Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit

Transcription

1 Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit Where do I start? Consumer Presentation Unit 4

2 Sorting the pieces of financial recovery

3 Toolkit Story Research project with survivors 2 years after flood Review of existing financial recovery guides Focus group with disaster recovery professionals Special Needs grant from Nat l Institute for Food & Ag Reality check by LSS of MN Disaster Case Managers Piloted with survivors of a flood event Reviewed nationally

4 Toolkit Design Useable download whole kit or just units needed Consumable helpful tools designed to be used Customizeable Adapt resource list for specific location/state Accessible available online 24/7/365

5 Toolkit Units Unit 1: How do I use this toolkit? Unit 2: What are key strategies for financial recovery? Unit 3: What tools do I need to implement key strategies? Unit 4: Where do I start? Unit 5: Where am I financially? Unit 6: Where will I live if I m a homeowner? Unit 7: Where will I live if I m a renter? Unit 8: The New Normal Unit 9: Disaster Recovery Resources for Families

6 Five Presentations Unit 2: What are key strategies for financial recovery? Unit 3: What tools do I need to implement key strategies? Unit 4: Where do I start? Unit 5: Where am I financially? Unit 6: Where will I live if I m a homeowner? Unit 7: Where will I live if I m a renter? Unit 8: The New Normal Unit 9: Disaster Recovery Resources for Families

7 Where do I start?

8 Where do I start?

9 Responding in First Hours & Days Assess impact disaster had property/rental unit

10 Responding in First Hours & Days Review insurance policies

11 Responding in First Hours & Days If renter, contact landlord

12 Responding in First Hours & Days Find temporary lodging for family

13 Finding temporary lodging So I lived with her [daughter] then for several months and well maybe 2, 3. And then they had these FEMA trailers, you know. And so I thought, well, I think I should, you know, just go in the FEMA trailer if I can, at least I would have my own place. And cause they got kids that come home, grand children and I thought they need their space. But we got along and it wasn t a problem but I felt better after I even if the FEMA trailers weren t nice. It did the purpose, you know. I was kept warm, and as long as you pay the bills. It was a place to be by myself and I could do what I want to and not under foot or anything. So that worked.

14 Responding in First Hours & Days Contact employer Save all receipts Arrange mail delivery

15 Returning to Your Home Receive permission before returning to home Assess damage Continue to document: What you have done What you need to do Who you have spoken with Contacts and how to reach them Deadlines for disaster assistance applications Appointments

16 Returning to Your Home As needed: Contact creditors Request credit report Cancel services If renter, negotiate termination of lease Contact auto insurance agent

17 Planning for Clean-up Get visual documentation of damage Record damage specifics

18 Document Important Details The more accurate and detailed your records the more expenses you track the more money you will be reimbursed!!! Insurance Taxes Assistance

19 Document Loss & Damaged Property

20 Document Loss & Damaged Property

21 Document Loss & Damaged Property Well, I typed it out on the computer and I had my totals and such. With our carpentry expenses and labor and she s like, I hate to say it, but I hope you re audited if anybody is. They wouldn t even question anything. But so many people, in just the rush of things to throw and not having that document this is so important, no matter what. You gotta do that; even if you don t have insurance; even if you don t have flood insurance or whatever that covered; document, document, document. That was huge for taxes.

22 Disaster Recovery Phone App Disaster Recovery Phone App

23 Document Loss & Damaged Property We were able to use those 10 pages [which documented items thrown] there because we weren t paid for that stuff, so that was considered a loss and I think it was over $2,000. They said you could take it off income tax so we got help there.

24 Replacing Important Papers Birth & Death Certificates Citizenship & Naturalization Papers Credit Cards Driver Licenses or State ID Cards Income Tax Returns Insurance Policies Marriage Certificates & Divorce Records Military Discharge Papers Mortgage Papers Passports Property Deeds Savings Bonds/Notes Social Security Card Vehicle Titles Wills

25 Replacing Important Papers We were supposed to come up with all the records, and where are the records? Right, and the records are all damn gone. I mean, we; I mean, just dealing with the insurance companies and SBA and everybody wants something different. It would be different if they all wanted the same thing, but they don t.

26 IRS Disaster Assistance: Federally Declared Disaster Area May deduct losses on federal income tax return Amend previous year s return or file on current year Claiming losses requires documentation! IRS Disaster Assistance Hotline:

27 Make Informed Decisions Remain under control. Don t go through that panic mode because there s so many people that panic -- and they have every right to do so -- but take a deep breath and do the best that your heart is telling you to do. Make your own decisions and don t let anyone tell you what you have to do. And go from there. We were trying to make the right decisions knowing that they would affect the rest of our lives. And so that would have been nice for someone to say, slow down, take it easy, you might have to be living with friends, with family, somewhere temporary for a month here, a month there.

28 Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit

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