As hurricane season ramps up, most Floridians know to stock up on essentials like water, batteries, and nonperishable food. But financial experts warn that one crucial part of storm preparation is often overlooked: safeguarding your financial documents.

Michael Esposito, Tampa Bay Market President for Bank of America, says homeowners and renters should gather key financial records now and store them in a waterproof container or digitally in a secure cloud account.

“Having these documents ready can significantly speed up your recovery if your home is damaged,” Esposito explained to Spectrum News. He also advises families to make sure more than one person knows where the documents are stored and who to contact for financial matters. “It’s common for one person to manage the household finances,” he said, “but it’s wise to make sure others are informed in case something happens.”

Bank of America recommends storing recent tax returns, property deeds, insurance policies, and details about retirement or brokerage accounts in a safe place, like a waterproof lockbox or a safety deposit box.

Real estate consultant Greg Cowen learned this the hard way when Hurricane Helene flooded his Davis Islands home last year. His family was displaced for nearly nine months.

“We needed documents right away—insurance declaration pages, property surveys, even permit history,” said Cowen. “Having those on hand would’ve made things much easier.”

Experts also emphasize the importance of having some emergency cash and savings. Ideally, your emergency fund should cover six months of household expenses. But even a small amount set aside can make a big difference in the immediate aftermath of a storm.

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