With storm season gearing up, now is the time to plan to protect yourself, your home, and your wallet from storms and scams.
You can start your emergency prep now with these key steps to avoid scams and fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission:
- Review Your Insurance Coverage. Make sure your policy is up-to-date. Know what’s covered — and what isn’t — before a storm hits.
- Create a Home Inventory. List your belongings and back it up with photos or a video. It will help if you ever need to file a claim.
- Secure Important Documents. Store key paperwork — like IDs, insurance cards, wills, titles, and passports — in a waterproof, fireproof box. Include some cash and spare keys, too, in case ATMs or financial institutions are down.
- Research Contractors in Advance. Don’t wait for an emergency to find reliable help. Ask for recommendations, search for reviews and complaints, and confirm licenses and insurance. Add DisasterAssistance.gov to your bookmarks, too — it’s a great resource for finding local help during disasters.
- Stay Scam-Smart. Visit ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies to learn how to spot, avoid, and report scams related to storms and disasters.
The best time to prepare is now — for both the weather and the scammers who often follow it.
