Emergency fund
08.08.2025 By Amy Miller, AFC®

Disaster-Proofing Your Finances: A Key Piece of Your Emergency Plan

When we think about preparing for emergencies, like hurricanes, wildfires, or power outages, we often rush to stock up on bottled water, flashlights, and non-perishable food. While these are essential items to have on hand, there’s another side of emergency planning that often gets overlooked: your finances.

When we think about preparing for emergencies, like hurricanes, wildfires, or power outages, we often rush to stock up on bottled water, flashlights, and non-perishable food. While these are essential items to have on hand, there’s another side of emergency planning that often gets overlooked: your finances.

Disaster-proofing your finances is just as important as having an emergency kit. In fact, it can be the difference between quickly recovering or struggling to get back on your feet.

Financial preparedness is a form of protection for yourself, your loved ones, and your future. Here's why having a financial plan in place matters, and how to get started.

Why Financial Preparedness Matters in Emergencies

In a crisis, access to money and important financial documents can help you:

  • Pay for hotel stays or food if you're displaced
  • Cover out-of-pocket costs like gas, medications, or repairs
  • Contact insurance companies and file claims quickly
  • Avoid missing payments and damaging your credit
  • Reduce stress when time and resources are limited

Emergencies don’t always give advance notice. A storm may knock out power or flood your home. You might need to evacuate quickly and leave important paperwork behind. But if you’ve taken the time to disaster-proof your finances, you’ll be better equipped to respond with confidence and clarity.

What Financial Preparedness Looks Like

It starts with two key areas:    Organization and Access.

Use our downloadable Emergency Financial Preparedness Checklist to guide you. It includes:

  • Important documents to store securely (and take with you if needed)
  • How much cash to keep on hand (and where)
  • A digital plan for accessing your financial accounts if systems are down
  • A backup savings strategy, so you're not starting from scratch in a crisis

Even having just $500 in emergency savings can make a huge difference when unexpected costs come your way. If you're not there yet, that’s okay—starting small and saving consistently is the key.

 

Automate + Backup = Financial Peace of Mind

A smart way to build and protect your emergency savings is to:

  • Automate your savings through your paycheck or bank account
  • Keep your emergency fund in a safe, accessible place like a high-yield savings or money market account
  • Revisit your financial emergency plan every 6–12 months to keep it up to date

Think of it this way: Just as you wouldn’t wait until a hurricane warning to stock up on batteries, don’t wait for a financial emergency to prepare your wallet.

Ready to Get Started?

Download the Emergency Financial Preparedness Checklist and walk through it step-by-step. Then, set a reminder to review your plan regularly.

And if you’re already a Saver—great! Use your savings goal as a guide for building your emergency fund. Not a Saver yet? Take the America Saves Pledge to get tips, support, and resources to stay on track.

Remember: Emergencies are stressful. But being prepared financially can help you stay calm, make confident decisions, and recover faster. You've got this!

Want help building your emergency fund or automating your savings? Check out our free tools and tips at AmericaSaves.org.

 

Tell Us Your Saver Story!
Have you ever had to rely on your emergency savings during a disaster, unexpected expense, or crisis? Or maybe you’re just getting started with building your emergency fund and want to share what’s working for you.

We want to hear from you! Your story can inspire others to start preparing financially for the unexpected.

Submit your Saver Story here and help others see what’s possible when you make a plan and stick to it.

 

Emergency Financial Preparedness Checklist

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