Financial Hurricane Prep: A Central Florida Checklist Worth Doing

In Florida, hurricane season isn’t a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. And while most people think about stockpiling water, flashlights, and sandbags, the financial side of storm prep is what helps everything feel less chaotic if you lose power, internet, or access to your normal routines.

1. Make sure you can access money without Wi-Fi

• Keep a small amount of cash on hand (enough for a few days of basic needs).
• Know where your local bank branch and ATMs are, and store key account numbers somewhere secure.
• Consider keeping one backup payment method (a second card or a low-limit credit card) in your emergency kit.

2. Back up the documents you’ll need to recover

Save hard copies (and digital copies on a flash drive) of:
• IDs, insurance policies, mortgage/lease info
• Medical cards, prescriptions
• Contact list (family, employers, insurance, utility companies)
• Photos/video of valuables (see #3)

3. Do a quick home inventory

A five-minute walk-through video on your phone – opening drawers and closets – can make a huge difference if you ever need to file a claim. Store it in the cloud or email it to yourself.

4. Review insurance before you need it 

You don’t have to become an expert. Just know:
• Your deductibles (especially hurricane/windstorm)
• What’s covered, what isn’t, and any important limits
• Whether you have flood coverage if it applies to your area

5. Build a “24-hour plan” for your household 

Decide ahead of time:
• Where you’ll go if you need to leave
• How you’ll communicate if phones are spotty
• Who does what (kids, pets, supplies, documents)

6. Keep your plan steady through storm season

If a storm hits, you want fewer money decisions to make. Automate savings, keep bills organized, and maintain a buffer so you’re not forced into expensive last-minute choices.

Disclosures: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification mark Certified Financial Planner® and CFP®. Financial planning and investment management offered for a fee through Certified Advisory Corp, a registered investment advisor. The information contained in this article is not written or intended as financial, tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for educational purposes only. Neither rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications, nor the achievement of any designation or certification, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if CFG is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A full list of our disclosures can be found at www.financialgroup.com/disclosures and www.financialgroup.com/awards.