Keeping a record of things

It’s been a month since the start of hurricane season, and so far so good for residents of St. Tammany Parish. The weather has been too hot and too dry, but at least the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico have been quiet.

However, we who have lived through Hurricane Katrina and other storms know that we do not take anything for granted, especially at this time of the year. We have gotten in the habit that by June 1, our hurricane preparation kits are in order with extra food, water, batteries, flashlights and other essentials needed to survive after a disaster.

According to the Louisiana Department of Revenue there is something else that needs to be collected and stored in case of a hurricane and that is our financial records.

In our rush to evacuate, we sometimes forget the other important things like finances, tax records, mortgages and such. If a storm surge or high winds ruin your house, you may need those papers to get insurance claims paid, inform FEMA of what you have lost and just as important, know that your assets are safe.

In our computer-centric society keeping track and storing financial records is easy. The LDR suggests that people scan important documents into your computer and then put them on CDs or in a portable memory device. Since most bank records and cancelled checks are now handled by a paperless process, those records can also be transferred to a memory device. Also, the LDR suggests one take digital pictures of all the property in and around your home and store them electronically.

This could be valuable when dealing with insurance companies after a storm. Store the information in a safe place, or send them to relatives who live far away for safekeeping.

Losing one’s house and possessions is bad enough, but not knowing where you stand financially after a disaster can be just as disconcerting and depressing. So when putting together that hurricane kit, don’t forget to save those financial records for greater peace of mind.