Weather and health-related natural disasters can cause widespread devastation and wreak financial havoc on families and communities. In recognition of National Preparedness Month, First Community Bank of East Tennessee and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) are advocating simple measures to help consumers with the recovery and rebuild process.

“While natural disasters are an unfortunate reality, they don’t have to lead to financial ruin,” said Jennifer Starnes, AVP Retail Banking & Marketing Director at First Community Bank of East Tennessee. “As your trusted partner and ally, we can help you enact a plan to safeguard your finances and minimize the financial fallout so you can remain focused on the personal safety of you and your loves ones.”

First Community Bank of East Tennessee and ICBA offer the following tips to help customers make a plan and regain their financial wherewithal following a natural disaster.

• Establish an emergency savings account for use in a crisis and keep a small amount of cash on hand in case you’re unable to access funds electronically and need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel or food.
• Prepare backup communications plans if both cellular and landline services falter.
• Store copies of financial documents, including investment records, property deeds, insurance policies, tax information, wills, trusts and financial and medical powers of attorney.
• Make copies of personal documents— Driver’s licenses, passports, Social Security cards, birth certificates, adoptions, marriage and divorce papers, property deeds and titles.
• Print contact information for trustees, guardians, and executors and store them for safe keeping.
• Create an inventory of personal and household valuables and use photo or video documentation to help assess their value and determine replacement costs.
• Contact your insurance agent or visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website, to determine if you need a flood insurance policy. For more helpful financial preparedness tips, download the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit to get started planning today.

“Community bankers are financial first responders as stewards of their community and can be a great resource to help you evaluate your financial preparedness and reestablish your financial footing in the aftermath of a natural or manmade disaster.  Call on these stewards of your community before these unexpected, stressful events occur so they can create a plan to get you on the road to financial recovery.”

For more information on crisis preparedness visit ICBA’s website at www.icba.org/news/crisis-preparedness.

About First Community Bank of East Tennessee

First Community Bank was founded in 1993 in Rogersville, TN. The bank is a locally owned and managed financial institution serving a broad market that encompasses an area up to 325 miles from its headquarters location in Rogersville. The bank was founded on the premise that individuals and small and medium size businesses were under served by large traditional banks. The Bank operates brick and mortar branches in Hawkins and Sullivan Counties in Northeast Tennessee but offers a full range of digital banking services.

At First Community Bank we believe our relationships with our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to a relationship and customer service that is unparalleled. As our customer, shareholder, or friend, you can be sure that the employees of First Community Bank work diligently to earn and keep your business and to instill your confidence in us.

We offer a complete range of financial products and services including checking accounts, money market and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, business accounts, and more. First Community Bank offers a full range of lending options for individuals and businesses. Our commercial lending specialists or retail banking team can customize the financing to match your specific, unique needs.

Our philosophy of local bank decision-making and personalized service is the driving force of our business. We are proud to be a true Community Bank and thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!

About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.  

As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.