NEW YORK — What would you do if all your financial records suddenly disappeared?

That's what happened to thousands of families when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast last week. Some of the more fortunate ones may have had backup documents stashed with relatives or friends outside the area. Or their safe deposit boxes may survive — even if they can't yet get to them.

But many families will have to reconstruct their financial lives. Experts say the first step is to stabilize the family's living situation and then seek the help of the government, employers, banks, relatives and friends in putting their financial houses back in order.

Anat Kendal, director of financial planning for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, based in New York, said that many families quickly discover they need cash for day-to-day living.

"Contact your insurance company right away (and) make them aware you've had damage to your property, make them aware of the severity of that damage," she said. "If you can't stay in the house, make them aware you're going to be staying somewhere else and that you're going to need some cash or their coverage for temporary living expenses."

A second possible source of money is the company where you work, Kendal said.

"Contact your employer and see if you can get an advance on your paycheck," she said. Although many Gulf Coast businesses are damaged and shuttered, some may have headquarters elsewhere that can help, she pointed out.

Families also can take advantage of debit and credit cards to cover temporary living expenses, and many banks are waiving ATM fees and cash advance fees as well as extending emergency lines of credit to customers who call.

Kendal also suggested that families get to the disaster recovery centers set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross, which can provide money to cover living expenses.

The AICPA has more suggestions in its publication, "Disaster Recovery — A Guide to Financial Issues," at www.aicpa.org.

Another step some families may want to take quickly is to re-create an inventory of their home furnishings and possessions so they can file insurance claims.

Connie Bracher, head of the disaster committee of the California Society of Enrolled Agents, suggests that families tackle this together. Enrolled agents are licensed by the Internal Revenue Service to deal with tax issues.

"Try to mentally reconstruct your house," she advised.

When it comes to reconstructing records, families should try to reach the financial institutions that produced them in the first place, Bracher said. She said these could include: