October 2026

Hi Friends,

Marisa and Grant here — two of the Gen Z-ers at Figure 8! Growing up over the past couple decades, we’ve become accustomed to a constant stream of natural disasters in the headlines. And as we move through our twenties, these events seem to be becoming more frequent and more intense. We’re facing a reality in which climate-related risks are increasingly greater than those our parents faced at our age, and disasters are no longer contained to coastal areas or historically dry places. That means preparedness will need to become a bigger part of our lives.

Take the 2024 flooding in Asheville, NC. Hurricane Helene (pictured above) made landfall hundreds of miles away in Florida, yet it devastated a mountain town in western North Carolina. Thousands of structures were destroyed and power, water, and cell service all went down across the city. To us, Asheville is a giant warning: if it can happen there, it can happen anywhere, whether or not your home sits in a mapped high-risk zone. That’s why we think everyone should be thinking about how to prepare.

So we decided to get prepared at Figure 8!

Over the past year, our team has scrutinized climate data, reflected on past emergencies — drawing insights from both our local experiences and the numerous stories clients have shared with us — and brainstormed proactive strategies for disaster prevention.

Our due diligence led to the creation of three personalized emergency preparedness bags for Figure 8’s Boise office – a “go & stay bag” story we are excited to share with you. Turns out, getting ready for an emergency involves more than just stockpiling supplies! We had to research the most nutritious long-lasting foods, survey team members for allergies and dietary needs, shop for quality, light-weight emergency products, craft actionable contingency plans, and of course…pack the bags! All while sharing many learning moments — and some laughs — along the way.

Before you read on, we want to share the song “Home Again” by Brothers Comatose & Lindsay Lou. Its poignant lyrics have us reflecting on the devastation our changing climate can leave in its wake, what home means to us, and the universal hope of protecting the people and places we call home.

Wishing you and yours safety and peace of mind.

Grant, Marisa & The Figure 8 Team

Human-caused climate change has created a dangerous new era of irregular and chaotic floods, fires, and supercharged storms. 2024 was the hottest year in recorded history for the globe, surpassing 2023 and marking the first year in which global temperatures averaged more than 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In fact, all ten of the hottest years on record have come in the last decade, further increasing the severity of climate-related crisis. With a strong El Niño developing, 2026 now has a real chance of rivaling or even surpassing 2024’s record, having already set a new benchmark with the hottest summer on record for the contiguous United States.

2026 has already brought its share of devastating disasters:

• Recent fires near Spokane, WA, exacerbated by unusually high temperatures and winds, consumed thousands of acres, destroyed hundreds of buildings, and triggered evacuation orders affecting over 60,000 residents (pictured above).

• Devastating flash floods swept through central and south Texas again, nearly one year after catastrophic flooding ravaged the same region, killing more than 130 people in July 2025 and leaving communities still struggling to recover.

• The Claremont fire scorched nearly 6,600 acres in the Boise foothills - near Figure 8’s office and many of our homes - this past July. The fires destroyed critical winter habitats for wildlife and caused lasting impacts on the foothills’ vegetation and surrounding ecosystem.

• A powerful storm battered Gary, Indiana (highlighted in a recent ‘That Figures’) in mid-August, with winds nearing 100 mph that left much of the city and thousands of residents without power for two whole weeks.

Events like these are a sobering reminder that emergencies can strike with little warning, whether they require us to evacuate our homes or shelter in place without essential services. Now more than ever, the growing frequency and severity of climate-fueled disasters highlight the critical need for proactive preparedness.

What If Disaster Struck in Our Backyard?

At Figure 8, we decided to challenge ourselves to get ready for the unexpected. We learned that assembling emergency ‘go & stay’ bags is one practical way to prepare for a climate calamity — keeping essential supplies, vital documents, and other resources accessible for when disaster strikes.

As we thought about our preparedness strategy, we spent some time thinking about the kinds of emergencies we might actually face. A good emergency bag looks different for everyone depending on your local environment, the type of household you have, and how many people (family members, roommates, etc.) will need access to its contents.

During 2025 client check-ins, many Figure 8 clients were introduced to First Street Foundation, a nonprofit research organization specializing in quantifying and communicating climate risk for properties across the United States.

When we set out to build the ‘go & stay’ bags for our office, we turned to First Street and learned (unsurprisingly) that heat, fire, and smoke pose the greatest threats to our primary office in Boise, Idaho.

We agreed that the most effective way to ensure our team’s safety was to develop three distinct emergency solutions: a go bag, a stay bag, and individual packs with personal items for each person. Our ‘go bag’ took the form of a large red Patagonia duffel, weighing under 50 pounds and stocked with essential safety items like first aid, high-protein nonperishable foods, portable chargers, and ID & contact information (pictured below). Many of the items included in our bag were standard, household items, thrifted goods, and donations provided by the team. Our ‘stay bag’ took shape as an old storage container and was filled with an assortment of emergency supplies including a solar charging power station, hand crank radio, 7+ days of food & water, and of course… toilet paper.

Go Bag – compact, easily accessible kit with essential supplies for 24–72 hours during emergencies requiring evacuation (i.e. wildfires or gas leaks)

Stay Bag – supply kit with approx. 2 weeks of essentials for emergencies that require sheltering in place (i.e. extended power outages, severe weather.)

To complement these two bags, each team member assembled an additional personalized emergency pack containing warm clothing, prescription medications, hygiene items, and other safety essentials tailored to their individual needs. The goal of this compact, backpack-sized kit was to equip each individual for an emergency lasting one to three days, whether it required evacuation or sheltering in place.

Essential Items

At Figure 8, we recognize the profound impact of climate events on communities, businesses, and natural ecosystems — and the increasing importance of being prepared for the unexpected. We believe this kind of risk management is a core financial planning issue.

For us, assembling these bags was only the start. We’re also developing emergency plans and procedures, including identifying designated meeting points and keeping a vehicle ready for a potential evacuation.

Preparedness is an ongoing process, and we hope what we’ve shared inspires you to take a closer look at your own plans and consider what steps you can take to be ready in the event of a crisis.

You should always consult a financial, tax, or legal professional familiar with your unique circumstances before making any financial decisions. This material is intended for educational purposes only. Nothing in this material constitutes a solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities.