FTC Tips: Hurricane Season

The 2018 hurricane season has arrived. The Federal Trade Commission has information to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from the long-term impacts of a hurricane, as well as information on giving wisely to help those in need.

Preparing for a Storm

• Organize your finances. Keep your financial documents up to date, accessible, and portable.
• Check your insurance. See if your home, health, or other insurance policy will cover temporary shelter, replacement clothing, furniture, out-of-network medical services, or other items.
• Flood-proof your home. Prepare for flooding by buying flood insurance and writing a flood response plan; visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for more information.
• Plan for your pets. Visit ready.gov/animals for tips on how to prepare.

For more information, visit:

• Ready.gov
• FEMA’s Community and Family Preparedness Program and download the FEMA Smartphone App
• American Red Cross Community Disaster Education and download Red Cross Mobile Apps

Giving Wisely after a Disaster

• Be alert to charity scams. Scammers may target potential donors, even if you don’t live near the disaster.
• When you consider giving to a specific charity, search its name plus “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam.”
• Do some research to ensure that your donation will go to a reputable organization that will use the money as promised. Check out the charity with the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.