It seems there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to disaster and tragedy: global warming is blamed for devastating floods and wildfires, government is blamed for loss of lives from international conflicts and then you have the completely unexpected like last week’s tragedy on the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, MN.

Something I’ve noticed (and I’m sure I’m not alone) when tragedy strikes is how quick people are to offer the standard, “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.” For most, this statement is more of a common courtesy than an actual request to assist.

No one can completely understand the difficulties related to surviving these kinds of tragedies unless you’ve lived through them. What’s even more devastating is when life goes on after the loss of a loved one, life savings or personal property and the victim left standing is holding a mountain of problems that will stretch far into the future. Realistically, if you’re coping with grief, making sure a credit card bill is paid on time could easily be the least of your worries.

If you really want to help a friend or loved one facing a devastating crisis, pull them aside during a moment of quietness and offer to step in to take control of their household finances until they get back on their feet. Opening mail and writing checks for bills might seem insignificant but the amount of headache and frustration you’ll save them in the future will be immeasurable.