Keeping Calm In The Eye Of Irene, Credit Card In Hand

He said in a statement to reporters while on vacation near Boston that Irene appears to have the potential to be “an extremely dangerous and costly storm.”

Understandably, people in the areas expected to be hit are stocking up on supplies and readying their homes, if not making plans to flee the area entirely. It’s during times such as these that people would be advised to have the best credit cards possible on hand, for such emergency purchases. Mayor Bloomberg has told the residents of New York City to make sure they have enough necessities for up to “three days.”

Roman Shteyn, CEO of the Florida-based company Credit-Land.com said, “Floridians are no strangers to hurricanes and tropical storms. Having survived countless experiences of this nature has made us experts at preparedness. Purchasing enough food and supplies for you and your family before the storm hits is essential. Credit-Land.com has contacted banks throughout the region and, based upon their advice, prepared a list of the 5 best credit cards to use while stocking up on what you will need to weather Irene.”

The five cards he recommended based on factors such as APR, reward programs and balance fees, went as such:

1) The Citi Dividend World MasterCard.

2) The Discover More Discover Card.

3) The American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card.

4) The Capital One No Hassle Cash Rewards Credit Card.

5) HSBC Bank Nevada Household Bank Rewards MasterCard.

"The important thing is to stay calm, pay attention to your local news channel for information and instructions and make sure you visit the stores early to pick up everything you and your family will need,” Shteyn went on to advise anyone who might be fearful as the hype surrounding Irene escalates.

These cards could also be quite useful for other natural disasters or similar high level situations.

It’s important to be mindful of basic disaster preparation tips and not lose your cool (or common sense) as well. Make sure your insurance policy is strong, create an emergency kit, and, should you be in one of the zones expected to bear the brunt, that your house is safe as well. And, although thrill seekers might be tempted to go out during the hurricane, it’s best to stay indoors and away from windows, preferably in a higher-ground area.

“At this point, the forecast does not indicate that the storm would hit New York City with that strength, but we certainly will still see its effects here,” Bloomberg also said.