Developing plans and participating in drills are essential emergency preparedness activities. Taking steps to be financially prepared for an emergency is a critical activity in any planning effort.

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) , a joint publication from Operation Hope , and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, contains information for you to prepare now for a financial emergency. The guide includes information on obtaining insurance, planning tips and resources to help you manage your finances, and accessing important records to help you recover more quickly should you be affected by a disaster.

Financial Preparedness Resources

• The EFFAK in  English ,  Spanish , and a  reader enabled  English version that is fillable online. (2015 version)
• An EFFAK overview slide presentation in  English  and  Spanish .
• EFFAK  checklists and forms  in standard and  reader enabled /fillable versions.
• Find out how prepared you are with the Disaster Financial Recovery Score from Operation Hope .
• Watch this video from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Saving for Financial Shocks and Emergencies .

Financial preparedness is one of the many ways to participate in Prepareathon. Register your preparedness actions today at www.ready.gov/prepare .

How would you find out if there was an alert in your area? While watching television or listening to the radio may be effective, mobile technology and the Internet have become one of the quickest and most popular ways for Americans to receive emergency information instantly. 

Smartphone alerts and warning apps can make it easier than ever for families, businesses, and individuals to effectively prepare for and recover from disasters. Visit the Ready Campaign's Get Tech Ready page for tips, such as:

• Sign up to receive preparedness tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) text message program : text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA).
• Download the  FEMA App  to access disaster preparedness tips, obtain weather alerts for up to five locations, and look for open Disaster Recovery Centers along with open shelters. 
• Store your important documents such as personal and financial records on a secure flash or jump drive that you can keep readily available.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones by having preparedness at your fingertips. Learn more at www.ready.gov/get-tech-ready .  

Flash floods happen quickly; it is important to recognize whether or not you live in an area prone to flash flooding and how you can prepare in advance.

According to the National Weather Service , the causes of flash flooding include heavy rain, ice or debris jams, and levee or dam failure. These floods exhibit a rapid rise of water over low-lying areas. In some cases, flooding may even occur away from where heavy rain initially fell.

Follow these tips from Ready.gov to make sure you, your family, and your home are prepared for a flash flood:

• Know your flood risk .
• Make a flood  emergency plan .
• Consider buying  flood insurance .
• Familiarize yourself with local emergency plans. Know where to go and how to get there should you need to get to higher ground, the highest level of a building, or to evacuate.
• Stay tuned to your phone  alerts , TV, or radio for weather updates, emergency instructions, or evacuation orders.

For more flood safety information, download Prepareathon's How to Prepare for a Flood guide.