Disaster Preparedness

Unexpected natural disasters and other emergencies can happen at any time, and while it may not be pleasant to think about, the best way to recover from disaster is to be prepared. Thoughtful preparedness not only reduces stress and anxiety, but can also greatly reduce the potential impact a disaster can have on you and your loved ones. One aspect of disaster preparedness that’s often overlooked is personal finance.

While it may be a good idea to have a small amount of emergency cash handy in case of a disaster (including a roll of quarters should you need to use a pay phone), your money is safest kept in your federally insured deposit accounts at Redwood Credit Union. Regulators require all financial institutions to have a disaster recovery plan, and Redwood Credit Union has secure systems in place to protect our Members and their accounts.

Accessing your RCU Accounts

In the event of an emergency, there are many ways you can access your RCU accounts:

• Log on to RCU Online banking at www.redwoodcu.org to access all of your RCU accounts, check balances, pay bills, transfer funds between accounts and more.
• Call our Member Service Center at (707) 545-4000 or 1 (800) 545-4000.
• Visit any of our 15 branch locations.
• Locate the nearest CO-OP ATM by calling toll-free 1 (888) SITE-CO-OP (1-888-748-3266), downloading the iPhone app or texting your location or zip code to MYCOOP (692667). You have fee-free access your RCU accounts at any of 28,000 CO-OP ATMs nationwide.
• Locate the nearest CU Service Center by calling 1-800-919-CUSC (1-800-919-2872) or downloading the iPhone app. CU Service Centers are shared branch locations that act as an extension of your RCU branch. There are more than 3,000 CU Service Centers nationwide.

(CO-OP ATMs and CU Service Centers can be accessed at any time by RCU Members, not just in an emergency!)

Disaster Preparedness Tips

Here are some additional tips you can take to help protect your finances in the event of an unforeseen emergency:

• Store all identity documents (birth certificates, social security cards, passports, insurance policies, etc.) in a secure place that you can quickly access if you need to evacuate your home unexpectedly. If you reside in a flood or storm zone, consider keeping them in a “dry bag,” such as a sealable freezer bag. Having these documents with you after a disaster not only protects your information from “looters” and identity thieves, but may also help you in obtaining federal assistance or emergency financing if needed.

• Keep copies of all vital documents in a safe deposit box or with a trusted relative living in a different city in the event of a fire, flood or other circumstance which may prevent you from accessing the original documents. If you do keep items in a safe deposit box, make sure at least one or two other trusted people know your financial institution, box number and where to find your key (or a spare).

• Maintain a list of contact information for your financial institutions, lenders and credit card issuers, and program their toll-free numbers into your cell phone so that you will have the information handy if you need to access or make changes to your accounts.

• Make sure you are adequately insured, including home, auto, and property insurance (including renters insurance if you are a renter). Health, disability, long-term care, umbrella liability and life insurance are also very important coverage to have in the event of a disaster.

You may also consider special policies for earthquakes, flooding or other losses not covered by standard insurance if you live in an area at risk for such occurrences.

Be sure to evaluate your insurance needs at least annually, and make adjustments to your policies accordingly. The knowledgeable RCU Insurance Services team can assist you with all your insurance needs – call toll-free, 1 (866) 477-4225 to receive a no-cost, no-obligation quote.

Resources

Here are some additional resources to assist you with disaster preparedness and recovery:

Red Cross Disaster Recovery: A Guide to Financial Issues – An informative guidebook for financial recovery containing financial disaster preparedness tips as well.

Ready.gov – Disaster preparedness information from the US Department of Homeland Security including how to create a disaster response and recovery plan for your family.

SmartAboutMoney.org – Crisis & Emergencies – Emergency preparedness information from the National Endowment for Financial Education.

CaliforniaVolunteers.org – Emergency readiness information and resources for California residents.