PRESS RELEASE

Dallas - September 23, 2009 - As many North Texans are dealing with replacing carpet and roof shingles from the thunderstorms and flooding last week, they are facing the stress of contacting insurance companies, contractors or even their banks. This could be an even more difficult process if important financial documents were misplaced during the disaster.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas (CCCS of Greater Dallas), a nonprofit provider of free housing and credit counseling and financial education, teaches consumers the importance of preparing for a natural disaster and how to avoid a financial aftermath.

"The storms and flooding this fall are an unfriendly reminder of the damage caused by Hurricane Ike last September," said Todd Mark, vice president of education for CCCS of Greater Dallas. "The many stresses of dealing with a natural disaster, from submitting insurance claims to hiring repairmen and replacing damaged items, can be time consuming and expensive - even when insurance covers the damage."

As our country deals with floods, hurricanes and fires this fall, consumers can be prepared by addressing the following items to prevent their own financial disaster:

Review and update your insurance coverage. Insurance policies change on a frequent basis. You may have previously ignored updates from your insurance company, but now is the time to review your policy and understand exactly what it covers, as well as deductibles and other fees. Also, if you've added any high value items to your home, you will need to update your policy so it covers the monetary value of these items. It's also smart to document the contents of your home with a video or photography, showing every room of your house in its everyday state.

Organize all important documents. Most important personal and financial information can be stored both online and in a lock box or safety deposit box. Be sure to keep a list of your account log-ins and passwords in a place other than your home computer, such as in a safety deposit box or with a close relative. Keep a back-up of all of this information on an external hard drive or flash drive and store with critical items such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, deeds, wills, social security cards and insurance policies in a secure, fire-proof lock box. It's also smart to keep an extra set of keys, cash and a credit card in the lock box should you not have access to these items after a disaster.

Dedicate money to an emergency savings account. We always recommend that consumers have a minimum of three to six months of living expenses in savings. This money will be critical if hit by a natural disaster, but it can also greatly reduce the stress of a job loss or medical emergency.

Create a plan of action. It's good to discuss different scenarios with your family and friends so your personal community can act quickly in an emergency. Identify who will watch your kids. Locate where you could stay, whether it be with a relative or at a hotel. Know what your insurance covers in terms of hotel stays or rental cars. Keep a list of phone numbers and e-mail addresses in your wallet. Finally, stock your home with extra batteries, flashlights, non-perishable food and water if you know you're in the middle of a storm season. Smart planning can prevent additional stress and expenses should a disaster hit.

Identify community resources. It's smart to know what resources are available in your community if you become the victim of a storm, or even to help someone else in need. The American Red Cross or Salvation Army are typically on hand to support any type of natural disaster, but there are small agencies in most communities to provide extra help, and even shelter. Take some time to find out what resources are available in your area by doing a little Internet research or becoming more involved in community groups in your neighborhood. Organizations such as the United Way or 211 should be at the top of your list.

To find out more about CCCS of Greater Dallas free budget and credit counseling, and education, call (800) 249-2227 or visit www.cccs.net.

About CCCS of Greater Dallas
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas, Inc. is a nonprofit, community based credit counseling and debt management service. Established in 1974, CCCS of Greater Dallas and its affiliate offices provide financial education and counseling to consumers in-person, by phone, or Internet through their 24 locations in four states. CCCS of Greater Dallas is a HUD accredited counseling agency and serves as one of eight counseling agencies supporting the 888-995-HOPE Hotline. The agency is also a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), the nation's largest and longest serving national non-profit credit counseling network. To learn more about CCCS of Greater Dallas' free seminars or the agency's services, visit www.cccs.net.