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MoneyWi$e: Asking for Help After a Disaster · Talking FACS

• 0:01
  Welcome to Talking FACS, what you need to know about family,
• 0:04
  food, finance, and fitness.
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  This nationally recognized, award-winning podcast is hosted by the University
• 0:12
  of Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Program.
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  Our educators share research knowledge with individuals, families,
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  and communities to improve quality of life.
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  Billion-dollar weather disasters have been increasing in frequency over the
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  past several decades. In fact, there has been a total of 92 that have impacted
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  the area since 1980, and seven of those devastating events occurred in 2024 alone.
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  At the end of the day, it's not a matter of if, but when we see another disaster in Kentucky.
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  That's Matt Dixon, University of Kentucky meteorologist.
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  Welcome to MoneyWi$e on Talking FACS, where we share research-based information
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  that you can use to strengthen your family's financial future.
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  I am your host, Mindy McCulley, Extension Specialist for Instructional Support
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  with Family and Consumer Sciences Extension.
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  Disasters can come in many forms, whether it is a widespread natural disaster,
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  localized incident, or a personal medical emergency.
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  As Matt said, large-scale natural disasters have been increasing both in scope
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  and frequency, which means more people across Kentucky have been impacted.
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  If a disaster happens to you, first seek safety.
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  Once the immediate danger has passed, ask for help if needed.
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  Today, we will discuss how to ask for help after a disaster with my guests,
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  Kelly May, Senior Extension Associate for Family Finance and Resource Management, and Danielle Hagler.
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  Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent in Nelson County.
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  Before we get started, Danielle, do you want to tell us just a little bit about
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  the Extension Disaster Strike Teams? Yes, ma'am.
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  So as you said, in Kentucky, we've been experiencing a lot of widespread disasters,
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  whether it was eastern Kentucky, western Kentucky, or in your own backyard.
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  We have all been close to some type of natural disaster, whether it affected us or our loved ones.
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  And in Extension, we really work to share our knowledge and resources throughout
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  the state when our communities are hurting.
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  So our professionals in those areas may be experiencing the same disasters.
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  So the strike team is actually able to go out into those communities and fill
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  the gaps and also share our expertise in those areas.
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  So one of the things that we noticed is a lot of folks are used to helping others
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  and they're not used to asking for help.
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  So as part of the strike team and as part of the Extension Disaster Education Network,
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  we have recognized that a kind of guide to help folks understand the best ways
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  to ask for help was needed for our communities.
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  And that's where this MoneyWise topic originated from. Perfect.
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  So let's just jump right into when a disaster happens to you.
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  How can you ask for, let's just start with financial help.
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  Thanks, Mindy. Disasters can strain your resources and make it difficult to
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  keep up with bills, and the situation can be changing, ever-changing,
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  so it doesn't hurt to reach out and ask for assistance.
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  Some places that you regularly deal with, like your mortgage lender or your
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  landlord, utility companies, or maybe even your pharmacy, might be able to help you for a short time.
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  They might offer financial assistance, alternative payment plans.
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  Deferment or forbearance options, or other hardship exceptions.
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  So there are a variety of things they could do if they're able to,
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  and it never hurts to ask.
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  And of course, we have some extension publications that provide you some tips,
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  and there will be a lot of links in the show notes for this episode.
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  Also, if you're in need, there are others who may wish to help.
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  Sometimes we don't think to ask for help, but there are others out there who want to give it.
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  We often think of giving help, and it's hard to realize that,
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  oh, when this happens to me, maybe they can give their help to me.
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  So this can happen through cash apps, virtual fundraisers, crowdsourcing platforms, or meal signups.
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  So if you do choose to fundraise online or if a loved one sets up a fundraiser for you,
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  make sure you're using a trusted platform and use caution with sharing personal
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  information because you want to protect yourself and your privacy from scammers who are out there.
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  Also, platforms may charge a transaction fee or other fees. So before you set
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  that up, read the legal terms carefully.
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  And finally, I want to mention that you should keep records of any funds donated
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  to you because if crowdsourcing or online donations exceed allowable amounts,
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  it might be considered taxable income.
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  And if that's the case, you may need IRS Form 1099-K.
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  So, we don't want to think that this could happen, but lots of times,
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  disasters require us to find a new place to live.
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  And when that happens, what should we do?
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  So, yeah, after a natural disaster, either temporary or permanent new housing may be needed.
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  For an individual disaster, like a house fire, the Red Cross or area churches
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  may be able to provide temporary lodging.
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  So if you're experiencing a personal disaster that's kind of localized to your
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  home, contact your local emergency
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  management director for shelter options that may be available to you.
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  Insurance and government aid may also be able to assist with the cost of getting
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  you back into your home or other lodging.
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  We found that in Kentucky, a lot of times folks don't have a huge immediate
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  need for housing because they will actually stay with loved ones.
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  But over time, you know, you do want to get back into your own space and allow
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  routine to come back. So you want to make sure that you are looking for those next options.
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  You want to contact your insurance agent for information on filing a claim.
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  So, always make sure that you have your documents on hand so that you can reach
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  out to them with your claim numbers and all of that information.
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  If you're wanting to look up Kentucky-specific resources for shelter and other
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  assistance, you can reach out to www.disasterassistance.gov.
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  You'll be able to find resources there.
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  In some cases, in large disasters, you may be eligible for government assistance such as FEMA.
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  Now, it's really important if you are applying for any assistance that you adhere to deadlines.
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  They typically require you to file a claim in a timely manner after the disaster
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  happens, before you even start cleanup.
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  It's hard to think about the next steps when you're just trying to find all
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  of your personal belongings, but you'll want to take photos.
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  Make a list of any damages before you start any of those steps because those
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  things will be necessary in any of your disaster assistance or insurance claims.
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  As Kelly mentioned before, of course,
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  we will provide links to anything we mentioned today in the show notes.
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  So what if I need things like food and clothing? How can I get help with those needs?
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  Yes, those are important too, right? You need to maintain your health.
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  It's a health and safety issue, and sometimes there are things we need.
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  So if money is tight, you can utilize food pantries or free food distributions in your community.
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  Your local health department or county extension agent may be able to help you
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  identify food sources in your area.
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  If clothing or personal care items were damaged, consider setting up a wish
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  list online through a trusted retailer.
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  This is helpful if people have offered to help, but they're not sure what your family needs.
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  I think often, as I mentioned, we talk about the other side of this,
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  where how can we help others?
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  And clothing is one of the first
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  things we think of. So often there's an abundance of clothing available.
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  But it may not be actually the right size or it may not be what you need at this time.
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  So if that's the case, having a list set up that lets people know what you do
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  need will help people to spend their money in a way that is helpful to you and not wasteful to them.
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  So they can purchase the items in the correct sizes and quantities and then
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  ship it to your temporary location.
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  Yeah, Kelly, I had a friend that experienced a house fire and they used this
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  method and they were able to shop for the pajamas that they needed.
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  And it was really interesting because one of their children was an avid reader
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  and actually put a book list on there as well.
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  That is such a perfect way of personalizing the needs and making sure that they're
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  not overwhelmed with things that aren't needed.
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  Because if you don't have a place to live, you certainly don't have a place
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  to store these things that are definitely not needed.
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  And speaking of being overwhelmed, What do I do when I start to feel overwhelmed?
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  Yeah, so financial emergencies can be overwhelming, whether it's a disaster
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  or you've had a medical emergency that dramatically changes your personal or family budget.
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  If you are in a mental health crisis, call the hotline 988 in Kentucky and you
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  will be connected with folks that can provide you assistance.
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  We also have a tremendous wealth of extension publications that can help you
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  navigate trauma kind of after a natural disaster.
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  So reach out to your local extension office, and we'll also have links to those in the show notes.
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  And what are some tips for when others are trying to help?
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  So first off, be gracious. Not everyone has a lot to give, so be respectful
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  of the things that they have offered you. and just be thankful as much as you can.
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  And remember that help can come in many forms.
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  So somebody might drop off a meal that's already cooked. Somebody may help with yard cleanup.
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  They could give you physical things. And we mentioned sometimes there are too
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  many physical things exchanged for the place that you're trying to keep them,
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  but still be appreciative of what you receive.
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  And if it's not something you
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  can use, maybe pass it on to somebody else who might be able to use it.
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  Remember, too, as you're asking, that others may be experiencing their own financial
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  challenges, and local businesses may be overextended, especially after large-scale disasters.
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  So sometimes people want to help, and they're just not able to,
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  and as we said earlier, it doesn't hurt to ask, but...
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  Be cognizant of that, too, that that also could be an issue on the other end of your request.
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  Yeah, in my work, working in disaster areas, one thing that I heard over and
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  over again is I don't need help. Others need it more.
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  In a large-scale disaster, there is a wide-ranging amount of need.
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  And don't discount that your need is not just as important as someone else's.
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  So don't hesitate to reach out if you are in a financial situation where you do need help.
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  That's a great tip, Danielle. And I'm so glad you said that because you're right.
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  A lot of us are afraid to ask for ourselves first.
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  We'd rather give to somebody else. And that's one of my favorite things about
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  the state is people here are so giving and we need to take care of ourselves.
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  Our health and our well-being is just as important as everybody else's. And we can ask for that.
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  So contact your community, your faith-based organizations, your county extension
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  office, and check out our show notes for other suggestions for assistance.
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  Thank you both for your time today. I know that this is a concern that is coming
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  up more and more frequently.
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  And while we want it to be a back burner issue, we just have to have it out
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  there ready to deal with when the need arises.
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  If you are just tuning in, you're listening to MoneyWi$e on Talking FACS.
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  It is a presentation of the Martin Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment.
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  We are available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
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  Thank you for listening to Talking FACS. We deliver programs focusing on nutrition,
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  health, resource management, family development, and civic engagement.
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• 13:19
  Visit us online at fcs.uky.edu to learn more about the University of Kentucky
• 13:26
  Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Program or contact your local Extension
• 13:30
  agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.
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  We build strong families. We build Kentucky. It starts with us.