Life after Disaster Relief?
Right now the victims of Hurricane Katrina are trying to re-establish the basics of human life………shelter, clothing, food and a job to support these needs. Those displaced or affected in Florida by last year’s onslaught of storms have barely had time to recover, yet another storm is bearing down on them now.
Victims who had credit available have been utilizing it to cover their basic needs. Since the Federal government has announced that it is going to allow victims to tap into retirement/pension/IRA funds without the usual tax penalty, some victims are now tapping those funds to re-establish themselves and their families.
Unfortunately, when you take from one place, you usually have to give in another. The financial fabric of most of the victims is so loosely woven that a single tug on a loose thread could easily unravel the whole cloth. It amounts to trading a problem today for a different problem down the road. The problem down the road? How to pay for their kids education, their retirement, and their future healthcare needs.
So where are we now? Inflated gas prices is merely a tip on an iceberg of gargantuan proportions. The trickle down effect of this disaster on our economy will be felt on multiple levels.
There are many possible answers depending on individual circumstances but one thing is certain, everyone needs a plan. Not just the hurricane victims but you, me and every other citizen in this country. Why? Because we’ve barely begun to feel the impact of this disaster on our society and it will get worse before it gets better.
Despite our habit of dealing with today’s challenges without thinking of tomorrow’s, we all need a plan for dealing with both today and tomorrow. I don’t have any ready answers, I only see the need. My goal is to find realistic, doable answers for all of us and to share that information.
Even though we aren’t all direct victims of these disasters, we all have to work together to overcome them. With some thought and strategic planning now, we can have more confidence in a vital economy and financially secure society tomorrow.