EMERGENCY FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL
PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
Floridians are no strangers to hurricane preparedness. In
the face of an emergency, we know to secure our property,
and stock up on nonperishable food and water. But another
important aspect of emergency preparedness is often
forgotten: financial preparedness.
In the aftermath of a hurricane or other emergency, you
shouldn't have to worry about searching for account
information or retroactively trying to remember the details
about all of your possessions.
Luckily, emergency financial documents are among the easiest
things to prepare, ensuring you have everything you need
readily available during and after an emergency. This toolkit
is designed to help you organize your financial information
before and after an emergency. Keep several copies in
safe places that you can access easily and, in the face of an
emergency, keep a copy of this toolkit with you at all times.
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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
PREP TIPS
Keep important financial information accessible
through an emergency. This toolkit is key! Attach
any relevant documents (like statements and receipts)
and keep in a waterproof place (like a plastic zip bag
or container).
Conduct an annual insurance checkup with your
insurance agent, prior to hurricane season, to make
sure you are adequately covered.
Be sure to have cash on hand, as power outages may
prevent access to ATMs and limit credit/debit card
use. After the storm, financial institutions may limit
cash withdrawls.
Keep all receipts for temporary living expenses and
repairs performed on property.
For more information, visit the Department of Financial
Services Disaster Preparedness website at:
http://www.MyFloridaCFO.com/Division/Consumers/
Storm/Secure.htm.
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EMERGENCY FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
INSURANCE CONSUMER HELPLINE
1.877.MY.FL.CFO
(1.877.693.5236)
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
STORM HOTLINE
1.800.22.STORM
(1.800.227.8676)
STATE OF FLORIDA EMERGENCY INFORMATION
1.800.342.3557
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
1.800.621.FEMA
(1.800.621.3362)
AMERICAN RED CROSS
1.866.GET.INFO
(1.866.438.4636)
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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
4
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Use these pages to keep track of the accounts you may need
after an emergency to file insurance claims or pay for repairs.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INFORMATION
(bank accounts, credit cards, retirement accounts, etc.; also
attach statements to this toolkit if desired)
Name of Institution:
Address:
Phone Number:
Account Number:
Website:
Name of Institution:
Address:
Phone Number:
Account Number:
Website:
Name of Institution:
Address:
Phone Number:
Account Number:
Website:
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
5
MORTGAGE LENDER INFORMATION
Name of Company:
Address:
Phone Number:
Account Number:
Website:
HOMEOWNERS/RENTAL
INSURANCE INFORMATION
Name of Company:
Address:
Phone Number:
Account/Policy Number:
Website:
INSURANCE AGENT INFORMATION
Name of Company:
Address:
Phone Number:
Account/Policy Number:
Website:
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
LIFE INSURANCE
Name of Company:
Address:
Phone Number:
Account Number:
Website:
MEDICAL INSURANCE
Physician's Name:
Physician's Phone Number:
Pharmacy Name:
Pharmacy Phone Number:
Name of Company:
Address:
Phone Number:
Account Number/Member ID:
Website:
AUTO INSURANCE
Name of Company:
Address:
Phone Number:
Account Number:
Website:
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EMERGENCY FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
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Place Insurance Card Here
Place Insurance Card Here
Place Insurance Card Here
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
8
INSURANCE CLAIMS
If you need to file an insurance claim, keep a log of all interactions
with your insurance company, agent and
adjuster. Also keep
track of any emergency damage repairs you make by keeping
any receipts associated with repairs, taking pictures of the
damaged area before and after the repair, and filling out
the log provided here. Below is space to keep post-claim
information and the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights, which
outlines y
our rights during the claims process.
Adjuster Name:
Adjuster Company:
Phone Number:
Adjuster License Number:
Website:
INSURANCE ADJUSTER INFORMATION
Name of Company:
Claim Number:
Phone Number:
CLAIM INFORMATION
Name of Company:
Claim Number:
Phone Number:
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
Name of Company:
Name of Representative:
Date:
Time:
Interaction Details:
Outcome:
INTERACTION LOG
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Name of Company:
Name of Representative:
Date:
Time:
Interaction Details:
Outcome:
Name of Company:
Name of Representative:
Date:
Time:
Interaction Details:
Outcome:
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
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Name of Company:
Name of Representative:
Date:
Time:
Interaction Details:
Outcome:
Name of Company:
Name of Representative:
Date:
Time:
Interaction Details:
Outcome:
Name of Company:
Name of Representative:
Date:
Time:
Interaction Details:
Outcome:
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
EMERGENCY
REPAIR LOG
Repair:
Repair Company:
Cost of Repair:
Date of Repair:
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Repair:
Repair Company:
Cost of Repair:
Date of Repair:
Repair:
Repair Company:
Cost of Repair:
Date of Repair:
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
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Repair:
Repair Company:
Cost of Repair:
Date of Repair:
Repair:
Repair Company:
Cost of Repair:
Date of Repair:
Repair:
Repair Company:
Cost of Repair:
Date of Repair:
Repair:
Repair Company:
Cost of Repair:
Date of Repair:
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
HOMEOWNER CLAIMS BILL OF RIGHTS
As outlined in s. 627.7142, Florida Statutes, the Homeowner Claims
Bill of Rights relates to the insurance claims process, and outlines your
rights and responsibilities as a homeowners insurance policyholder.
YOUR RIGHTS*
In summary, per the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights:
1. Your insurance company must send you an acknowledgment of
your insurance claim within 14 days after you submitted the claim.
2. Within 30 days after you have submitted a complete proof-of-loss
statement, if requested in writing, your insurance company must
send you confirmation that your claim is covered in full; partially
covered; denied; or being investigated.
3. Within 90 days, you should receive full payment; payment of the
undisputed portion of your claim; or a written denial of your claim.
Please note, if there is dual interest in the claim, i.e. your mortgage
company may be a party, this payment may be submitted to both
parties.
4. You may be eligible to participate in a free mediation to resolve
your disputed claim by contacting the Florida Department of
Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services.
5. You may be eligible to participate in a free Neutral Evaluation to
resolve your disputed claim if your claim is for damage caused by a
sinkhole and is covered by your policy.
For assistance with any insurance claim or questions pertaining
to the handling of your claim, contact the Florida Department
of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services’ toll-free
Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1.877.693.5236, or online at
http://www.MyFloridaCFO.com/Division/Consumers/.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
In summary, in accordance with the Homeowner Claims Bill of
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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
13
Rights, you have the following responsibilities as a homeowners
insurance policyholder:
1. Contact your insurance company before entering into a contract
for repairs to ensure you adhere to the repair provisions included in
the policy.
2. Make and document emergency repairs that are necessary to
prevent further damage. Keep the damaged property, if feasible;
keep all receipts; and take photographs of damage before and after
any repairs.
3. Carefully read any contract that requires you to pay out-of-
pocket expenses or a fee that is based on a percentage of the
insurance proceeds that you will receive for repairing or replacing
your property.
4. Confirm that the contractor you choose is licensed to do business
in Florida. You can verify a contractor’s license and check to see if
there are any complaints against him or her by calling the Florida
Department of Business and Professional Regulation. You should
also ask the contractor for references from previous work.
5. Require all contractors to provide proof of insurance before
beginning repairs.
6. Take precautions if the damage requires you to leave your home,
including securing your property and turning o your gas, water,
and electricity, and contacting your insurance company to provide a
phone number where you can be reached.
*The Homeowner Claims Bills of Rights does not represent all of
your rights under Florida law regarding your insurance policy. There
are also exceptions to the stated timelines when conditions are
beyond your insurance company’s control.
The Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights does not create a civil cause
of action by an individual policyholder, or a class of policyholders,
against an insurance company and does not prohibit an insurance
company from exercising its right to repair damaged property in
compliance with the terms of an applicable policy.
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EMERGENCY FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
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PERSONAL ASSET
INVENTORY
If possible, take photographs and video of your assets
and keep those in a safe, dry place. You can easily keep
photographs and videos with you during an emergency
by storing them on a thumb drive or your mobile device.
Additionally, fill out this personal asset inventory to catalog
your assets in case of loss. Be sure to include real estate,
cars, boats, RVs, jewelry, furniture, electronic equipment,
musical instruments, collectibles, etc.
Item Serial Number Purchase Date/Price
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
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Item Serial Number Purchase Date/Price
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT
Item Serial Number Purchase Date/Price
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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
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Item Serial Number Purchase Date/Price