Are You Ready for a Hurricane? 5 Things to Do Right Now

Don't be lulled into complacency by the calm August winds.

We're heading into the high season for Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes. Although the five named storms so far -- Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, and Erin -- haven't amounted to much, you don't want to be caught off guard if No. 6 becomes the headline-grabber.

Physical safety is, of course, your top priority: Make sure everyone in the family knows the evacuation/reunion plan by heart, and prepare your home for a foul-weather assault. (See FEMA's hurricane advice at www.ready.gov/hurricanes.)

But your disaster-proofing drill shouldn't stop there. Here are five things you can do ahead of time to keep a personal crisis from turning into a long-term financial one.

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The article Are You Ready for a Hurricane? 5 Things to Do Right Now originally appeared on Fool.com.

Tornado survivor Dayana Yochim is the Motley Fool's consumer finance expert and a champion weather-event worrywart. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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