From the recent cyclone that hit Queensland to winter snow storms, Mother Nature has no shortage of opportunities to cause consumers problems year-round. If a natural disaster were to strike your home, would you turn to your credit cards to help you get back on your feet? Should you?

While sometimes the quick solution of turning to credit cards to replace items lost or damaged in a disaster can seem appealing, there are other options. Let’s take a look at some of them, and when it then might be a good idea to use your credit cards.

Things to do Before Considering Credit Card Use After a Natural Disaster

The problem with using credit cards for disaster recovery is that accumulating new credit card debt just adds to the existing problems. Before you even consider that as an option, look into these groups and individuals that may be able to help instead:

• Family and friends (for temporary housing if necessary for example)
• Neighbours (neighbours often come together to help each other out in times of need)
• Your insurance company (if the disaster is covered by your policy in whole or in part)
• Your local church or community groups
• Larger aid organisations (especially in the case of large natural disasters affecting entire communities)

You won’t be able to get your life back to normal immediately by relying on these groups, but they can help you get back on your feet and moving in the right direction without building new debt right away.

When it Might Make Sense to Use Credit Cards in Disaster Recovery

There may come a time when credit cards really do seem to be your only option for emergency funding. For example, if you have to make a sudden long distance move and you need access to funds right away, a credit card might get you where you need to go (like to a family member’s home). Another consideration is smaller immediate needs like clean clothes, food, and toiletries.

While you shouldn’t run up a large debt on a whole new wardrobe, getting some immediate necessities could be a good use of your credit cards if you can’t get these things from other sources. And they won’t amount to a terribly high balance on their own.

Before deciding whether or not to use credit cards in your disaster recovery at all, be sure to consider your (or your partner’s) employment status. If you no longer have a job because the natural disaster destroyed your place of employment, how are you going to pay off that debt you accumulate? It’s going to be difficult, and probably lead to more stress than anything else.

Disaster recovery is different than other instances where you might be tempted to rely on credit cards, because you have to make decisions quickly and they’re likely to be influenced by emotions as you deal with other aspects of the disaster. Just never be afraid to ask for help or feel like you have to shoulder a greater burden than necessary. You might have more options for aid than you realise.