Natural disasters can happen anywhere, but you can protect yourself and your finances by planning ahead.

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/prepare has the information you need to make a plan and help safeguard your financial future in the event of a disaster.

Whether you’re at risk of hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, wildfires, or earthquakes, here are three steps you can take right now to protect yourself financially and weather any storm.

The first step you can take is to download FEMA’s Emergency Financial First Aid Kit and fill it out. Once you complete the kit you will have everything you need in one place.

The next step is to find a safe space to store the kit and the documents you gathered.

Lastly, make sure you understand your insurance options, and the extent of your coverage in case of a disaster. Renter's, homeowner's and auto insurance policies generally don’t cover all aspects of a disaster. You may also need to look into specialized coverage like earthquake insurance and flood insurance.

A weekend of preparation now can save you months of frustration and lots of money if your property is damaged in a disaster.