When you live thousands of miles away from your family, the start of hurricane or typhoon season can feel especially heavy. It’s natural to feel a sense of helplessness when you see weather reports for your home country while you are safe elsewhere.
But distance doesn’t mean you can’t help. In fact, your role as a supporter abroad is crucial. By preparing financially and logistically now, you can reduce the chaos and uncertainty your loved ones might face later.
Preparation is a form of love. It’s a way of saying, “I am with you, no matter the miles between us.” Here is how you can help your family get ready for the unexpected, starting today.
The First Step Is a Conversation
Many of us avoid talking about disasters because we don’t want to worry our parents or siblings. But silence doesn’t prevent storms; it just leaves us unprepared for them.
You don’t need to make the conversation scary. Frame it as a routine check-in, just like scheduling a doctor’s appointment or servicing a car. You might say:
“I’ve been thinking about the upcoming season and just want to make sure we’re ready, just in case. Can we take ten minutes this weekend to talk about a plan? It would make me feel a lot better knowing we’re on the same page.”
Approaching the topic with calm confidence helps your family feel supported rather than anxious.
Financial Readiness = Faster Support
In an emergency, speed is everything. When infrastructure goes down, access to cash can be the difference between securing essential supplies and going without.
One of the most effective ways to prepare is to pre-fund your Remitly Wallet.
Instead of scrambling to find your card or waiting for a payday transfer when a storm hits, you can keep funds stored securely in your Remitly app. This means the money is available to send quickly, depending on network and processing conditions..
Why pre-funding matters
- Speed: Pre-funding can help you send money quickly without waiting for a bank transfer to process.
- Reliability: Pre-funding your wallet can help avoid delays related to urgent transactions..
- Peace of mind: You know the help is already there, waiting to be deployed.
Make sure your recipient’s details are saved and up to date in the app, including their phone number, which may be used for delivery updates or notifications.
Create a Shared Disaster Readiness Plan
Once you have opened the conversation, it is time to get specific. A good plan covers the logistics of “where” and “how.”
Work with your family to answer these three questions:
- Where will you meet? If evacuation is necessary, where is the safest meeting point?
- How will we stay in touch? If the internet goes down, do you have a landline number for a neighbor or a relative in a nearby town?
- How should money be delivered? This last point is critical. In some disasters, physical cash pickup locations close due to safety concerns. In others, ATMs run out of cash.
Discuss alternative payout options. For example, mobile wallets are often a reliable backup because they allow your family to access funds digitally on their phones, even if banks are shuttered.
Share a Simple Checklist
It is hard to think clearly when a warning siren goes off. Help your family by providing a simple checklist they can keep on the fridge or saved on their phone.
Encourage them to gather these essentials:
- Important Documents: Photos or digital copies of IDs, insurance policies, and medical records.
- Emergency Cash: Small bills for when card machines are down.
- Basic Supplies: Non-perishable food, water, and first-aid supplies for at least three days.
- Power: Fully charged power banks for mobile phones.
You can act as the project manager for this checklist. While they gather the physical items, you can help by digitally storing copies of their important documents in a secure, shared folder.
Check In Before, During, and After
Consistency is key to reducing anxiety. Set a reminder on your calendar for the start of the storm season to review your plan.
- Before: Verify that their preferred payout method is still active. For instance, do they still use the same mobile wallet account?
- During: If safe, keep communication brief but regular. Confirm that funds have arrived.
- After: Once the immediate danger passes, the recovery begins. Ask them what they need most—sometimes it’s money for repairs, other times it’s just a listening ear.
Preparedness Is a Form of Love
You might not be there to board up the windows or fill the water jugs, but your contribution is just as vital. By managing the financial lifeline and organizing the plan, you are building a safety net for the people you care about most.
Don’t wait for the news to turn bad. Start the conversation today. Pre-fund your wallet, check your details, and give yourself the peace of mind that comes with being ready.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Remitly Wallet?
The Remitly Wallet is a feature within the Remitly app that allows you to store funds securely. You can load money into your wallet in advance so it is ready to send instantly, without waiting for bank processing times.
How do I add money to my Remitly Wallet?
You can add funds using your connected debit card or bank account.
Is it better to send cash or use a mobile wallet during a disaster?
It depends on the situation. If physical shops and banks are closed due to weather, mobile wallets are often a better option because your recipient can access money digitally on their phone without traveling.. However, having some physical cash on hand is always recommended in case power outages affect digital payments.
How much money should I send for an emergency?
A good rule of thumb is to send enough to cover at least 3-5 days of essential expenses (food, water, fuel, temporary shelter). Discuss this amount with your family beforehand so you can have it ready in your Remitly Wallet.