Hurricane Season Is Here

First Bank and Trust can help you prepare.

Preparation can make all the difference in your safety and minimizing storm damage.

Hurricane season along the Gulf Coast is between June 1 and November 30, peaking between the months of August and September. If you haven’t created a plan, it is time to do so. Here are a few helpful tips:

Our toll-free Emergency Hotline is 1-888-FBT-HURR (1-888-328-4877). Make a note of this number and keep it handy for updated information from First Bank and Trust.
Have your ATM or Debit Card with you and be familiar with all passwords and PINs. When out of town, look for Pulse, Star or Plus ATMs.
Online and Mobile Banking customers should prepare for web access by knowing all your User IDs, Logins, and passwords so you can easily access your accounts from any location.
Don’t forget to take important financial documents, including bank and investment account statements, insurance policies, wills, deeds, and tax records.
Make a list of contacts that you may need in the cause of evacuation. This includes neighbors, friends, bank, doctors, and pharmacies.

As a resident of a coastal community, it is important to be ready in the case of evacuation. Here is how to get started:

Step 1: Get a Kit

Get an Emergency Supply Kit, which includes items like non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries. Don’t overlook making copies of important documents like your driver’s license and passport, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.

Step 2: Make a Plan

Have a family emergency plan as your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it’s important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency. Plan places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.

Step 3: Be Informed

Listen to your local officials and learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government. In any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials. Monitor local radio and television news or listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments.

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