Laid off this week, where do I start? - any advice?

They called a meeting on Wednesday and 12 of us were let go. I had been there 12 years. I am in Louisville, in case local advice matters. I have not told my family yet. Which steps were urgent?

File for unemployment right away. Do not wait for severance decisions. The date you file can matter.

I made a short list: benefits, bills, documents, and then my résumé. One thing each day kept me steady.