Written by: Kristen Jowers, M.S., & Nichole Huff, PhD, CFLE
One important aspect of financial readiness is being prepared for the unexpected, and that includes natural disasters. With frequent relocations to diverse locations both within the continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS), military families make homes in a variety of locales, each with potential for severe weather and natural disasters. From hurricane-prone coasts to wildfire, earthquake, and tornado-prone areas, weather-related events bring unique financial risks that families must be prepared to manage. The financial implications of natural disasters are substantial and escalating due to the increased frequency and severity of weather events, rising sea levels, and high temperatures (U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2023).
Strategies to Climate-Proof Finances
Financial professionals play a crucial role in raising awareness about disaster preparedness. Taking steps before and after a disaster can make a difference in how quickly a family can recover. Before a disaster strikes, safeguard critical documents by making an inventory of possessions and digitizing important records, building an emergency fund, and making sure insurance policies are up to date and reflect your current address and needs. Email copies of things to yourself so you’ll always have access to them. Consider the small things, like having a manual can opener, power banks, and even glow sticks on hand when the power is out.
After the storm passes, focus on documenting losses, contacting insurance providers, and keeping detailed records to support any claims or recovery assistance. Read this MONEYWI$E newsletter to navigate asking for help after a disaster. As families and communities rebuild, encourage scam vigilance in the aftermath of a disaster. Scammers may use natural disasters to con people into donating or investing money under false pretenses.
Preparing financially is just as vital as having a “go-bag,” but it’s hard to know what you don’t know. As service providers, we may be aware of local resources or tips for navigating natural disasters in our communities. Create a disaster readiness resource guide for your area and start these conversations with military families now. The Department of Defense Emergency Preparedness Guide includes a fillable Family Emergency Plan that will be a useful addition to the military family storm preparedness guide. Additionally, the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) created the 52 Ways to Climate-Proof Your Finances guide with strategies across personal finances, insurance, clothing, food, housing, and taxes that you can share with families.
Home Buying Considerations
Beyond the immediate actions before and after a disaster, some disaster preparedness begins long before an imminent threat. For example, those looking to purchase a home, especially military families relocating to an unfamiliar area, should factor in climate risks when making housing decisions. Asking questions about flood zones, insurance costs, insurability, and local disaster history may provide additional information that helps buyers make informed home-buying decisions and protect their finances in the long run.
As we observe Disaster Preparedness Month, it is a reminder of the many ways natural disasters have touched our own lives. Disasters are disruptive. Not just financially, but emotionally. SAMHSA’s disaster behavioral health resources can help survivors face the uncertainty in the weeks and months that follow a disaster.
Strengthen Your Readiness
As you continue building financial preparedness strategies, consider how disaster readiness extends to all members of our communities. Join OneOp on December 16, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST for the free webinar, Ready & Able: Disaster Preparedness for Providers Supporting People with Disabilities. This session will explore preparedness practices that help ensure individuals with disabilities are not left behind when emergencies occur. Participants will gain practical tools to support accessible planning, effective communication, and coordinated response efforts, key components of community and financial resilience. By integrating these approaches into your preparedness planning, you can help build stronger, more financially secure, and disaster-ready communities.
References
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2024, May 22). What questions should I ask about flood and disaster risk when buying a house? https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-questions-should-i-ask-about-flood-and-disaster-risk-when-buying-a-house-en-2147/
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2022, April 8). Climate risk should be considered in housing decisions. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/homebuyers-homeowners-renters-should-consider-climate-risks-in-decisions-about-future/
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (n.d.). Dealing With Disasters and Emergencies. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/disasters-and-emergencies/
Department of Defense. (n.d.) Department of Defense Emergency Preparedness Guide. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/documents/department-of-defense-emergency-preparedness-guide-d708/
Extension Disaster Education Network. (2024). 52 Ways to Climate-Proof Your Finances. https://extensiondisaster.net/resource-dashboard/52-ways-to-climate-proof-your-finances/
Huff, N. & May, K. (2023). Financial considerations before a natural disaster. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/frm-ifd.001_financesbeforedisaster.pdf
Huff, N. (2023). Financial management after a natural disaster. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/frm-ifd.002_financesafterdisaster.pdf
Jowers, J. (2024, October 31). Climate resilience in coastal communities. OneOp. https://oneop.org/2024/10/31/disaster-and-hazard-readiness-in-coastal-military-communities/
Jowers, J. (2024, November 14). Climate change resilience and preparedness: Safeguarding military families and communities. OneOp. https://oneop.org/2024/11/14/climate-change-resilience-and-preparedness-safeguarding-military-families-and-communities/
U.S. Department of the Treasury. (2023). The Impact of Climate Change on American Household Finances. https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Climate_Change_Household_Finances.pdf
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (2024, October 22). Natural Disasters and Investment Scams – Investor Alert. Investor.gov. https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/general-resources/news-alerts/alerts-bulletins/investor-alerts/natural-disasters
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