Disasters and other emergencies can disrupt your finances and your sense of normal. Financial emergency preparedness helps you plan, recover, and rebuild after disasters and emergencies.

A financial emergency is any expense or loss of income you do not plan for, like a missed paycheck, a damaged roof, a flat tire, or medical bill. We don’t know what financial emergency we will have in the next year, but it’s likely we will have one!

You can take steps to prepare for financial emergencies. For example, an emergency savings account can help you with unexpected expenses.

Review your insurance coverage (health insurance as well as property insurance) so that it’s effective when needed. Also, be sure that you compile important documents and phone numbers. Know where they are when you need them in a crisis or emotional moment.