PREPARE in a YEAR

February: Documents & Finances

In the event of a disaster you may need financial assistance. You may need to document your losses. Being ready will give you significant peace of mind. 

In the event of a disaster, one that could destroy your home, resilience and recovery is much simpler and easier if you have essential documents with you or easily accessed. Important documents can be safe in a safety-deposit box, though you should ask your bank about who can access that box in the event of your death. Documents can also be uploaded to secure cloud storage, copies sent to a trusted individual far from the area, and/or backed up on an encrypted thumb drive. You can find water/fire proof document holders.

If power loss is widespread and enduring, internet access may be difficult or even impossible making your credit cards worthless. Some cash, in $20s or smaller, is highly recommended!

Essential Documents

Identification:   Driver’s License, Passport, Green Card, Military ID, social security card. Take photos of these, front and back.

Contact Information: (phone/email) - this is good to have in hard-copy for your Go Bag, and also digitally backed up. Family, friends, doctors, lawyer, financial advisor, bank

Medical:  Health Insurance cards, provider information, prescriptions, medical history, vaccination records (especially for pets),

Legal:  

Property Records - Deeds, titles, mortgage, leases, recent property tax bills, proof of address, car/boat registration, loan information

Family:  Wills, trusts, Power of Attorney, birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, custody agreements, end-of-life instructions

Pet Records:  Ownership, vaccine record, ID chip information

Insurance:  Policies for medical, home, renters, vehicle, life - with policy numbers and contact information. Property inventory with receipts for valuable items and lots of pictures. Photos of home, vehicles etc., with YOU in the picture.*

Financial:  Bank contact information, account numbers. Credit cards - copies of cards, front and back, contact information. Tax returns - 2 years (first 2 pages only). Retirement/investment statements.

Reunification:  Have photos of each family member with year taken. Note identifying features like hair color, eye color, scars, birthmarks. Have photos of pets.

About phones: Many people use their phones to hold tons of important information, along with photos, and may feel that all of the documents listed above can fit onto their phone. Now, ask yourself, have you ever had to hunt for your phone? What happens if there is an emergency and you need to run out the door and can’t immediately find your phone? We highly recommend additional forms of back up!

* After a disaster, law enforcement frequently keeps everyone out of affected neighborhoods unless they can prove they live there. Photos of you in front of your house, with address numbers evident can be really helpful in this situation.

If you want to do the hero’s task, FEMA has an in-depth and comprehensive review of documentation that makes recovery easier.