Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other weather disasters wreak havoc on every part of people’s lives, including their finances.

Rande Spiegelman, of the Schwab Center for Investment Research, has some suggestions for protecting yourself:

¢ Make sure you’re covered. Go over your homeowners or renters insurance to determine whether you are protected if a natural disaster strikes.

¢ Make a list of your household possessions. Use a video camera to inventory goods, or take pictures and record a description and value for everything you own. Store the inventory in a safe place.

¢ Create a document evacuation box. While original copies of wills, insurance policies and the like are best kept in a safe-deposit box, keep copies, along with other important documents, in a fireproof, waterproof evacuation box that you can grab when you go. Consider scanning documents for storing online.

¢ Have cash on hand. Don’t rely on ATMs for money in an emergency. Keep enough cash for a few days of expenses.