Home Phone Fax
Additional Information
24
POINT OF CONTACT #4:
Contact Type
Last Name First Name Title
Company/Firm
Street
Suite
City
State ZIP
Work Phone
Email
Home Phone
Fax
Additional Information
POINT OF CONTACT #5:
Contact Type
Last Name
First Name Title
Company/Firm
Street
Suite
City
State ZIP
Work Phone
Email
Home Phone
Fax
Additional Information
25
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
POINT OF CONTACT #6:
Contact Type
Last Name First Name Title
Company/Firm
Street
Suite
City
State ZIP
Work Phone
Email
Home Phone
Fax
Additional Information
25
26
Protecting Your Information
Once you have collected all your financial, legal, and contact
information, it is very important to keep this information safe.
Helpful Tips to Protect Your Identity and Important
Information
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has created a special website (www.consumer.ftc.
gov/topics/repairing-identity-theft) to provide individuals with tips and guidance that
they can use in the event of identity theft, the misuse of checking accounts, the theft of
financial documents, or the loss of debit/credit cards or government-issued identification.
For example, in the case of a lost credit or debit card, the FTC suggests that you do the
following:
§ Immediately report the loss to your financial institution via telephone.
§ Send a follow-up letter or email to the institution with the details of the card loss,
including your account information, when you first noticed the loss, and when you
reported the loss. (Note: Some card issuers may require you to provide your written
confirmation within  days of calling to tell them about your situation).
§ Check your statements on a regular basis and report to your card issuer any payments
or deposits that you did not make or agree to.
§ Check if your homeowners or renters insurance policy provides liability coverage for
card loss or theft.
§ Review your credit score or credit report each year to check for potential unapproved
access to your accounts and potential identity theft.
§ Sign up for an identity monitoring service to make sure your personal information is
protected in the future.
Keeping Your Electronic Records Safe
You have probably already created a password, personal identification number (PIN), or
answered personal security questions for your electronic banking, bill paying, purchasing,
and other financial activities. These items provide an extra measure of protection for you
and your accounts. We do not recommend keeping written lists of this type of personal
password information with the paper or electronic copies of your EFFAK. If you do keep
written lists of your passwords, PINs, or security questions, you may want to consider
substituting a “hint” word or phrase for the actual information needed to unlock your
accounts. This hint will allow you to remember the real access information easily when
needed, while stopping unauthorized users from using your accounts.
27
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Tips on Passwords and PINs
Choosing secure passwords is one of the most important things you can do to keep your
accounts and identity safe. Be sure to select a password or PIN that is memorable but not
something that is public information about yourself. Someone can easily discover a birth
date, phone number, nickname, or other similar reference that is connected to you. In
addition, you should avoid using the same or similar passwords or PINs for more than one
account. Using dierent passwords or PINs will reduce the chance that you will have more
than one account at risk if someone illegally gains access to your password or PIN.
Lastly, never give out a password or PIN for any account to anyone, no matter whom the
person is or claims to be. No customer service representative, systems administrator, or
corporate security ocer should ever ask you for your password or PIN. If someone is
authorized to access your account, he or she does not need your password to get access.
What To Do If Your EFFAK Is Stolen
If you believe that your EFFAK or any of your important documents have been stolen or
illegally accessed, you should immediately contact all of your financial institutions (such as
banks or credit card companies), insurance agencies, and similar companies about the
situation and tell them what has happened. These organizations have their own rules and
procedures for monitoring, closing, or reopening your accounts. They can also help you
with security details, including giving you new account numbers and establishing new
PINs.
Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0218-electronic-
banking), if you report the loss of your debit or ATM card before any unauthorized
activity occurs, you are not responsible for any transactions that you did not approve of.
If you report the loss quickly (within two business days of learning that the card is lost),
you have limited responsibility for any unauthorized transfers that occurred before you
reported the loss. Even if you have not lost your debit or ATM card, FTC suggests that
you regularly review and monitor your statements and account activity for unusual or
suspicious activity, especially if you bank online.
28
Other Steps for Preparing
What Else Can You Do To Prepare?
Once your EFFAK is complete, you can take other steps to prepare for potential disasters
or emergencies. An important first step is to learn about the types of disasters that may
happen where you live, work, or travel most often. Make a communication plan to ensure
the EFFAK is shared with everyone in your household to increase its usefulness in case
of emergency. Then, join with others in your neighborhood, workplace, school, or house
of worship to take action and to stay safe before, during, and after the emergency. For
more information on how to prepare, please visit www.ready.gov or contact your local
emergency manager. A great first step is to download the FEMA app to your smartphone.
Review Operation HOPE’s Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide
This guide outlines additional types of information to consider storing for use after a disaster
(such as information on health care, pets and animal shelters, employment, childcare,
and schools). The document also asks you to think about three types of emergencies that
are most likely to occur in your community, as well as actions you can take to protect
and recover from an emergency or disaster. Finally, the guide includes various “Plans of
Action” to which you can refer in the event of an emergency. Review the guide at: www.
operationhope.org/disastertools.
Visit Ready.gov
Ready.gov can help you learn how to stay informed about dierent types of emergencies,
make a family emergency plan, build an emergency supply kit, and get involved in your
community. Go to www.ready.gov to learn more.
Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness Activities
Creating communities that can rebuild themselves following an emergency takes trained
volunteers and an informed public. Here are a few ways you can help:
§ Learn about the emergency plans for your children’s schools, your workplace, and your
neighborhood.
§ Participate in community exercises and drills.
§ Take training in first aid and emergency response skills.
§ Volunteer to support your local first responders.
§ Join the HOPE Corps, Operation HOPE’s nationwide network of volunteers dedicated
to promoting financial self-suciency and community empowerment. For more
information, visit: www.operationhope.org/Program/pid/4.
Find out other ways to get involved at: www.ready.gov/get-involved.
29
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Download the FEMA Mobile App
Be prepared and download the FEMA app for free on the App Store and Google Play.
Learn what to do before, during, and after emergencies with safety tips & get weather
alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five dierent locations anywhere in the
United States.
Follow Tips for Employers and Business Owners
Is your company or business financially prepared for an emergency or disaster? If not, you
are not alone. According to the Insurance Information Institute, about  percent of all
businesses aected by a major disaster never reopen.
The following resources are available to help you financially prepare your business for
potential emergencies, as well as increase the safety and security of your employees and
your community. It is important to prepare your organization. Planning now can reduce
the time it takes to resume normal work after a disaster.
Ready Business
The Ready Business Program (www.ready.gov/business) encourages businesses to take
four steps to prepare for emergencies:
§ Plan to stay in business.
§ Talk to your e
mployees.
§ Protect your investment.
§ Contact your customers and suppliers.
The Ready Business program oers business leaders step-by-step guides to build hazard-
specific preparedness plans within an organization.
Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has established an Emergency Preparedness
Web page (www.sba.gov/emergencypreparedness) to provide business owners with links
to important information, including emergency preparedness, maintenance of business
operations (also known as continuity of operations, or COOP), disaster assistance, cleanup,
and recovery.
www.iii.org/press_releases/insurance-lessons-learned-from-sandy-steps-to-keep-your-
business-running-following-a-disaster.html
3030
31
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
If Disaster Strikes
If you have been aected by an event that is declared a Federal
disaster by the President, you should immediately call FEMA
to apply for Federal assistance. If you have access to the
Internet, you can complete FEMA’s online disaster application
at www.disasterassistance.gov or on your mobile device at
m.fema.gov. If you do not have access to the Internet, please
call () –FEMA () or TTY () –.
Following most disasters or emergencies, FEMA will open Disaster Recovery Centers
(www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers) in the aected areas. Once they are opened,
you can visit the location to speak with FEMA representatives about available disaster
recovery programs.
After a disaster, you should safely locate or recover your stored EFFAK and the copies
of your important documents. You should then review the EFFAK to figure out which
materials you may need to use during your recovery period, such as contact information
for out-of-state relatives or family members, homeowners or renters insurance policies, or
bank account data.
Disaster Assistance Resources
If you have been aected by a disaster and need assistance, contact FEMA at () –
 or TTY () –. If you use  or Video Relay Service (VRS), call () –
. Multilingual operators are available to answer calls seven days a week from  a.m. to
 p.m. CT. You can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by smartphone or
tablet at m.fema.gov. Additional information on family recovery resources are available at:
www.mymoney.gov/Pages/Hurricane.aspx.
HOPE Coalition America also has financial counselors available to help you after an
emergency. Through the HOPE Crisis Hotline and onsite counseling centers, the
Coalition’s sta can provide you with additional financial recovery information. Call ()
–HOPE () for assistance.
32
What Information Do I Need to Apply?
Whether applying online at www.disasterassistance.gov from your computer or
smartphone, or over the phone through a FEMA call center, you should have a pen and
paper and the following information ready:
§ Your Social Security number;
§ Current and pre-disaster address;
§ A telephone number where you can be contacted;
§ Insurance information;
§ Total household annual income;
§ A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have
disaster assistance funds moved directly into your bank account); and
§ A description of what you lost because of the disaster.
After you complete your application for assistance, you will receive a FEMA application
number. Please write down this number and keep it for future reference.
Beware of Scams
As a disaster survivor, you should be watchful and aware that criminals and other
dishonest people may try to take advantage of a disaster situation. These individuals may
try to gather personal information from disaster survivors to commit identity theft or
collect payments for disaster assistance services that they do not provide. The “Additional
Resources” section includes links to articles that will help make you more aware of these
and other potential disaster-related scams.
If you encounter an individual or situation that causes you concern or seems suspicious,
you should immediately report the matter to local authorities or to the National Center
for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720–5721.
FEMA Tips to Safeguard Against Disaster-Related Fraud
§ Federal workers do not solicit or accept money.
§ If in doubt, ask for an ocial, government-issued laminated photo ID. A shirt or jacket
with a government logo is not definite proof of identity.
§ Safeguard your personal information (such as your Social Security number or bank
account numbers), and be cautious about providing it to unknown individuals.
§ Beware of people going door-to-door to damaged homes or contacting you and
claiming to be building contractors. These individuals could be scam artists, especially
if they attempt to get you to give them your financial information.
33
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Additional Resources
Helpful Organizations and Resource Pages
§ American Red Cross: www.redcross.org
§ Federal Disaster Assistance: www.disasterassistance.gov
§ Extension Disaster Education Network: www.EDEN.lsu.edu
§ Financial Preparedness (Ready.gov): www.ready.gov/nancialpreparedness
§ HOPE Coalition America (Operation HOPE):
www.operationhope.org/hope-coalition-america
§ Financial Education: www.mymoney.gov
§ Small Business Association: www.sba.gov/emergencypreparedness and www.
preparemybusiness.org/
§ USA.gov: www.usa.gov
§ GoDirect.gov: www.godirect.gov
Additional References and Tools
§ The American Red Cross Mobile Apps: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-
prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps
§ Avoiding Loan Scams After a Natural Disaster (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau):
www.consumernance.gov/blog/avoiding-loan-scams-after-a-natural-disaster
§ CFTC Fraud Advisories: False Promises of Profits as a Result of Natural Disasters (U.S.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission):
www.cftc.gov/ConsumerProtection/FraudAwarenessPrevention/
CFTCFraudAdvisories/fraudadv_falesprom
§ Computer Security (Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/computer-security
§ Disaster Financial Recovery Score: http://dfrscore.org/
§ Disaster Recovery Log (North Dakota State University):
www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension/apps/disaster-recovery-journal
§ Disaster Survivor Application Checklist (FEMA): https://www.disasterassistance.gov/get-
assistance/application-checklist
§ Find out your financial well-being (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): h t t p s : //
www.consumernance.gov/consumer-tools/nancial-well-being/
34
Additional Resources
Additional References and Tools
§ IS-: Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone (FEMA;
also available in Spanish):
training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=is-909
§ Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide (PDPG) (Operation Hope): http://www.
operationhope.org/pdpg
§ Protecting Your Identity (FTC):
www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/protecting-your-identity
35
EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
EFFAK Partners
About Operation HOPE, Inc.
Operation HOPE, Inc. (HOPE) is America’s first nonprofit social investment bank and a
national leader in providing financial literacy and economic empowerment programs.
Through ongoing cooperation and long-term partnerships with leading government, private
sector, and community interests, HOPE works to bring independence and a long-lasting
spirit of revitalization to America’s inner-city communities. In advance of national disasters,
HOPE Coalition America (HCA) oers seminars and preparedness kits. After a disaster, HCA
provides one-on-one assistance from sta and local volunteers to those directly aected by the
emergency.
In addition, the HOPE-Inside network places trained financial educators and counselors in
existing community-based organizations and businesses to serve adult populations that already
congregate together to eciently provide: credit, money management, and homeownership
education and counseling; small business and entrepreneurial training; and disaster assistance
and preparedness services. These HOPE Inside locations also serve America’s youth via its
financial dignity program, Banking on Our Future, and via its entrepreneurial and small-
business mentoring program, HOPE Business In A Box Academies. Taken together, these
programs make HOPE the national leader in providing economic empowerment tools and
services, making free enterprise work for all Americans. To date, HOPE has  HOPE Insides
in the U.S. and has delivered its financial empowerment programs to . million adults and
, youth.
About the Financial Literacy and Education Commission
The Financial Literacy and Education Commission was established under the Fair and Accurate
Credit Transactions Act of . The Commission was tasked with developing a national
financial education website (www.mymoney.gov), along with a hotline (() My–Money) and
a national plan to improve financial education. It is chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury, and
the vice chair is the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The Commission makes up the senior leaders from  Federal agencies: Oce of the
Comptroller of the Currency; Federal Reserve; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
National Credit Union Administration; Securities and Exchange Commission; Departments of
Education, Agriculture, Defense, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development,
Labor, and Veterans Aairs; Federal Trade Commission; General Services Administration;
Small Business Administration; Social Security Administration; Commodity Futures Trading
Commission; Oce of Personnel Management; White House Oce of Public Engagement; and
its newest member, FEMA.
36
Notice
Use of the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), Third Edition, dated March , is a
copyrighted work of Operation Hope, Inc., for which the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has rights for public
distribution and use.
The EFFAK may be used as distributed by FEMA for educational, informational, and
personal use, but not for commercial use or sale. All other uses of the EFFAK are strictly
prohibited and subject to copyright protection as may be applicable.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Visual Identities
The EFFAK contains the DHS Visual Identities comprising intellectual property owned
by DHS. The public distribution of the EFFAK does not confer authorization to use the
ocial seal, insignia, or other visual identities of DHS. Use of the DHS seal without proper
authorization violates Federal law (e.g.,  U.S.C. §§ , , ), and is against DHS
policies governing usage of the seal. The term “DHS Visual Identities” as used here means
the DHS or DHS component name, initials, seal, insignia, and trademark or certification
marks of DHS or any DHS component, or any combination, variation, or colorable imitation
of them alone. The DHS Visual Identities solely or in combination with other words may
not be used in a manner reasonably calculated to convey the impression of aliation,
connection, or endorsement by DHS or any DHS component. Any other use of any DHS
Visual Identities other than that which is contained in the EFFAK is strictly prohibited and
requires prior written approval from DHS.
No Endorsement
The EFFAK may not be used in a manner to state or imply an endorsement by DHS,
FEMA, or the United States Government.
Any reference in the EFFAK to any specific commercial products, processes, or services
by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply
its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by DHS, FEMA, or the United States
Government.
Disclaimer
The views, opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the EFFAK
are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the ocial policy or position of
DHS, FEMA, or the United States Government. The publication of these views by DHS
does not confer any individual rights or cause of action against the United States. Users of
information in the EFFAK assume all liability from such use.
The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit is available for free from FEMA.
Call (800) 480–2520 and ask for publication number 1075.
It is also available as a free download online at: www.ready.gov/nancialpreparedness and at www.operationhope.org.
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