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As Hurricane Irma bears down on Florida and possibly other states, the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission has to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from the long-term impacts of a weather emergency, including these basics:

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• Find out if your home, health, or other insurance policy will pay for temporary shelter, replacement clothing, furniture, or other items.
• .

For more tips and information, visit:

• and download the
• Community Disaster Education and download

Be alert to . Urgent appeals for donations may not be on the up-and-up. Check out the charity with the , , , or . These organizations provide lists of charities they have screened that are raising funds for specific causes, like Hurricane Harvey or Irma relief assistance.

• Never click on links or open attachments in e-mails unless you know who sent it. You could unknowingly install on your computer.
• Don’t assume that charity messages posted on social media are legitimate. Research the organization yourself.
• Find out if the charity or fundraiser must be registered in your state by contacting the . If they should be registered, but they're not, consider donating through another charity.
• Check out the Â鶹´«Ã½ Emergency Management Agency’s . It outlines the best ways you can help people and communities who are impacted by a disaster.
• Designate the disaster so you can ensure your funds are going to disaster relief, rather than a general fund.
• Give directly rather than through a paid fundraiser. Professional fundraisers get a percentage of your donation, sometimes 50 percent or more.
• When texting to donate, confirm the number with the source before you donate. The charge will show up on your mobile phone bill, but donations are not immediate.

Once the storm has passed, these tips and links to resources can help ease the difficult tasks of recovery:

• Contact your insurance company. Ask what the next steps are in to your home or business.
• The and the have advice on how to cope if your home is flooded.
• Be skeptical of people promising immediate . Some may demand payment up-front for work they never do, quote outrageous prices, or simply lack the skills, licenses, and insurance to legally do the work.
• If you’re looking for a place to rent during recovery, be cautious of . Scammers often advertise rentals that don’t exist to trick people into sending money before they find out the truth.
• Many people will be asking for . Make sure you know who you are dealing with. Ask for identification before you share your Social Security or account numbers. Scammers sometimes pose as government officials, and ask for your financial information or money to apply for aid that you can request on your own for free. Government officials will never ask you for money in exchange for information or the promise of a check.
• You might have had to leave your home without IDs, checks, credit and debit cards, and other documents. You also might be without access to a bank account or paycheck for some time. If you need to get money, understand your options for paying bills and replacing important documents. This may help you regain your financial footing.
• and ask for help. If your home is uninhabitable, to discuss the options you have with regard to your mortgage.

The Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on , follow us on , read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.