The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to October 31. If a storm threatens, will you and your family be ready? If you start preparing today, you can be.
At the top of your list of hurricane preparations should be money. Yes, it takes money to buy items needed for hurricane and disaster preparations, but it is also important to have a "stash of cash" in advance of an impending storm.
If the power goes out and/or damage is widespread, banks may be closed and ATM's will not work — possibly for days... maybe even weeks. While some gas stations are now required to have generators to pump gas, using a credit or debit card to pay for it will be out of the question. The same goes for grocery stores and restaurants. Why? Because phone lines will also be down or jammed and they will be unable to do credit checks.
Tip: If you can't afford to put away a large amount of cash at once, do what I've done. Put aside a small amount each week or payday — it's never too late to start! Ours is stashed away with our important documents... ready to grab in case of evacuation or emergency.
