This is a lot

There’s so much to keep track of.

Let’s get you set up with some good organizational systems so you don’t lose track of important things, and recovery doesn’t take over your entire life.

*This information has been checked for accuracy and non-bias by licensed insurance experts and representatives from National 501c3’s specialized in insurance advocacy. We are not insurance brokers. Consult with a licensed professional about your insurance policy and specific situation.

1.

Create a Separate email account

You are going to be emailing with adjusters, contractors, realtors, and so many other folks for the next several years. We recommend creating a separate email address to keep all of that in one place. Separating recovery from the rest of your life in this way can also be helpful for your mental health.

Any kind of email account will do, but we have some pre-populated resources that work best with Gmail. To create a new Gmail account, click here.

Tip

Keep It Simple

Make it “[YourName]postfire@gmail.com” or something is easy to remember.

2.

organize your files

We recommend setting up folders for all the different documentation you’ll be asked to collect.

If you have a Gmail account, you can copy our template folders here.

To save your own copy:

Open the folder, select all the files, then right-click and choose ‘Make a copy.’ The copies will appear in your own Google Drive, which you can access via Gmail.

3.

create a separate bank account

The last thing you need is a huge headache at tax time when you have to separate out all your fire-related expenses. Create a free bank account to handle all related transactions.

If you’d like some financial guidance, Project Porchlight offers free support to disaster survivors.

4.

open a high yield savings account

You may be getting large sums of money, so it would be wise to open an account that earns the most interest while the funds sit there. Just be aware that balances over $250,000 are typically not FDIC insured, so if your payout is substantial, you may want to open more than one account.

A few options are Wealthfront, Origin Financial and Betterment.

*We do not endorse any bank or entity, and we do not receive any funding or kickbacks from these entities.

5.

get a separate debit/credit card

If you can earn points on all the spending you’re about to do, that’s great — but either way, you’ll want to keep all your transactions in a separate place, similar to the bank account logic mentioned above.

6.

Separate Business losses

If you had a home business that you lost as well, create a separate bank account and card for all those expenses. Insurance and taxes might handle them separately from your personal expenses, and these will be scrutinized more closely.

7.

Don’t spend more than you have. apply for an sba loan

Do everything you can not to go into debt during this process. The SBA offers low interest loans to help with rebuilding you home or business, replacing personal property, and code upgrades.

8.

Set up credit monitoring

With so many applications and aid agencies, you’ll want to keep an eye on whether anyone is trying to claim they are you or has accessed your information. Credit Karma is an easy option.